As a mom, you have a lot on your plate. Between caring for kids and running errands, keeping the house in order, cleaning up after dinner and doing laundry, it’s no wonder that sometimes you don’t feel like your most energetic self. The good news is there are many ways to boost brainpower for moms that don’t involve spending money or having more time on your hands! You can take actionable steps today to make yourself feel more alert and focused—even when you’re exhausted from all of those other commitments.
1. Do complex activities with your child.
You’d be surprised by how much your brainpower can increase when you engage in more complex activities. The more challenging the activity, the more your mind will work to process it and the better you’ll feel.
Having a child certainly qualifies as a complex activity, but there are plenty of other options out there as well. You could take up an instrument or learn how to play chess; maybe even start experimenting with cooking new recipes! All of these things require a lot more effort than doing laundry or cleaning the dishes does, which can make them very satisfying when finished.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list, try breaking it down into smaller tasks. When you have a lot of things to do, it can be overwhelming and make you feel like nothing is getting done. By breaking your projects down into small steps, however, they’ll seem more manageable. For example, if you have 20 items on a list of chores that need doing around the house today but only an hour or so free to work on them, don’t try tackling all 20 items at once; instead focus on just one or two tasks and move on from there.
2. Work out.
Here’s a tip: Work out. Sure, it might not be as glamorous as taking a nap or cracking open a new book—but working out is one of the best ways to keep your brain sharp. Research shows that exercise can help you sleep better by releasing endorphins that make you feel relaxed and less stressed. It can also help boost your attention span, so if you’re finding yourself unable to focus on work after the kids go to bed (or before they wake up), try hitting the gym for an hour or two instead of scrolling through Instagram. And if all else fails? Exercise works wonders on making us feel happier, too!
3. Read fiction.
Reading fiction is great for your brain, and for all the same reasons you might think. It boosts imagination, empathy and vocabulary (which helps with social skills).
For example, fictional stories are wonderful for strengthening your mental muscles. A recent study in Frontiers in Psychology found that reading a novel can help form new neural connections in the brain and improve cognitive functions such as memory and creativity. Fictional stories also have the power to change how we see the world: On average, readers of literary fiction will experience a greater increase in their political tolerance than those who read nonfiction or popular novels. For moms looking to get more out of life than just being mommy-mobiles (and whatever else happens), this could be an excellent choice!
4. Get enough sleep.
Sleep is one of the best ways to keep your brain running smoothly, and you’re likely to be well aware of the impact that sleep deprivation can have on your mood and memory. But did you know that getting enough sleep also boosts productivity? One study found that sleeping less than six hours per night was associated with increased errors in a task where participants were asked to match up two numbers. Another study showed that people who slept fewer than six hours per night had slower reaction times and performed worse on tests of mental function than those who slept seven hours or more.
Sleep deprivation can also affect decision making skills, which may not seem like much of an issue now (after all, there’s no rush when you’re a stay-at-home mom), but things might change quickly once you get back into the workforce! So what does this mean for moms? It means if we want our brains in tip-top shape for when we need them most—whether that be working toward promotion time or preparing for interviews—we should make sure we get enough shut eye every night!
5. Stay socially engaged.
Keeping your social life active is good for your mental health, especially when you have kids. Social connection has been shown to reduce stress and boost mood, so go out and do things with friends and family as often as possible. The best part is that you can stay home with the kids while also making time for yourself!
For example, take a walk around the block or join a mom group at the park—the important thing is just getting out of the house (and putting on those sneakers). If there’s an activity that brings you joy and gives you time away from your responsibilities as a parent, sign up now! Whether it’s yoga or volunteering at church every week, find something new and fun to look forward too!
6. Meditate or pray regularly.
Meditation and prayer are two of the most common ways to calm your mind, which can help you stay focused on the task at hand. But that’s not all—meditation and prayer are also great for helping you feel more relaxed, sleep better, and connect with God.
In fact, meditation and prayer can lead to a whole host of positive benefits. Here are some ways meditation and prayer help you stay focused:
-They help you slow down and focus on one thing at a time. -They help you clear your mind of distractions so that you can think clearly and make decisions without being influenced by outside forces. -They help you feel more relaxed, which can reduce stress and anxiety.
