Lack of physical activity can cause our bodies to become lethargic and get soft. And so does the brain become sluggish without stimulation. It could result from living our lives as a routine, as it slows down the brain.

Dr. Lawrence Katz explained that mental decline is more from the loss of communication between one’s brain cells than from loss of brain cells. He wrote this in his book; Keeping your Brain Alive.

Brain exercises strengthen the connections between neurons. And you no longer have to wonder what you were about to do when you had prepared to work on your MBA capstone project, with these exercises:

1. Close Eyes and do Chores

We start with a warning, don’t attempt this on an activity that may put you or others, in harm’s way. Doing chores with the eyes closed will force your brain to form fresh neural pathways.

2. Meditation

Meditation is useful in relieving yourself of the stress of having to think about your project for MBA. Chronic stress can cause damage to the brain. Meditation reduces the need for your mind to fire the stress response.

It can be hard to train your mind to be quiet. It is so because, daily, the brain pours out more than 70000 thoughts. It is a thinking machine that goes on and on. When you meditate, it is like doing pushups but for the brain.

It also has other benefits such as increasing attention and focus, improving mood, learning ability and memory, reversal of atrophy of the brain, and so much more.

3. Use all your senses

Try out activities that cause you to use all your senses, simultaneously. It could be gardening, camping or traveling. When you are learning something, and use more senses at the same time, your brain will be better at retaining the memory.

You could try ceramics or sculpting. The next task will be noticing the smell, and feel of any of the materials you will be using. It may be time now to venture into the unfamiliar and challenge your senses.

4. Repetition

It’s not the same as cramming for an exam where you repeat particular information over a short time, over and over again. To use repetition as a learning tool, you have to time it correctly. Studies show that rehearsals that are spaced improve the recall ability in healthy people and those with cognitive problems, too.

5. Read out Loud

It will engage your imagination differently. You can do this by listening to audiobooks rather than reading a book. Also, you could try listening to or reading a book with somebody else.

When you repeat something you have read, thought, or heard; out loud, or write it, your brain reinforces the connection.

6. Physical Exercise

Exercising helps in reduction of stress. And some may even argue that it is more important than thinking with the brain. It reduces your risk of dementia and protects against mental decline.

That’s not all; exercise promotes the formation of new brain cells and that of neural connections by increasing the level of chemicals in the brain that stimulates these processes.

7. Adequate sleep

Sleep-deprivation keeps us from functioning adequately. It affects our memory, cognitive skills, ability to communicate, and think clearly. When you feel you haven’t had enough rest, you may need to improve the quality of your sleep.

Conclusion

When it becomes challenging to concentrate on the finance project for MBA, you can try the above exercises to sharpen your brain. Overall, it is useful to incorporate them into your day to day affairs.