Try to memorize small things each day. Write a grocery list and commit it to memory. Memorize a small passage from a poem or book. Wait an hour and see how much you can recall of what you’ve committed to memory. [1] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Draw a map from memory. Sketch a map going from your home to work, a store, a friend’s house, or another place you frequently visit. Notice the little details. Making a conscious effort to notice seemingly irrelevant things can be a huge tool to help you become more logical. Do you notice the new paper cut on your friend’s hand? Do you count the steps in your school or college? Do you look for spelling mistakes in texts? If the answer is no, now would be a great time to start. The more you practice, the healthier your mind will be. Over time, you’ll become a more critical thinker.
Learn to play instruments. Learn to draw or paint. Learn to speak a foreign language. Learn to cook.
Catastrophizing takes on many forms. Say, for example, your boss sent you an email about contributing more during work meetings. If you’re prone to catastrophizing, you might take this to mean your job is in jeopardy, your boss thinks you’re a poor worker, you’ll end up fired and unemployable, and your friends and family members will all think less of you. If you catch yourself snowballing like this, take a deep breath and try to think logically. In this example, you could think to yourself, “It’s my boss’s job to give me constructive feedback. She just wants to push me to perform my best and everyone gets criticism on occasion. It’s a normal part of life. “[7] X Research source Minimizing is a form of catastrophizing where you ignore your successes and good qualities and do not see the negatives in other people’s lives. You may think some people have it all, are flawless and successful, and then when you realize they are flawed in some manner you write them off. You might also do this for yourself - you’ll think you’re the most successful person in the world then, after a small setback, see yourself as a massive failure. Try to recognize these thinking patterns as flawed and recognize the fact everyone is made of both good and bad qualities. [8] X Research source
Everyone contributes an important role to a company, school, organization, and field. A sense of grandiosity is not only off-putting but it can actually cause you to have setbacks at work and life. A sense of self-awareness is important to regulate how you interact with others. Try to combat feelings of grandiosity by reminding yourself that while it’s important to feel good about yourself you need to acknowledge the hard work and contributions of others as well. [9] X Research source Personalization is a form of self-aggrandizing where you think events that have little to do with you are somehow caused by your presence. This can be for better or for worse. If a co-worker is talking to an attractive person in the office, you may assume he or she is trying to make you jealous. If the same co-worker can’t make it to your birthday party, you may assume he or she harbors a secret grudge against you when in fact he or she may have simply been busy. If you find yourself personalizing, try to remember that other people’s lives are as hectic as yours. They likely have little time to make decisions with regards to you.
This type of thinking is often causes people to not take responsibility for their actions. If you have a problem, make sure to acknowledge and accept it, then find a way to correct or learn from it.
For example, if a cashier is rude to you, you may assume, “I bet she doesn’t like me because of my appearance, weight, attire, etc. " when in reality you have no idea what another person is thinking. People also tend to assume someone will naturally know what they’re thinking, which can lead to confusion. For example, you may assume your roommate knows you want him to let your dog out as you’ll be home late, but if you do not express this he may not realize it. Try to be conscious of logical leaps in your day-to-day life and catch yourself making them. [12] X Research source
You might, for example, feel like you’re a complete failure if you misspelled one word in an e-mail without acknowledging the fact your message was conveyed successfully and no one commented on the error. Make an effort to accept that most things in life are neither entirely positive or negative.
Spinach is a powerful brain food. Eating three or more servings of spinach or other leafy greens like kale each day slows mental decline and increases overall brain function. Simple sugars, like table sugars and brown sugars, as well as syrupy sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, can have a detrimental effect on the brain. Saturated and trans fats, the kinds of found in red meat and dairy, have a negative effect on your mental level as well as overall health. Enriched, bleached, or refined flour, the flour found in white breads, white rices, and white pastas, also has a poor affect on the brain. [15] X Research source
Don’t take any naps throughout the day—these will throw off your circadian rhythms and make it harder to fall asleep. [18] X Expert Source Jeremy Bartz, PhDClinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 8 January 2021. If you like using electronics before bed, consider buying a pair of blue light filtering glasses. Also, make sure you’re consuming relaxing content, rather than scary material that’ll keep you up at night. [19] X Expert Source Jeremy Bartz, PhDClinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 8 January 2021. Reading can be a helpful way to unwind before bed. [20] X Expert Source Jeremy Bartz, PhDClinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 8 January 2021.
Make exercise a priority. Many people push exercise to the peripheral of their lives, not making the time necessary to go to the gym or go for a run. If you make a schedule for yourself, and stick to it, exercise will eventually feel as vital a part of your routine as brushing your teeth in the morning or showering. [23] X Research source Aerobics seem to have a particularly strong effect on cognitive abilities. Running, jogging, biking, and engaging in workout routines that get the heart pumping 4 or 5 times a week can increase your brainpower. [24] X Research source
