Maximise Your Mind

The old saying “healthy body, healthy mind” has proven to be amazingly profound, as endless research studies reveal that there is indeed a powerful link between mind and body. And it works both ways, what we think controls our physiology and our physiology controls what we think.

Another thing that we are discovering is that the mind can be changed, in much the same way as the body can. The process is called neuroplasticity and, in simple terms, it means that with practice we can re-wire the brain and change the way we view life.

You may already be a super-positive person who is getting the most from life, in which case don’t change a thing but if you are trundling along in your comfort zone, here are some suggestions:

1. Abraham Lincoln said: “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be,” and we think he was pretty much on the money. There are a million quotes about attitude but they all boil down to the same thing: Stuff happens - what occurs after that stuff has happened is largely a matter of how we choose to respond to it. Next time you catch yourself in a downward spiral of negativity, stop and look up (they say it’s hard to be unhappy when you look upwards) and replace those negative thoughts with something positive. Attitude is a habit and, like most habits, a positive attitude can be acquired with some work.

2. One thing that is guaranteed to give you a positive attitude is exercise. How many times have you turned up at the club thinking,“I really don’t feel like doing this,” only to discover that an hour later you feel like a million dollars? There are reasons for that - largely based on the fact that exercise changes our body chemistry and stimulates the brain. Recent research also suggests that when you exercise even moderate amounts, you can trigger your brain to promote the production of new brain cells. One thing is for sure, if you are going to get the most from this summer it’s important that you exercise regularly.

3. Talking about changing body chemistry and boosting the brain, if you’re going to have a little of what you fancy every now and again, it may as well be chocolate. Dark chocolate in particular will give you a quick mental buzz. Other mood foods include fish, berries, walnuts and almonds, bananas, sunflower seeds, eggs and green tea. The debate about coffee rages on, but our view is that if a daily latte makes you happy, go for it.

4. If you want to feel calm and energised this summer, think about creating an environment that appeals to your senses and supports that happy state. Simple things like relaxing colours (greens and blues), a bunch of flowers, calming smells like lavender and jasmine, mellow music, subtle lighting and a tidy, organised office or home can make a huge difference to your ability to manage stress and enrich your life.

5. Just like your body, your brain works on the use-it or lose-it principle. Things like crosswords and sudoku will stimulate the old grey matter, as will reading, board games like chess and card games like bridge - even something as simple as taking a different route home from work will activate your brain. You might also like to try doing things that challenge you creatively like painting, learning an instrument or gardening. These are all activities that will keep you mentally active and help to give you a sense of peace and fulfilment.

6. In order to keep our minds stimulated, we should all think about learning at least one new skill every year. Night school is full of classes that are designed to introduce beginners to new things that will stretch them mentally. Evening classes are also a great way of extending your network of friends (which is healthy in its own right) and taking your mind off whatever it is that dominates your thinking for most of the day. Why not book yourself onto one of our Studio Classes today at your local LA fitness?

7. If you’re going to get the most from life this summer you need to ensure that you manage your time effectively. Here are a few tips: Think about the time stealers in your life, what do you spend more time than necessary on? and try to minimise them. Prioritise your activities ruthlessly, learn to say no and try to delegate. Set time limits for certain tasks and stick to them. Work on your least favourite task for 10-minutes every day. Check email at pre-determined times - not as it arrives. When you are at the bottom of your productivity cycle don’t fight it, take a break - a walk, a power nap, whatever - and you’ll be much more effective when you get back to your desk.

8. Take responsibility for your outcomes. The willingness to accept that where you are in yourlife is often the result of decisions you have taken along the way, moves you from victim status and empowers you to make changes that will give you the resources to set challenging new goals and meet them.