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Having trouble with your thinking skills? Here are some tips to improve your thinking skills.

1

Practice breathing exercises.

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  1. Take several slow breaths from your belly. Stomach breathing activates your brain, helps you relax, and reduces stress and tension.[1] This may help improve your thinking skills and memory.
    • Deep breathing also increases the oxygen flow to your brain cells. As a result they become more active.[2]
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5

Drink enough water.

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  1. Many people are dehydrated all the time and don't realize it, and this can impact your brain function.[7] Studies show that tension, depression, and confusion scores go down as your water intake increases.[8] So, make sure you drink enough water throughout the day.[9]
    • Avoid sodas, coffee, or sugary drinks. They can decrease your ability to concentrate and remember things.[10]
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6

Eat healthy, balanced meals.

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  1. Not eating can make you tired. Therefore, you should strive to eat healthy, balanced meals every day. Include foods that are linked to better brain power, such as fish, vegetables, berries, walnuts, and whole grains.[11]
    • Adopt a Mediterranean-style diet, DASH diet, or MIND diet for better brain health. All 3 diets emphasize limiting red meat, focusing on whole foods, and avoiding saturated fats.[12]
7

Use all your senses when studying.

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  1. Different parts of your brain store different types of memories. For example, images are stored in one area and sounds in another. Creating a multisensory learning environment while writing an essay or preparing for an exam may potentially improve your recall.[13]
    • For example, you could listen to ambient music to improve your concentration while studying. Or, play with a fidget spinner or stress ball to relieve stress.
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Tips

  • If you get better sleep you'll be able to think better.[15]
  • As said before, puzzles can be really helpful. They force you to think of something very deeply. They make your brain work. They bring out all the reasoning ability in you. Try to buy a book of puzzles to have better practice.
  • Meditation can be helpful to think better. Start with 5 minutes in the morning and five minutes before bed, every day.
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About This Article

Michael Lewis, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM, FACN
Co-authored by:
Board Certified Brain Health Physician
This article was co-authored by Michael Lewis, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM, FACN. Michael D. Lewis, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM, FACN, is an expert on nutritional interventions for brain health, particularly the prevention and rehabilitation of brain injury. In 2012 upon retiring as a Colonel after 31 years in the U.S. Army, he founded the nonprofit Brain Health Education and Research Institute. He is in private practice in Potomac, Maryland, and is the author of "When Brains Collide: What every athlete and parent should know about the prevention and treatment of concussions and head injuries." He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Tulane University School of Medicine. He completed post-graduate training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University, and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Dr. Lewis is board certified and a Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine and American College of Nutrition. This article has been viewed 395,869 times.
8 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 25
Updated: October 9, 2024
Views: 395,869
Categories: Thinking Skills
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 395,869 times.

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