7. You can do things to stay sharp as a mom, even on days when you’re tired and stressed.
You can do things to stay sharp as a mom, even on days when you’re tired and stressed.
Here are some ideas:
- Take a walk with your kids
- Read a book or listen to an audiobook while you drive or run errands (or even at night before bed)
- Find a local writing group or creative writing class that meets regularly in your area
8. Self-care and increased brain power
You might be surprised to learn how much better you can function when you’re taking good care of yourself. Self-care is not selfish; it’s a choice that has benefits for everyone in your life.
Self-care isn’t just about getting a massage or taking an hour for yourself to watch TV, it can be as simple as taking five minutes to sit on your bed and read a book before bedtime. As more and more women join the workforce, many have found themselves stretched thin with too much to do, not enough time in the day and very little energy left over at the end of each day. For moms in particular, this can be especially challenging because there are so many demands on their time—raising kids takes up most of it!
This can leave you feeling frazzled, stressed and anxious. If this sounds like you, it’s time to make self-care a priority in your life.
9. Eating well improves brain function
- Eat a balanced diet. The types of foods you eat affect how your brain functions and what it is able to accomplish. For example, eating foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids can improve attention span, memory function, and mood.
- Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Foods such as broccoli contain vitamins C and E, which are antioxidants that protect against cell damage caused by free radicals (the rogue molecules that lead to aging).
- Eat foods rich in B-vitamins. These B-vitamins are necessary for energy production and mental clarity because they help your body convert food into fuel for the brain’s needs (and we all know how sleep-deprived new moms can be!). Good sources include eggs, meat (especially turkey), milk products like cheese or yogurt, beans/legumes like lentils or chickpeas—these are all great ways to get more B12!
10. Cut back on distractions
When you’re trying to keep your brain focused on the task at hand, it’s helpful to cut back on distractions. Turn off the TV and put your phone away. If you’re working from home, unplug from the Internet for an hour or two; turn off any screens that might be tempting you to check Facebook or Twitter every five minutes.
If you’re having trouble staying focused despite all this, consider using “do not disturb” mode on your phone for extended periods of time—or even just keep it in another room so that it can’t ring or vibrate when someone calls or texts!
It’s also important not to get too comfortable when trying to boost brainpower: sitting in one position for too long can lead to blood clots and other circulation problems, which will make it harder for blood vessels throughout the body (including those in your brain) to deliver oxygen and nutrients where they are needed most. When possible, take breaks every 15 minutes by standing up and walking around a bit—even if all you do is go into another room briefly before returning again! Certain types of exercise can also help increase focus while boosting energy levels at once; try walking briskly outside or doing yoga stretches.
11. Journal daily.
Keeping a journal is one of the best ways to boost your brainpower. It helps you stay organized, remember things, and keep track of your thoughts. When you’re busy with life (and especially if you have kids), it can be hard to find time for yourself and make sure everything is going according to plan. Keeping a journal allows you to stay on track with your goals and organize your day in an efficient manner so that you can spend more time doing things that matter most to YOU!
12. Put dreams into motion.
The more you have in your life that you’re looking forward to and working toward, the more motivated and focused you’ll be. If you don’t have any big goals for your future, it can be easy to get discouraged by the daily challenges of being a mom, because your life will seem like one long succession of chores and responsibilities with no end in sight.
Even if your dreams aren’t particularly big (such as wanting better control over money), they’ll still help motivate you by giving meaning to all the hard work that goes into being a parent—and also by making sure that each day’s accomplishments are building toward something bigger than just surviving another day.
13.Take a class or training program.
As a mom, you are likely to be busy with your family and household responsibilities. It is important to take time for yourself to explore what you can do better and how others are doing it. Taking classes or training programs is a great way to do this! You can learn new skills, gain more confidence in your abilities, feel more energized and focused on the work you’re doing around the house–and even spend some quality time with other moms!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of ways to boost brainpower for moms. As we’ve seen, there are many things you can do to reduce stress and manage your time so that you feel more in control of your life. And if at first some of these tips don’t seem helpful, keep trying – it only takes a few minutes each day before they become a habit!
It’s clear that a mother’s brain needs to be in top shape in order to provide the best for her children. However, being a mom can often take its toll on our mental health as we are constantly managing so many things at once. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can boost your brainpower so that you feel more energized and less stressed.