Both fiction and non-fiction are beneficial. While non-fiction can teach you information about the world, fiction can improve your empathy, imagination, and brain connectivity. [2] X Research source
A gratitude journal is a great way to write every day and support your mind’s growth. Write down 1 thing every day that you are thankful for. This will make you feel more positive and confident. If you want to share your thoughts, start a blog. Others can respond to your posts and help you think about issues in new ways.
Question yourself as well as others. What do you do the things that you do? Why do you believe certain things or why do you enjoy others? Try writing a list of 50 questions. Perhaps there is something you’ve always wanted to know. Maybe you want to question yourself. Look around the room and ask how certain objects work or think about how they were made. Afterwards, try answering these questions.
Download a puzzle or brain training app on your phone. You might use this app for 15 minutes a day to sharpen your reasoning skills. Mix up what games and puzzles you play. If you do Sudoku every day, you might get good at Sudoku, but you might not learn how to do other types of puzzles or problems.
You can make a potato battery, dissect a bean, or make plastic out of milk. Stick with experiments that can be done with household objects. Avoid doing anything that involves dangerous or flammable chemicals.
For example If I say stop seeing! what will you do. You can either close your eyes or switch off the lights if you are in a room. So here stop seeing doesn’t depend solely on closing your eyes. If you know the fact that until light is reflected to your eyes from some object you won’t be able to see it. So here you chose the option of switching off the light. So in this way you can find different aspect of a problem and solve it.
Try mindfulness meditation. Sit somewhere quiet for 5 minutes and close your eyes. Focus on every sensation that you feel, such as the noise of the air conditioner or the feeling of your seat beneath you. Capture even the most minor of details. [8] X Expert Source Sandra PossingLife Coach Expert Interview. 13 August 2020. When you eat, chew slowly. Savor every taste, texture, and sensation of the food you are consuming. If you’re out in public, take a few minutes just to notice every detail. Look at the leaves on the ground, the decorations on a building, or the movement of people around you. At work or school, try doing some grounding techniques. Take a minute to notice everything that you feel, such as the chair beneath you or the desk under your hands.
Meditation can help you relax, cope with stress, find new perspective, and strengthen your self-awareness. [10] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Try downloading an app that offers guided meditation, such as Headspace, Insight Timer, or Calm.
If you typically think negatively about things, you may not want to jump straight to positive thinking. Instead, start with neutral thoughts and work your way up to positivity. Say positive affirmations to yourself in the mirror every morning to pump yourself up for the day. [12] X Expert Source Sandra PossingLife Coach Expert Interview. 13 August 2020. You might say something like “It’s another great day” or “I am going to rock it today. ” Motivational quotes, posters, mugs, or other reminders can help you stay in the right frame of mind as you go through your day. Leave a friendly note in your wallet or post a positive quote above your desk. Benefits of positive thinking include a longer lifespan, decreased stress, stronger psychological health, and improved coping skills during difficult situations.
For example, our biases may cause us to take more responsibility for our successes than our failures. For example, we may blame a teacher when we fail a paper but praise ourselves when we get an A. A confirmation bias is one where you only consider information that supports your preconceptions. For example, you might ignore facts that don’t support your political ideology. Sometimes, we judge a decision based on its outcome rather than the soundness of the decision. Just because you win a lottery doesn’t mean that buying a lottery ticket was a smart decision. People tend to think themselves as less biased than other people. It means that by default we remain blind to our own cognitive biases.
You don’t have to blindly follow your intuition, but you should use it when considering certain decisions. For example, if you’re buying a new house, you might get a better “vibe” or “feeling” about 1 place. Ask yourself what is giving you that feeling. You may realise there is a reason why you feel that way.
It can take around 66 days to form a new habit or to break an old one. Keep working on your new mindset. After a while, it will become second nature.
Think about something that you’ve never tried before but would be interested in learning. For example, perhaps you’ve always wanted to go SCUBA diving or maybe you want to take a helicopter ride. Everyone has some kind of fear. You might hate speaking in public or dread heights. Unless you have a severe phobia, try to identify your fears and confront them. For example, speak up at a town hall or go to a rock climbing gym. If your fears are so strong that they interfere with daily life, talk to a mental health professional for help.
Some great creative lessons include learning to paint, do pottery, make jewelry, or sew. More physical activities you might try include swing dancing, playing on a sports team, or doing yoga. Think about any skills that might help you in your daily life. Take a cooking class, learn to be handy around your house, or read up on how to perform your own car maintenance.
Join a club or society that centers around your interests. For example, join a board game club, an environmental society, or a knitting group. Try to encounter people with different beliefs, cultural practices, and lifestyles. You might go to a cultural festival, a religious celebration, or a parade. Consider joining a sports team. This will require you to work on a team with other people.
Keep a curious mindset as you experience different cultures. Instead of judging or making assumptions, focus on learning as much as you can about the way other people live. [20] X Expert Source Sandra PossingLife Coach Expert Interview. 13 August 2020. Try to identify what types of things you might be interested in doing. This can help you find the right trip. For example, if you want to see animals and nature, visit a national park. If you’re interested in history, find a city with museums, historical buildings, or monuments. For a big trip, try visiting a major city, like New York, London, or Tokyo. You may need to save up money for the trip, but it can be an experience that will broaden your horizons.
Look for a charity or organization in your local area that could use volunteers. Choose an issue that is important to you. You can also volunteer at schools, town events, animal shelters, or community centers.
You can, of course, take breaks to relax. For example, there is nothing wrong with watching TV for an hour a night. Just avoid binging for several hours in a row. Try to mix up your activities so that you don’t get bored. For example, give yourself an hour to play a game, then go for a walk. Afterwards, cook dinner from scratch, and read a book after your meal.
Consider getting a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps a day. This can help you keep track of how much you are moving. Avoid sitting all day. Get up for 5 minutes every hour to take a short walk, do some stretches, or quickly do jumping jacks. This can wake up your mind and provide a quick boost of energy. If you’re struggling with a problem or obstacle, movement can help you think through it. Go on a run, bike ride, or jog.
Look for foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, walnuts, seaweed, winter squash, and broccoli. These are important for supporting your cognitive health. Other foods that may help your brain power include blueberries, avocados, nuts, and kale. Drinks like coffee and tea may also provide cognitive benefits. [25] X Research source
Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. This will give your brain a schedule and make it easier to get to sleep at night. Avoid using bright screens, like phones and computers, for an hour before you go to bed. This can help you go to sleep faster and improve your quality of sleep.
Start a discussion with others about your beliefs, ideas, thoughts, and practices. You might be surprised by what the other person has to offer. They might help you consider things in a new light. Keep an open mind as you talk with others. You don’t have to agree with their ideas or beliefs, but you can learn a lot just by listening to them.
