Secrets Of Clear Thinking

 by: Steve Gillman

Where is...car...my keys...hmm...and that...oh yeah, but...hmm - Does your brain feel like that sometimes? How can you combat "brain fog," and think more clearly? Try some of the following.

Clear space equals clear thinking. Despite many protests to the contrary, it's rare that a person can work better in clutter. An organised office or home means you won't often have the thought "where is that..." distracting your mind.

Sleep well. Individual sleep requirements vary greatly, but the bare minimum for almost everyone is somewhere around five hours. Many of us suffer if we sleep less than eight hours. The research, however, seems to indicate that after a certain minimum quantity, the quality of sleep is more important to normal brain function.

Meditate. The simplest form is to just close your eyes, relax, and watch your breath. Your mind will wander endlessly, but just continually return your attention to your breath. Do this for even five minutes, and you'll see results.

A Powerful Technique For Clear Thinking

Learn to resolve your "mind irritations," by watching what's going on in your head. This takes practice, but you can start now. Maybe a phone call you need to make has been quietly bothering you all day, just below consciousness. Perhaps you are worried about an upcoming meeting.

Tune in to your mind. When you become aware of all these stressors, small and large, do something to let them go for the moment. For example, make that phone call, or just put it on your "to do" list and your mind will let go of the concern for now. Just bringing a problem to full consciousness and telling yourself something like, "There is nothing I can do about this until Friday," will often stop the unconscious worrying.

After doing this a few times, you'll find it becomes easier to recognise what is just below the surface, irritating you and sapping your brain power. Take care of those things, and clearer thinking is automatic.

A Few More Tips For Clearer Thinking

1. Take a walk. Research will eventually show that this is one of the best things you can do to improve the quality of your thinking. Don't wait for the proof. There are enough other reasons to take a walk anyhow.

2. Avoid sugar. If you really don't understand the concept of brain fog, eat a large piece of sugary cake on an empty stomach, then try to do math problems twenty minutes later. You'll get the point. This is what they call the "sugar blues."

3. Take three deep breaths through your nose.

4. Avoid alcohol.

You don't have to use all of these tips and techniques to have clearer thinking, but try at least a couple today, and make one or two a habit. You'll have a more powerful brain.