Think Tank: The Neuro Blog
Ways to Improve Work Performance
Whether you’re a freelancer or a working stiff, you’re probably interested in upping your performance at work. The advantages of taking a deliberate look at your working habits include increases in productivity, general happiness at work, and the ability to enjoy your downtime at home. Generally, the basic positive ways to improve work performance include staying organized, optimizing habits, and maintaining a healthy balance between sleep and caffeine consumption.
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How to Focus on Studying
One thing that many students struggle with during the course of their academic years is staying focused when studying. Distractions are everywhere – iPhones, video games, friends, parties - you name it. To improve your concentration and motivation to study, follow these 11 strategies for how to focus on studying, all backed by research. 1. Study in a Group If you’re looking for ways on how to motivate yourself to study, forming a study group is a very effective strategy that enhances learning. In fact, more than 20 years of academic research has consistently demonstrated that fact. Groups share unique insights and learn from each other. The benefits of group study include: Externalizes thoughts better Keeps study sessions stimulating and fun Maintains accountability Provides support and motivation to study Helps clarify any questions Tests comprehension 2. Create the Right Setting Where you study is almost as important as what you study. Studies have found that the place in which you study affects how you’ll remember that information. Pick one place and stick with it – over time, your brain will catch on and you’ll enter “study mode” much sooner. Get comfortable, but not too comfortable. Change out of your pajamas before you open your books to give your mind a signal that it’s time to get down to business and study, not lounge. You’ll remember something more in the place where you first learned it, so you may want to consider re-creating the environment in which you will be tested in. Look for natural light to bring real warmth and vitality to the space. Keep your space sacred. If you’ve created a space you truly love, you may be tempted to do everything there – watch Netflix, chat with friends, eat dinner – but whenever possible, keep your study space reserved only for studying. When you finally sit down in your designated study spot, the last thing you want to be doing is getting up multiple times to go grab an item. When you get up too much, you often lose the momentum or the “study bubble” that was so hard to reach. Making the right efforts to make sure you have everything around you will minimize the need to get up. Consider setting up your space with the following items: Water bottle Post-it notes Tissues Pens, pencils and erasers Non-messy snacks Chapstick Essential oils 3. Listen to Calming Music Music produces several positive effects on a human’s body and brain. Enhancing your studying with music activates both the left and right brain simultaneously. The activation of both hemispheres can maximize learning and improve memory. Music is effective at reducing stress, decreasing blood pressure and anxiety and lowering heart rate. It’s a great way to strengthen your resolve with being overwhelmed. So, when you’re looking for ways on how to get motivated to study, turn on relaxing music to get your mindset in the right place and keep stress at bay. 4. Limit Distracting Apps and Websites The goal of a study space is to maximize the attention you can devote to studying while minimizing the amount of effort necessary to do so. It can be extremely difficult to achieve this if your space is full of distractions. It’s useful to start with what to leave out and then add things from there. Getting in the mood to study will differ from person to person. However, here are some things you should probably avoid in your space if you want to remain productive: Cell Phone Video Games Lots of Open Tabs Messy Food Distractions threaten your study output. In fact, research shows that it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to refocus after being distracted. Considering this research, those seemingly small interruptions can really add up throughout the day, making it much harder to get back into your groove. 5. Exercise One of the top tips we can recommend how to motivate yourself to study is through regular exercise. A recent study suggests that what we do physically plays an important role in long-term memory. In the study, it is mentioned: “The benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of growth factors—chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new brain cells.” A workout session as little as 30 minutes long pumps extra blood to your brain, delivering oxygen and nutrients it needs to perform at max efficiency. Cardio exercises are especially known to flood the brain with chemicals that enhance memory function, including problem solving and decision making. Benefits of exercise for students include: Increased energy levels Increased brain function Increased attentiveness Increased alertness 6. Meditate Your brain is a trainable “muscle” that needs daily exercise. For instance, meditation is like weight lifting for your attention span. When you practice meditation consistently, you’re flexing your cerebral cortex, which increases your ability to absorb and understand new information and adapt to any situation, making this a reliable method to use when you can’t focus on studying. The most extensive study to date on how meditation improves your ability to focus suggests that meditating could prevent age-related mental decline. It is the first study of its kind to offer evidence that intensive and continued meditation practice is associated with enduring improvements in sustained attention. YouTube is a great resource for individuals getting started with meditation. Calm is also a popular go-to