Your brain is more like a muscle than you might think, researchers say. It can be trained to comfortably deal with increasing stress, much like exercising your legs improves their strength. Coincidentally, physical exercise is one way to improve your concentration and to deal with increasing stress. Exercise increases the flow of blood to the brain, triggering the release of biochemicals like serotonin and beta-endorphin that increase your sense of well-being, improve your memory and enhance creativity. Mental exercises -- such as crossword puzzles, academic classes or even playing Scrabble -- help your brain develop nerve junctions, which pass along information and keep your brain sharp.
Step 1
Begin an exercise program. Physical training increases blood flow to the cerebral region and improves visual organization, memory and mental flexibility.
Step 2
Get your mind off your troubles. When exercising, avoid obsessing on your difficulties. In one study, students who crammed for finals while riding exercise bikes finished their workouts just as stressed as they started. Students who just exercised finished more refreshed and did better on tests afterward.
Step 3
Eat right. Avoid big, heavy meals that will make you feel sluggish. Instead, choose lean white meats and fish. Avoid alcohol and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Step 4
Take supplements. One study found that the minerals zinc (found in many daily vitamins) and boron (found in apples, prunes, dates, raisins and peanuts) can help improve memory.
Step 5
Pay attention. There is an epidemic of memory loss in the U.S. because too many people are being flooded with information. If you need to remember what your wife is telling you about the red light coming on in her car, listen carefully.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are under a lot of stress, you must clear your mind of your problems during exercise, or the workout won't do as much good. Successful people -- people who meet their goals, not necessarily those who are rich -- often have the ability to see obstacles as challenges and not something that will defeat them. They are optimists. Get organized. Most people are disorganized because they feel like they don't have the luxury of the time it takes to organize a drawer or filing cabinet. Find the time. It saves you time in the long run.
- Although it's important to challenge yourself -- which often means increasing your stress level -- remember that too much stress can be very damaging. Learn to say no when you feel your responsibilities are becoming insurmountable.
Things You'll Need
- Exercise equipment
- Crossword puzzles
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