How to Nourish your Mind

We all know that a healthy mind is essential to your overall health. That’s why it’s important you do things that will nourish your mind. But before we get deep into this crucial stuff, what does it just mean to have a healthy mind?

A lot of people tend to confuse between the mind and the brain. There’s quite a difference. The brain is an organ in your physical body, made up of cells just like other organs. On the contrary, your mind is made up of your intentions, thoughts, and emotions via which you encounter the world. It’s your mind that creates the world you experience. The connection between the brain and the mind is that a healthy brain is essential for psychological, emotional and intellectual well-being. Thus, building a better brain is actually a great way to nourish you mind. Below are 7 top things you can do to nourish your mind starting right now.

1.      Build a Healthy Brain

Since your brain is made up of the same basic constituents that make up other organs in your body (cells and tissues), it needs the energy to operate efficiently. In fact, your brain needs more energy than any other organ in your body. It’s paramount that you eat adequate food that supplies your brain with all the energy required to run the whole system that’s your entire body.

As a general rule of the thumb, what’s good for the body is good for the brain too. Consider eating a balanced diet that’s nutrient-rich. Have it in mind that your brain runs on energy-infusing glucose. The best supply of this important glucose are complex carbohydrates found in fresh fruits, legumes, vegetables, and grains. Lack of glucose negatively impacts your ability to remember, concentrate and learn.

2.      Savor Silence

Now that you actually know how important it is to build your brain so you can nourish your mind, we can go on to the next step, savoring silence. Try to consciously spend time in silence. This increases your awareness, and quiets the mind’s own chatter. You may sign up for a silent retreat (you could create one of your own right at home), spend a ‘silent day' once monthly, or an hour weekly in silence.

3.      Reading

Reading happens to be a highly effective way to nourish your mind. Try to read new books in whatever fields/areas that are of interest to you. The objective is to encounter something you already like/enjoy but from a different vantage. You could also try different genres.

4.      Physical Exercise

Multiple studies have established that regular physical exercise contributes to a healthy brain. Aerobic exercises that get you breathing heavily for an extended period of time are great for both your body and brain. It increases blood flow and oxygen distribution throughout your body. In addition to contributing to a healthy brain, aerobic exercises have also been known to contribute to better memory and performance. The increased blood flow encourages the production of new neurons in a very important part of the brain. Exercise additionally nourishes your mind by promoting both emotional and psychological health.

5.      Brain Fitness

Just like unused muscles tend to become weak, unused bits in your brain will progressively degrade in capabilities. It’s either use it or lose it. When it comes to promoting brain fitness, brain exercises and brain games are of particular importance. So you might want to take on that crossword puzzle lying idly on top of your coffee table. Constantly challenge your brain with unfamiliar activities, thus waking up its dominant and unused parts. For instance, you could learn a foreign language, try a musical instrument, or acquire just about any other new skill.

These seemingly simple things will go a long way towards nourishing and enhancing the capacity of your brain. Get started right now and cultivate healthier mind!