mobile app that is recommended by top psychologists, therapists and mental health experts for beginner, intermediate and advanced meditators. Benefits of Meditation for Students include: Better focus Reduced academic stress Rise in IQ levels Brain integrity and efficiency Reduction in depression and anxiety Reduction in destructive behavior (i.e. drugs/alcohol) Happiness and increased confidence 7. Eat a Nutritious Meal The old saying, “You are what you eat” has never been more true. Science tells us that some foods increase awareness and mental sharpness, while other foods make us lethargic and give us brain fog. If you are wondering how to concentrate on studying, choosing foods to eat beforehand that are packed with vitamins and minerals, good fats, and rich in antioxidants, is a great way to provide the energy needed to keep your brain sharp. Foods that help boost memory and concentration include: Broccoli: Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Choline to keep memory sharp Avocado: Mono-saturated fats to keep blood sugar levels in the right range Blueberries: Gallic acid to protect brain from degeneration and stress Bone Broth: Collagen to help boost your immune system Dark Chocolate: Flavonoids to improve blood flow to the brain and heart Walnuts: Antioxidants to improve your cognitive health 8. Take an Energy Supplement If you’re a student, chances are you’ve tried using caffeine to help you study at least once. But you’re probably more familiar with caffeine sources such as an energy drink or coffee. While the above do a good job at providing immediate energy, the negative effects can often far outweigh the benefits for students. For starters, coffee, energy drinks and tea provide many individuals with long bursts of energy that interrupt their regular habits like sleeping and can even give them heart palpitations or jitters. That in and of itself is enough to cause students to become distracted or sleep deprived. Luckily, there’s an alternative for students seeking a quick energy boost without the lasting negative effects associated with most common caffeine sources. Neuro’s energy caffeine gum contains vitamins B6 and B12, which have been scientifically shown to boost focus and cognition. Neuro’s products include 40mg of caffeine, which is just the right amount to kick-start your study session without giving you that dreaded crash or jitters. 9. Stop Eye Strain After Late-Night Study Sessions Sleep is crucial to keeping your brain in prime condition for effective learning. But we all have important tests, jobs and families to attend to, which can keep us up late trying to fit as much as we can into our day. If you’re someone who studies at night, whether by choice or not, you’re likely no stranger to eye strain, blurry vision and headaches. Even worse, the blue light from your screen can make it challenging to fall asleep. Fortunately, there is a solution to relieve your tired eyes. Software apps like f.lux and Twilight automatically change the brightness and color temperature throughout the day, depending on the sun outside. The blue light of a bright screen tricks our brains into thinking it’s still daylight, which messes up our internal circadian rhythms. Once you get used to the orange hue of the software, you’ll be more focused and have better sleep. 10. Practice Desk De-Stress Ear Massage: Medical studies have shown that a brief ear massage relieves stress and anxiety. Start by applying light pressure to your earlobes using your thumb and index finger. Next, rub your earlobes and move up the outer rim of the ear to the top of your ear. Gently apply pressure and then work your way back down the ear. You can do this for about 2-3 minutes until you feel at ease. Hand Trick: Constant typing or writing notes/flash cards can cause your hands and wrists to become sore, which could ultimately distract you from studying. Lightly pinch the muscle between your thumb and index finger and massage in small circles. Eventually, you’ll begin to feel your hands, shoulders and neck start to relax and you will be back to studying in no time! Breathing Technique: Our breath is not something we ordinarily pay much attention to. It’s second nature, and something we do without even noticing. When feeling overwhelmed and looking for ways on how to focus on studying, sometimes all you need to do is regroup and focus on your breath. Try the 4-7-8 breathing method: Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds and then exhale for 8 seconds. 11. Build a Routine In a perfect world, studying would come natural to all of us. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case and for many of us, it can be hard to develop a consistent study routine. Step 1: Figure out your learning style Visual Learner: Images help you get a grip on things Aural Learner: Hearing and listening closely helps you retain information Verbal Learner: Reading and speaking helps your memory best Physical Learner: Prefer to use your body and touch things with your hands Logical Learner: Creating systems and sorting things logically Step 2: Plan what you are going to do and put it on a calendar Limit your time spent studying and allow for some fun to keep your spirits up. Share your calendar with important people in your life so they can see when it is and isn’t a good time to contact you. Start by planning one event a week and scale up from there – don’t try to plan your whole life right away. Step 3: Set a “Cue, Routine, Reward” Loop Cue: The moment that triggers the action (Set phone alarm to notify you to study) Routine: The action you are performing (Begin studying) Reward: A positive outcome that encourages you to continue on. (Reward yourself with a piece of chocolate) BONUS: Follow the 5 more rule: When you are in the middle of a task or study session and tempted to give up – just do five more!! If you’ve found these tips on how to stay focused while studying useful, leave us a comment and let us know what worked best for you.
