Brain Healthy Tips

Focus on One Task at a Time

Even in a world of overstimulation, you can single-task and create other habits to support your ability to focus.

A man using his laptop at home
Ways to Get Started:

  • Focus on one priority task at a time – multitasking increases stress and reduces quality of performance.
  • Declutter your workspace – simplifying your environment and limiting devices can help focus on priorities.
  • Take brain breaks – taking a 5-minute brain break five times each day helps clear your mind and enhance focus.
  • Strategize better productivity – what motivates you to focus? Every person responds to sensory stimuli differently. Cultivate a sensory environment to meet your needs, one that helps you limit distractions and encourage single-tasking.

 

Nourish Your Neurons Each Day

No food is a magical elixir of brain health – but if it's good for your heart, it's also good for your brain.

A woman eating a salad
Ways to Get Started:

  • Cut back on sugar and saturated fats, and avoid alcohol.
  • Take pictures or notes to track what you eat. Evaluate your choices to improve your daily diet.
  • Look for nutritional gaps. Seek out a variety of whole foods, like leafy greens, berries, nuts, and healthy fats.
  • Consult a nutritional specialist to make sure your dietary intake is meeting your daily needs.

 

Connect With Nature, Wherever You Are

Your connection to the world around you matters to your brain health. Being consumed by modern life and technology is common, but so is a feeling of disconnection from the world.

A woman watering plants in a garden
Ways to Get Started:

  • Bring brain-healthy sensory experiences into other spaces.
  • Enrich your surroundings with color, like calming shades of blue and green.
  • Explore different types of light and how effects change throughout the day.
  • Maintain a comfortable noise level for the time and purpose, playing music to relax or energize and find ways to reduce intrusive sounds, like using noise-blocking headphones.

 

Enjoy these brain-healthy tips for everyday life, backed by science that demonstrates the brain's lifelong ability to work better and get stronger. Find out more at centerofbrainhealth.org.