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How can I increase my intake of brain fuel?
Home » Executive Coaching » Executive Coaching - Brain Fuel » How can I increase my intake of brain fuel?Like your muscles, your brain atrophies without consistent use. Most people believe that memory deteriorates with age, but in fact, memory only deteriorates because it is not used; it could improve with age. Understandably then, the best way to increase your intake of brain fuel is to starting using your brain more and more. While it is unknown whether you can actually increase your intelligence, you can begin to think and learn more efficiently. Here are some suggestions:
Discuss ideas and projects with others: The Old Testament book of Proverbs says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Michel de Montaigne echoed that, saying, “It is good to rub and polish our brain against that of others.” Reading books by experts or having conversations and working on projects with co-workers helps you define your own ideas and opens your eyes to new perspectives.
Don’t overwhelm yourself: Have you ever had a case of writer’s block in which the harder you searched for the right word, the farther away it seemed to run? Sometimes you need breaks to allow your mind to rest and recuperate. Do some physical activity (which is also helpful in itself) or just focus on something else for a while. Then return to the project with fresh energy.
Break the information down into smaller units: Don’t try to do or understand everything at once. Make some progress in one or two specific areas so that you get a feel for the project. Enable your brain to focus on one issue at a time, and then move forward.
Start trying it: Albert Einstein said, “Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.” In the end, you need to just get out there and start trying—you’ll learn from experience.
These are just a few suggestions—one of the best strategies for increasing your brain fuel intake is to reflect on your personal experience. When do you work best and think best? Apply those circumstances to your daily routine as much as possible, and see if your work improves.
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