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13 Unique Gifts for New Moms
Newborns need a lot of stuff, which makes it easy to forget about mom. In this exciting new chapter, a first time mom can feel stuck on what feels like a never-ending emotional roller coaster. If you’re looking to help her relax, adjust to sleepless nights and around-the-clock feedings, and make her feel absolutely loved and supported, below are some unique gifts for new moms. New Mom Gifts for Nourishment 1. Instant Pot The Instant Pot is one of the most beloved kitchen appliances. While it functions as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker and steamer, it can also whip up baby food and even sterilize bottles. Its versatility and efficiency make it a great go-to gift idea for new moms. Easy Instant Pot Recipes: Pot Roast Mac and Cheese Pulled Pork Tacos Tomato Soup Sloppy Joes Baked Potatoes Spaghetti Squash 2. Home-Cooked Meal The first few weeks after having a baby is a whirlwind of highs and lows. The last thing a new parent wants or needs to worry about is dinner. Having a home-cooked meal delivered to her house is a lifeline, especially on those harder days. Meals are simple yet meaningful first-time mom gifts. Meals for New Moms: Chicken and Green Bean Casserole Chicken Noodle Soup Lasagna Pasta and Meatballs Baked Oatmeal with Fruit Chicken Salad Vegetable Stir-fry Pulled Pork Sandwiches Turkey Chili Breakfast Muffins 3. Meal Delivery Subscription Nothing beats a home-cooked meal, but the new, sleep-deprived mom may not have the time in the early stages to look for healthy recipes, do the grocery shopping to pick up all the ingredients, and spend long hours in the kitchen. Meal delivery services take the pressure off putting healthy food on the table. They send you a simple recipe with all of the ingredients, and you simply throw everything together. Top Meal Delivery Services: Blue Apron HelloFresh Plated Home Chef Freshly 4. NeuroGum With a new baby who wakes up every two hours all night long (or more), the mom will need all the help she can get in order to function during the day. While coffee is effective at increasing energy levels, consuming too much can have the reverse effect, and end up keeping her awake during times when she could be getting rest. Neuro gum and mints are unique gifts for new moms that offer a great alternative to coffee. Neuro’s products contain a proprietary nootropic caffeine + L theanine blend with B6 and B12 vitamins. With just 40mg of caffeine per piece, it provides just the right amount of energy needed to push through the day. New Mom Gifts for Self-Care 5. Fleece Slippers Broken nights are a common feature of parenthood. Make getting up in the night a little less onerous by gifting a pair of cute fleece slippers that are as practical as they are fun. She’ll appreciate having something to kick her feet up in while nursing or rocking the baby back to sleep! 6. Gift Card for a Massage New moms are constantly being pulled in a million directions. Between breastfeeding, changing diapers, keeping the house in order and figuring out what to eat for dinner, it can take an emotional toll on her body. With so much going on, the last thing she is probably concerned about is self care. Some moms feel guilty setting up a spa service for themselves, so give her a guilt-free experience she’ll love with a gift certificate for a massage. If you want to go the extra mile, make your new mom gift even more special by offering to come over to babysit! 7. Luxurious Bathrobe With no regular routine in those first few weeks, new moms sometimes just want to feel comfortable. There will be various times when even putting on clothes seems like the most exhausting task on the planet. Get her a nice comfortable and luxurious robe that she will look forward to throwing on everyday. 8. New Mom Care Packages New mom care packages are the perfect tokens of support - after all, she won’t have much spare time to go out and pick up items on her own, and she’ll be so wrapped up in caring for her little one, she may forget to care for herself. Putting together a DIY package of thoughtful gifts is a simple gesture that’ll make her busy life easier, and her downtime a little more relaxing. Essentials for New Mom Care Package: Face Masks Dry Shampoo Neck Massager Fuzzy Socks Lip Moisturizer Advil Organic Bath Soak Nail Polish Sleep Mask Adult Coloring Book New Mom Gifts for Comfort 9. Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp Himalayan Pink Salt Lamps are one of the most unique gifts for new moms, as it’s not only something they probably didn’t expect to receive, but also something they probably never knew they needed! For those unfamiliar, Himalayan salt has several surprisinging and significant benefits, that can benefit both mom and baby. Benefits of Himalayan Pink Salt Lamps: Promotes negative ions, which purify and improve air quality Neutralizes the pollution of electronic devices Helps alleviate allergies Helps increase mood and reduces stress Creates beautiful ambient lighting 10. Weighted Blanket As a woman new to motherhood, it can be difficult to fall asleep, which is why weighted blankets makes for great first time mom gifts. These heavy blankets are designed to trigger the body to relax by simulating the feeling of being hugged or held, as well as reduce anxiety. Key Features: 300 Thread-Count 100% Cotton Plush, Soft, Mink-Like Fur Machine Washable Lead-Free Glass Bead Fill 11. Essential Oils Essential oils work exceptionally well at relieving various physical elements and also offer emotional support. They are also very easy to use. Simple is important for new moms who are figuring out life with a baby. There are so many ways to use essential oils: rubbed on the bottom of the feet, smelled straight from the bottle, diffused in a diffuser and much more. Best Essential Oils for New Moms: Fatigue: Rosemary Oil, Peppermint Oil Anxiety: Rose Oil Energy: Peppermint Oil Immune Support: Lemon Oil Rest: Lavender Oil New Mom Gifts Just for Fun 12. Subscription Box Moms work hard, and getting some TLC and beauty motivation delivered right to her door is exactly what she needs to brighten those difficult days. A beauty or self-care subscription box not only surprises her, but helps her out too. With boxes for almost every occasion, there’s sure to be one that’s perfect for the new mom in your life. Subscription Box Ideas: FabFitFun Stitch Fix Fit Snack Book of the Month Club Ritual Vitamins The Boxy Momma Co. 13. Fitness App Subscription Exercise is one of those things that make moms feel better whether indoors or out. Even a simple walk pushing the baby in the stroller can be great to her overall mental and physical health. Fitness Apps are useful because they’re able to be used them at home with limited time. She’ll be happy to have an outlet where she can achieve and maintain fitness and balance - both in mind and body. BONUS Gift Ideas for New Moms Wine Box Subscription Stylish Pajamas House Cleaner Date Night Gift Certificate Memory Foam Pillow Headbands and Hair Accessories Comfortable T-Shirts A Basket of Her Favorite Snacks Yoga Class Package
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How to Stay Motivated at Work - 5 Unique Tips
No motivation to work? It’s easy to fall into a rut and get stuck in the same daily routine. Some days you feel you can conquer the world, when others it’s a struggle to answer emails. However, consistently following and practicing these tips on how to stay motivated at work will help you experience: Increased energy levels to get tasks done Better sustained results in the long run More enthusiasm to attack challenges
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Why It’s Important to Take Risks to Find Success in Life
The path to success presents many challenges that can only be met by taking a risk. We’ve all read stories about nervy entrepreneurs who met this challenge and became wildly successful. In order to reap big rewards in any area of life, you’ve got to be willing to leave your comfort zone once in awhile and take those calculated risks.
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7 Motivational Podcasts to Help With Your Mental Health and Productivity
It happens to the best of us--trying to accomplish so many business, creative, or personal goals wears you down. How do you get your head back in the game? Remember you’re not alone in your despair--reach out to other people who have overcome similar circumstances. A good place to find kindred spirits in the world of podcasts.
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Which Apps Can Help Increase My Productivity and Energy?
Depending on your personal health and dietary restrictions and preferences, you might not choose to ingest anything for energy. That’s where technology comes in handy. Here are a few apps that can help you restore your energy as well as harness it to focus on the things that matter.
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What Are the Best Non-traditional Sources of Energy?
The hectic pace of modern life can be exhilarating and also exhausting. We try to keep fatigue at bay with too many servings of caffeinated, sugary beverages, but the afternoon slump creeps up on us and leads to the crash. Instead of dipping into your old bag of tricks for the same old pick-me-up, try something new from these energy sources.
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The Most Common New Year’s Resolutions and How to Stick to Them
As the new year begins, it is time to set your goals for the next year. For most people, the New Year is synonymous with new beginnings and starting fresh, so it’s no surprise that many of them decide to come up with New Year’s resolutions. According to a recent survey, more than 40 percent of American adults create New Year’s resolutions for themselves. However, only 46 percent of them manage to fulfill their goals. While this success rate is about ten times higher than for people who decide to make major changes in their lives at any other time during the year, the fact that more than half of all resolvers fail doesn’t sound very encouraging.
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