Your brain is only capable of handling so many inputs and stressors throughout the day before you start to feel overwhelmed or unable to perform. This feeling is often referred to as burnout. If you want to avoid burnout, it is essential that you replenish your store of mental energy. Check below for 4 activities to help you do just that:
1. Drink More Water
For various reasons, different populations around the world consume different amounts water. However, among people in developed countries, over half are chronically dehydrated by choice. Some people are simply too busy to go and regularly fill up a glass or bottle of water, or they may consume too many foods and beverages that dehydrate their body. Whatever the case, a significant percentage people are not giving their brain the necessary hydration it needs to perform optimally.
A lack of water can have a devastating impact on how your brain works. It may contribute to mental fatigue and negatively impact your mood, attention and memory. If you want to maximize your cognitive function and contribute to good mental health, it is crucial that you are properly hydrated throughout the day. Keep a refillable water bottle beside you, take sips frequently, and make regular trips to the faucet or water station.
2. Play a Brain Game
Many people spend their lunch breaks or make use of their time on public transportation playing brain games on their phone. One of the most popular games is Scrabble, which can be played against AI or other players from around the world. In Scrabble, players score points by spelling points with their letter tiles. If you need assistance, websites like unscramblex.com can help you to form a wide variety of words and score big points.
An added bonus of playing Scrabble is that it can help you to build your vocabulary. In 2018, a study published in the journal Medical Science Monitor Basic Research indicated that healthy subjects who regularly play brain games had better performance in a range of cognitive tasks that involved attention, memory, hand-eye coordination, speed and accuracy.
3. Lift Weights
During the Covid-19 pandemic there was a surge in the sales of weights and exercise equipment. One of the main reasons for this surge is many people quickly realized that, in addition to helping them to stay in shape, weight lifting is crucial to their sense of well-being. A 2010 study by O’Connor and Cook in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine found that weight and resistance training help to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, and tends to build self-esteem. Many subsequent studies have had similar findings.
4. Ride a Bike
Going for a bike ride (and physical exercise in general) can provide an endorphin rush, boost your confidence, and lift your mood, especially if you bike in a natural setting. Besides being good cardiovascular exercise, biking provides a sense of accomplishment because you are constantly exerting physical effort to move from point A to point B. Safe biking also requires a measure of alertness and awareness of your surroundings. As a result, you are keeping your cognitive abilities sharp without putting too much focus on them.
Conclusion
You only have so much cognitive bandwidth available before you start to feel overwhelmed or burned out. A number of reports suggest that burnout is one of the major issues that affect people working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic. Finding ways to refresh yourself mentally is crucial to weathering the storm. If you feel like you’re in a rut, try the recommendations above to protect your mental health and increase your productivity today.
