Off late, I can’t seem to remember where I left my wallet, or whether I kept the main door open before I went to sleep. I tend to forget my keys, to reply to my mails, and I space out during a meeting once in a while. Does it happen to you too?

We all get brain fogged occasionally. It’s only natural for us as humans. However, don’t worry. Learning a few tricks could help you fight back and train your brain to become active and powerful once more.

Here’s what you can do.

Easy techniques to make your brain smarter!

Learn something new

Have you ever thought of learning the guitar or the violin? If you haven’t, try now!

Learning something new is an amazing way to exercise your brain. You get to acquire a new skill too. Do anything that you haven’t done before. Read a new book, sign up for cookery classes. Another great way to learn something new is by enrolling in online courses. Whether it’s through an online language tutor or language apps, you can easily access lessons from the comfort of your home. These resources offer structured learning materials and interactive exercises to help you grasp concepts efficiently. You could learn your favorite language too. The trick is to learn anything that excites or interests you!

It has been more than a month since my exams were over. I was feeling droopy doing nothing. Hence, I signed up for driving lessons. By the end of the week, I felt more active and useful.

Toggle your brain

Now that you have planned on trying your hand on something new, you could do the same to your hand as well. Confused? Don’t be, it’s time to play with your hands; with that I mean, both hands!

If you brush your teeth with your right hand, do it tomorrow with your left hand. Try washing your dishes with your other hand. The key is to use more of your less exploited hand. It will surprise you when you realize how less control you have on your non-dominant hand.

If you use your opposite hand more frequently, your brain will build up knowledge to function better. Your brain cells become stronger and you could even grow new ones by using both sides of your brain.^[1]

However, don’t rush. You will lose the fun element. Take baby steps. I personally began by writing few lines daily with my other hand.

Cut it short with mnemonics

Remember the alphabet song – ABCDEFG….HIJK…El-em-en-no-peee…

I don’t think anyone in this planet could ever forget this one. Ever wondered why?

Our brain finds it easier to memorize and recall information if we relate it to a particular song or a rhyme or a pattern. Yes, that’s mnemonics for you.^[2]

It is one of the simplest ways to remember facts and crisp information like names, dates etc. Like, I memorized the five oceans in descending order in school by forming acronyms, PAISA (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, Arctic). Isn’t that easy?

Mnemonics comes in handy when you try to learn a complex list of items, like your social security number, bank account numbers or even phone numbers.

Each one of us is so deeply immersed in aiming for perfection every day that we tend to forget that our brain is only a part of us, after all- not a robot!

Try to relax your brain after a long day’s work. Listen to music, eat healthy, and walk while you talk. Few changes in your daily routine can do wonders to your mind.

So, what are you waiting for? Juggle up your memory. Train your brain the easy way!

Feel free to share more.

References:

[1] Schmidt, M. (2008). Using Both Sides of Your Brain: The Case for Rapid Interhemispheric Switching PLoS Biology, 6 (10) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060269. ^Back to Top^

[2]Derwinger, A., Neely, A., & Bäckman, L. (2005). Design your own memory strategies! Self-generated strategy training versus mnemonic training in old age: An 8-month follow-up Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 15 (1), 37-54 DOI: 10.1080/09602010343000336. ^Back to Top^