These days, there’s alot of talk about being “intentional”. Well, when we went TV-free, it was almost completely unintentional, as many of the most profitable things we’ve done have been.
Adapted from Pick Your Brain, Feb 15th, 2007 (courtesy of Mercola.com)
Your brain needs exercise just like a muscle. If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus. But if you never use your brain, or abuse it with harmful chemicals, your ability to think and learn will deteriorate.
Here are 5 simple ways anyone can squeeze a bit more productivity out of the old gray matter.
1. Minimize Television Watching – This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.
Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box for so long. You don’t even have the energy to read a book.
When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.
2. Exercise – I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.
3. Read Challenging Books – Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed to the author’s style.
Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think you’ll find that you aren’t tempted to go back to page-turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.
4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise – Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity all day.
If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.
5. Take Time to Reflect – Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.
Recently, I’ve been hearing that spending alot of time on the internet is bad for children’s intelligence. Any thoughts on taming the Facebook Monster?
When we talk about #5, ‘reflect’, let’s make a distinction between reflection and stewing.
Too often, when we take time out to think about actions and emotions and situations, we simply stew. It becomes about other people, and how great it would be if they would change so that they would fit our image of how things should be.
Reflection, on the other hand, is about us and how we respond to events and people. It is about how we want to be in our situations, and what we need to do, have, or be to be our best with whatever the world drops in our laps on a particular day. It means taking a hard look at what we bring to the table–both in terms of our strengths and weaknesses, and in terms of what we have done well or badly in similar past situations. And sometimes it means admitting that we don’t have control over something or someone, and mapping our responses to that fact.
Maybe this is a sensitive area for me right now, as I’m working with my students who are training for ministry on what ‘reflection’ means, and teaching them some ways to do their required reflective journals. And by the way, a structured journal is a great reflective tool.
Wendy, that’s a great distinction! I confess, I was simply thinking in terms of having a bit of time to oneself, to think one’s own thoughts and connect with God to hear His. But I see your point! Actually, for a very similar reason, I don’t advocate using time out with small children. 😉
The principle of distinguishing between what I can control and what I can’t has been one of the most edifying practices I have learned. In fact, this past week or two I’ve been “fasting” from deciding how everyone else should fulfill their responsibilities and then being crabby that they don’t do things my way! lol
Personally, I enjoy both “challenging” books and “tacky” thrillers. 🙂
We raised our twin sons, now 22, without TV. Now they say that though they wanted one in early teen years neither will live with one.
Read to them, and read substantial books yourself. Subscribe to beautiful magazines and kids’ magazines. For example: National Geographic, Owl and Chickadee. Travel, even if it’s 50 miles from home. Eat dinner together (and cook it yourselves if you possibly can.) A recent study quoted in the Globe and Mail said eating together as a family increases intelligence.
I probably watch less than 6 hours a week of television, if averaged over a month. I read constantly, because that’s a part of my job but it also is more edifying and interesting than anything on the box. I have always been more of a nonfiction reader than a fiction fan.
Another thing I’d add to that list–develop a traditional skill. It can be knitting, playing the piano, woodworking, gardening. Working with your hands means you work with a different part of your brain, and it’s sort of like allover fitness. The more of your body you work, the better the general fitness level. The more of your brain you work….
(I’m an avid handknitter….just got my copy of the newly-released ‘Design it, Knit it’ by Debbie Bliss!)
Emily – my friend Susan in Texas advocated having three levels of reading material on your nightstand so you always have something to pick up, depending on your energy level at the moment, etc. It wasn’t an original idea with her and I’m sure there’s more to it than that …
Duchesse and Wendy – great suggestions! Eating dinner together probably increases intelligence for many reasons, not the least of which is opportunity for genuine conversation outside of one’s own peer group. And developing a “hands-on” skill is a fabulous idea, so much of work life is now lived on the computer. I suppose my traditional skill would be preparing nutritious foods from scratch (it always amazes me how long it takes!), but I have been intent on learning to paint for the reason that it works a different part of the brain than many of my other activities.
Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca – I do something similar. I am currently reading Virginia Woolf at lunch and on the bus, and a Robin Hobb Fantasy before bed. 🙂 It’s like enjoying both fine dining and grilled cheese, it all depends what you’re in the mood for.