1. Minimize Television Watching – This is a hard sell.
People love vegetating in front of the television, myself
included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching
television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to
recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle
without the health benefits of exercise.
Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your
eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box
for so long. You don’t even have the energy to read a book.
When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If
you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with
your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a
conversation. All of these things use your mind more than
television and allow you to relax.
2. Exercise – I used to think that I’d learn more by not
exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I
realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater
learning because it improves productivity during the time
afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a
wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can
concentrate more easily.
3. Read Challenging Books – Many people like to read
popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t
mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking
and writing ability you should read books that make you
focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the
world and will make you think in more precise, elegant
English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know
it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time,
re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed
to the author’s style.
Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think
you’ll find that you aren’t tempted to go back to page-
turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more
exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.
4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise – Nothing makes it harder to
concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most
rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more
than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by
sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble
focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the
most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you
more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity
all day.
If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when
you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will
make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.
5. Take Time to Reflect – Often our lives get so hectic that
we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It
becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts
keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection
gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize
your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better
understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The
unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your
mind will feel less encumbered.
I’m not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and
chant ‘ommm’. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged
solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a
solitary walk. Someone famous said, “All the best ideas
occur while walking.” I think he was on to something.
Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.
Conclusion – I hope you aren’t disappointed that none of
the techniques I’ve proposed are revolutionary. But simple,
unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge
is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in
following these 5 tips, you’ll be rewarded with increased
mental acuity and retention of knowledge.
.
People love vegetating in front of the television, myself
included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching
television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to
recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle
without the health benefits of exercise.
Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your
eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box
for so long. You don’t even have the energy to read a book.
When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If
you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with
your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a
conversation. All of these things use your mind more than
television and allow you to relax.
2. Exercise – I used to think that I’d learn more by not
exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I
realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater
learning because it improves productivity during the time
afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a
wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can
concentrate more easily.
3. Read Challenging Books – Many people like to read
popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t
mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking
and writing ability you should read books that make you
focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the
world and will make you think in more precise, elegant
English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know
it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time,
re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed
to the author’s style.
Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think
you’ll find that you aren’t tempted to go back to page-
turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more
exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.
4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise – Nothing makes it harder to
concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most
rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more
than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by
sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble
focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the
most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you
more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity
all day.
If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when
you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will
make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.
5. Take Time to Reflect – Often our lives get so hectic that
we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It
becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts
keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection
gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize
your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better
understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The
unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your
mind will feel less encumbered.
I’m not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and
chant ‘ommm’. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged
solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a
solitary walk. Someone famous said, “All the best ideas
occur while walking.” I think he was on to something.
Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.
Conclusion – I hope you aren’t disappointed that none of
the techniques I’ve proposed are revolutionary. But simple,
unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge
is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in
following these 5 tips, you’ll be rewarded with increased
mental acuity and retention of knowledge.
.
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