One’s mental well-being is crucial for a happy and healthy life. Having keen mental alertness is paramount to being successful and excelling in the workplace as well as one’s personal life. To quote Abraham Lincoln, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first hour sharpening the “ax. Our minds are our axes; if we can keep them sharp, we will find ourselves working smarter instead of harder. These are ten ways that are scientifically proven to heighten mental alertness:
Get Sufficient Sleep
Getting sufficient sleep is the most critical factor; one might call it the root foundation to ensure mental alertness. The amount of adequate sleep required for mental well-being differs from person to person; however, we recommend an average of 8 to 10 hours a night for teenagers and 7 to 9 hours for adults.
Healthy sleeping patterns are crucial for a healthy lifestyle and mental well-being. Adequate sleep is your best friend. A great way to ensure a deep, satisfying sleep is by making use of essential oils for better sleep, which is an inexpensive way to help you relax both mentally and physically, which in turn promotes a deeper sleep.
Exercise
We cannot emphasize the many beneficial gains from exercise. Apart from the obvious physical benefits, during exercise, your body releases chemicals that give your concentration, memory, and overall alertness a boost. Exercise improves your mood, reduces your stress levels, and in turn, aids you in getting a great night’s sleep.
Reduce Distractions
In today’s modern, technological, fast-paced world, we are continuously bombarded and distracted by things such as our smart-phones, social media, and our television sets. This continuous onslaught of information leads us to become distracted and mentally exhausted. Try to eliminate unnecessary distractions and focus on what is relevant and vital.
Another helpful tip would be to put your phone away at least 30 minutes before going to bed. Taking a break from your phone helps your mind to “switch off,” and for you to relax, you will be surprised at how much more quickly you fall asleep and how much better you feel the next day.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking water and staying hydrated is crucial for many reasons. To name a few of the numerous health benefits: It lubricates your joints, delivers oxygen throughout your body, helps to regulate your body’s temperature, and it helps to cleanse your body. Staying hydrated, in turn, improves your quality of sleep, concentration, and mental alertness.
Eat Healthier
A healthier diet provides many health benefits. By eating healthier foods, you provide your body with the vital vitamins, nutrients and fatty acids it needs. A healthier diet increases your energy levels, improves mood and mental health, helps you to stay fit and active, and to have better control of your weight. So cut down on the fast food, soda drinks and too many sweets. Try adopting a healthier diet, the internet is an invaluable tool at your disposal for you to find healthy, quick, easy, and inexpensive meal recipes to try.
Do Puzzles and Games
Try to do puzzles and play games to engage your mind and get it thinking. By doing puzzles and playing games, you stimulate your brain and improve your working memory. In addition to keeping your account sharp and alert, they also provide a great way to pass the time and provide endless hours of fun.
Learn Something New
By learning something new, you are engaging your mind and thought process and teaching it new tricks. So why not take up that hobby you always wanted to try out? Read a novel, a scientific journal, learn how your car’s engines work, the internet is a powerful tool in seeking out information, the world is your oyster, and knowledge is power!
Meditate
Our stressful lives impact our focus and adversely affect our mental state. So, take a moment to meditate, close your eyes, focus on your breathing, eliminate unnecessary thoughts and focus on the present task at hand. Meditation helps you to gather your thoughts, unwind for a moment, alleviate stress, and increase your brain’s alertness.
Listen to Music
Listening to music is therapeutic, helping us to relieve stress, which improves our concentration. Music enhances our feeling of well-being and mental state. It can also inspire us, take us to new places, get the creative juices flowing and help us to focus on the tasks at hand.
Don’t Forget to Take A Break
Sometimes taking a quick break is the best way to recharge mentally. Try taking a break for a few minutes to increase your alertness, make yourself a cup of coffee or tea, go for a walk, enjoy a well-deserved snack, and allow your mind to wander for a moment. Never underestimate the importance of taking a well-earned break.
