Partner Article

How To Keep Your Business Brain In Shape

Keeping your brain ship-shape is important for leadership roles. In order to lead by example, think creatively and inspire your team, mental agility can be a huge bonus. We’re often told how crucial it is to look after our physical health, but it’s equally important to look after our mental health too. Here are some ways you as a businessperson can keep your grey matter in check. Exercise And that doesn’t mean hitting the gym 3 or 4 times a week. Even moderate exercise can have a positive impact on brain health. Exercise is known to help brain cells grow and help guard against things like strokes and dementia. This infographic by online bingo brainboxes Wink Bingo shows that just 30 minutes of light exercise - like a brisk walk, a jog or a swim - can improve your ability to retain information and react to stimulus. We’re all busy but it doesn’t take a lot to integrate some exercise into your working day - and it’s well worth it. Good sleep Good quality sleep plays an important role in your health and wellbeing. While different people need different amounts of sleep, a good rule-of-thumb is to aim for between 6 and 8 hours. Not enough sleep means tiredness, the effects of which can range from the downright dangerous (like a car crash) to things like slower reaction times, affected learning ability and problems thinking clearly - all of which are important in the workplace. The Sleep Council recommends the following for a good night’s sleep:

• Going to bed and getting up at the same time - this helps your body clock tick over.
• Sleeping in a comfortable environment - at a good temperature, with no distractions.
• Try and avoid stimulants like tea, coffee and alcohol before bed.

Learn new things It’s thought that learning new things helps keep your brain in good condition because it can slow mental decline in older age. How can you keep your grey matter active? You could:

• Do number puzzles like Sudoku.
• Play online games.
• Learn a new language.
• Study something.

Eat well There are strong links between certain foods and mental sharpness. If you don’t already, think about adding tomatoes, almonds, oily fish, walnuts and blueberries into your diet - these are all thought to fuel your brain. Challenge yourself Unsurprisingly, mental agility is about keeping your brain challenged. That means not being afraid to switch things up a little bit. So if you can tackle even the hardest cryptic crossword in a matter of minutes, move on to something else and give something new a whirl. Work in different places If you’re able to, try and work from different places where possible. Sitting at a desk all week can stifle productivity - so think about heading to a local coffee shop, working from home or simply switching desks. Of course, training your brain isn’t just good for your career. It’s good for your life. Practicing known brain improvement techniques and challenging yourself are all ways that could keep your brain sharp as you move into old age. Do you have any tips for giving your brain cells a good workout? Do share them with us.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Irma Hunkeler .