Train your brain
and keep a fit mindset

For a new haircut you go to the hairdresser, you get your car inspected, and to get fitter you exercise. You give a lot of attention to what is visible and tangible. What about your brain? How do you take care of it and how do you train it?

Addicted to stimuli

In the digital age, you are inundated with stimuli. After reading an app, it takes about a minute before you resume your task. It then takes 15 to 25 minutes to get fully in focus. That’s lost time you don’t get back. That’s why it’s valuable to train your brain so you switch gears faster and hold your concentration longer. Do the math, your bottom line.

How do you train your brain?

Think of your brain as a muscle. With training courses it gets stronger and increases its endurance. Your concentration improves by:

Reading books

In reading, you focus on one world: text. You eliminate images and background noise. That makes reading a powerful concentration workout.

Reduce distractions

First, examine what distracts you the most. Then adjust your environment or behavior accordingly. So ask yourself: what distracts you and how can you minimize it?

Sleeping, eating and positive thinking

Your brain functions better with adequate sleep, nutritious meals and constructive thoughts. After a good night, you are more creative. Positive thoughts expand your capabilities. Good nutrition helps your brain to persevere.

Keep your brain fit

Apart from training your ability to concentrate, keep your brain young by continuing to challenge it. Learn something new: a language, an instrument or a thinking sport. Exercise enough. Research shows that exercise can even slow the process of dementia.

Exercising not only makes you feel fitter, it also benefits your brain. It gets better blood flow, receives more oxygen and forms new brain cells. Connections between nerve cells strengthen and communication between brain cells becomes more efficient. That keeps your brain running smoothly.

In short, exercise is important for keeping your brain healthy. In this video, Professor Dr. Erik Scherder, professor of clinical neuropsychology at the VU, explains why walking is so good for maintaining your brain.

The hormone factory

Your brain responds directly to training courses, care and challenge. Hormones play a big role in this. In adolescence, hormones dance all over the place, but they also have a major impact on how you feel and behave throughout the rest of our lives. What “hormone factories” does our brain have?

• The hypothalamus produces vasopressin and affects fluid balance and blood pressure. Alcohol and caffeine disrupt this. That thirst after a night of drinking? Right, that’s where it comes from, among other things.
• The pituitary gland produces oxytocin, known as the cuddle hormone. Touch, eye contact and the presence of people or animals stimulate this production.
• The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This collaboration creates cortisol, the hormone that helps your body and brain cope with stress.
• The pineal gland makes melatonin, the sleep hormone. It is produced when it is dark and stops as soon as it gets light.

Your brain is constantly evolving

Your brain is not cast in iron. It is flexible, trainable and constantly evolving. When you nurture it and keep challenging it, you increase your mental strength. Did you know that you can also actively train your emotional intelligence?