Pump your brain: how to develop your own brain

The brain, like the muscles, can adapt to strain. And the things you do often become routine. So how do you train it? The main rule is to give your brain unfamiliar, new information. Thanks to this, new neural connections will be formed, and the brain will develop. Here are a few exercises with which you can do this.

Change your hand and close your eyes

Most everyday activities, such as brushing your teeth, getting dressed, cooking, the brain performs on automatic, saving energy. You can surprise it, for example, by brushing your teeth with your left hand instead of your right, as usual, or by trying to eat breakfast while closing your eyes periodically.

Train tactility

It is known that about 90% of information a person receives with the help of vision. But the ability to use touch is underdeveloped in the average person. This can be utilized in brain training. For example, try to learn Braille or learn to identify coin denominations by touch.

Change your image and rearrange your surroundings

The brain gets used to its surroundings – the arrangement of furniture in your home and items on your desk, the reflection in the mirror and the set of familiar clothes. It is not necessary to carry out a major overhaul and radically change the appearance. It is enough, for example, periodically do a small remodeling and to “shake up” perception, try new clothes.

Engage your sense of smell

Been using the same perfume for years? It’s time to change that! A good way to get your brain working is to rid it of the “fragrance” routine. The sense of smell is an important channel for perceiving reality. You need to introduce something unfamiliar to it too, whether it’s a new perfume or spices when cooking, periodically.

Use other routes

Home – work – home. This route can remain unchanged for years. The bottom line is that the brain goes through it on autopilot, not engaging in the process at all. Try to get to the office in different ways and explore the neighborhood where you live, walk where you haven’t been yet. And before traveling to a new place, study the maps carefully beforehand and try to get to the right point without peeking at the map app or navigator prompts.

Replace your fork with chopsticks

Eating is also a routine for the brain. Try learning a new skill! Been eating with a fork all your life? Take up chopsticks! It will be difficult at first, but it will be a great workout.

Move asymmetrically

For example, try drawing a triangle on paper with one hand and a square with the other. Or a figure eight and a star. In general, the figures should not be similar to each other. To represent them separately will not be difficult, but if you do it at the same time, the brain will be puzzled.

Read the color words

The picture for this exercise has the names of colors written on it (the name and the color of the word do not coincide). You need to name the color specifically, not read the text. This is more difficult than it may seem at first glance. Try it!

Solve puzzles

Sudoku and crossword puzzles are also useful for brain training, but on one condition: if you solve them infrequently. If every day you fill in ten Sudoku and can immediately name the capitals of Madagascar, Mozambique and Somalia, these types of puzzles for you – routine, and the brain is already used to them.

Look at the Schulte tables

Schulte tables are an exercise machine that develops attentiveness, reading speed and improves peripheral vision. The task is to look at the center of the table and find all the numbers from 1 to 25 with your side vision as quickly as possible.