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• Method 1 of 2: Train your brain
• Method 2 of 2: Train your brain

Humans are lucky in the sense that we have brain plasticity - the ability to change and improve the functioning of our brain. You can make new connections and possibly even grow new brain cells by continuing to stimulate your body and mind. And a little effort to improve cognitive function has disproportionately large positive results. So read on to learn how to cultivate your brain power.

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Method 1 of 2: Train your brain

1. Learn new skills. Learning new skills will keep your brain engaged and challenged, building new neural connections and improving your cognitive functions.
   • Learning a new language is an excellent way to expand your brain. It will force your brain to work in ways it is not used to and it can help you see the world around you from a new linguistic perspective.
   • Trying new activities or hobbies can also help keep your brain sharp. Look for opportunities to learn new things, such as ballroom dancing, learning a martial art, or taking a sewing class or writing workshop.
   • Play games. Playing new games with friends or family, especially more intensive games such as chess or a card game, can help you expand and improve your cognitive skills.
2. Promote curiosity. Don't just accept things. Instead, learn to constantly question things - even things that seem obvious or standard.
   • Consciously seek out things that are new and different. While it can be tempting to avoid things that are strange or different - new dishes or eating habits, new religious ceremonies, new neighbors, etc. - your brain builds every time it encounters something unfamiliar or difficult to understand, new and more diverse connections. Embrace challenges of your beliefs, ideas and experiences.
3. Read. Reading connects both your brain and your imagination and is a great way to learn new things and to learn to see people, places, things and ideas in new and different ways.
   • Find reading materials that are at least moderately challenging with regard to vocabulary, content, or ideas. Find reading materials that will not only give you access to new knowledge, but also allow you to explore new and different ideas, perspectives, and beliefs.
4. Play brain games and puzzles. There are all kinds of games available, designed to keep your brain running smoothly and fit. Shop around, experiment and find what works for you.
   • The time-honored possibilities of crosswords and logic games have been around for a while, and these days they hold up because they work - they're excellent ways to challenge and expand your thinking skills.
   • Newer alternatives to challenge your brain are available online and as apps for your smartphone. Many websites offer games designed to keep your mind active and engaged, so instead of using your break time to find cat pictures, consider trying a virtual brain game.
5. Focus and judge. Decide to focus on learning and improving your thinking skills. When you come across a new idea or fact, focus on learning about it and remembering it. Then periodically reflect on the new ideas and facts you have learned and rehearse them within yourself.
   • Returning to new information in this way - especially soon after you learn it - is important for memorizing it in a meaningful and lasting way.
   • It may seem insignificant, but it turns out that by just letting your mind focus and focus on a new idea, you can keep it more easily.
6. Write things down - write things down. Research has shown that writing down new information in full helps you absorb it more thoroughly and recall it more easily.
   • For example, while listening to new information during a meeting, conference or class, write down the most important information. Make sure you write legibly and review what you wrote afterwards to make sure it stays in your brain.
7. Involve your senses. Try to see connections between new information and your five senses to help you absorb and hold it.
   • Relate the idea or fact to a taste, tactile feeling, smell or image. The more multi-sensory you can make it, the stronger it will stick with you.
     • Most people often associate the smell of their favorite food with the taste and experiences they had when they ate it.
   • Another thing to try is to count the number of people in a room. This will help you quickly develop a sharper mind when it comes to memorizing, especially if the people are hanging out in a hallway or similar.
   • For example, if you want to remember that you put your keys on the counter next to the sugar bowl, try connecting the thought of your keys with the taste and color of sugar, or the counter.

Method 2 of 2: Train your brain

1. Stop smoking. Researchers have found evidence that smoking impairs cognitive function, even shrinking the size of your brain's hippocampus.
   • Research has shown that smoking can impair memory, planning, and overall mental abilities.
2. Eat good. There are a number of foods that researchers believe can improve brain function. Of course, eating walnuts won't make you a genius, but it can help your brain do what it's supposed to do, and even do it a bit better.
   • Foods high in omega-3s, such as walnuts and fish, are important for brain development and can help improve mood and concentration.
   • It is believed that eating foods rich in magnesium also improves brain function and, as many people are deficient in magnesium, the intake may also be a good idea in general.
   • Foods rich in antioxidants are said to help protect the brain from degeneration. It is mainly found in fruits and vegetables. The darker the fruit or vegetable, the more antioxidants it usually has. Blueberries, blackberries, plums, red beans, and black beans, for example, are all high in antioxidants.
   • Foods rich in whole grains help regulate glucose levels in your body, and since glucose is what your brain uses for fuel, it's important for your mood and ability to concentrate to keep your levels stable. Good sources of whole grains are whole grain rice, oatmeal, and whole grain cereals.
3. Get regular exercise. Maintaining an exercise routine and a healthy diet is important not only for your physical health, but also for your mental health. Heart training releases a strong mix of hormones that are important for improving mood, reducing stress and improving concentration.
   • A number of studies have shown a link between movement and improved cognitive function, including memory, attention, and the ability to switch easily between tasks.
   • While there is no absolute unanimity, many experts recommend doing moderate heart training 2-3 times a week to take full advantage of the mental benefits of exercise.
4. Get enough sleep. You've certainly been warned about it enough times, but sleep is important. And it turns out that it is measurably important for good brain functionality.
   • Get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Not only will it help you focus and keep you alert, it will also help prevent gray matter loss in your brain over time.
5. Meditate. Research has shown that daily meditation can improve your brain as well as your well-being.Meditation is believed to improve decision-making and information-processing skills in particular.
   • Meditative exercises such as yoga and tai chi have also been found to improve moods and mental functioning.