Useful Aspects To Avoid Brain Overload

Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Southern California, Martin Hilbert, says that, “The amount of information we produce in a day through email, social networking sites and text messages is on average six newspapers worth, compared to two and half pages in the 80s. ”Can you imagine how much data our brains have to process every single minute? So how do they cope? It’s simple; they adapt.

Our brains are such amazing performance tools that they are able to combine and repurpose what evolution throws our way. But sometimes it gets to be too much for us to handle and our brains seem to just shut down. Research shows that the more information we receive, the less our dorsolateral prefrontal cortex - the region right behind the forehead responsible for all our logical reasoning and decision making - does what it’s supposed to do. It shuts down, leaving you flustered and incapable of making even the simplest decisions. And on any average day, we make thousands of choices, each one chipping away at our mental capacity. So how do we help our brains cope with this increasing demand for our attention and the cognitive overkill?

Stop multi-tasking

Doing multiple things at once could be the worst thing you can do to your brain. You jump from one task to another without really giving any of them your full attention so nothing gets done as it should. Being steadily interrupted causes your brain to freeze up then take over 15 minutes to fully concentrate on the task at hand. But if this task is being switched around, then the brain doesn’t get the chance to fully concentrate on anything at all which has actually been scientifically proven to slow down the brain.

Focus on 1 task at a time

Instead of having your phone beep beside you every time you get an email or text message, set aside some social media time to minimize distractions. You can also set up 45 minutes to get some work done before you can take a 15-minute break to do a couple of stretches, get a snack or go for a quick walk. It’s important to know when you feel most energized and use that time to tackle our hardest or longest projects. And other times during the day when you feel sluggish, you can set aside that time to do something for you, like listening to music, meditating or checking your social media. Another important tip is to externalize data. Write down lists, notes, and other important information somewhere safe. You can keep a notepad on your desk or use an app to keep everything in one place. Most apps now can be synced across all your devices so you can find whatever you need no matter where you are.

Eat right

We all know how vital fruits, vegetables, whole wheat and omega-3 fatty acids are to our health. But did you know that the brain, even though it occupies only 2% of the body’s volume, uses over 20% of the entire body’s energy supply to help fuel the little organs that boost our brain's activity? They’re known as mitochondria and they love feeding on polyphenols which are found in berries, apples, citrus foods and coffee. Drinking plenty of water is also essential for brain health.

Get sufficient amount of sleep

Sleep is when your brain eliminates all the necessary junk you received all throughout the day. It’s a cleansing process for your brain. So when you don’t get your full night’s sleep which can be anywhere from 7 - 9 hours, then you’re depriving your brain from getting the rest and relaxation it needs. This hinders your memory and concentration. It also leaves you feeling exhausted and lethargic. So make it a point to get some quality sleep to improve energy levels, enhance cognitive functions and help give your brain some downtime.

Practice mindfulness

Meditation, controlled breathing, and yoga are all techniques that help hone your attention so you’re more conscious of your goals and tasks. You train your mind to think in a more positive tone and direct it on focus more on what you want out of life, and less on any negative distractions. Practicing this regularly helps create more space and energy in your brain to build better and stronger connections.