This post was inspired from my day-to-day observations of people becoming less aware of others, spending far too much time starring at their phones and seemingly lacking in energy and focus.
Fatigue and ADHD like behavior is on the rise in children and adults. The human body is not suddenly malfunctioning but is responding to our lifestyles and diet. Below are some pragmatic, effective and easily introduced tips to help with concentration and energy levels.
1. Alternate nostril breathing
This technique has been used in breath practices for thousands of years.
Possible benefits of alternate nostril breathing:
– increase in energy
– increase in focus
– may improve sleep
– a quick pick me up
– balancing the nervous system
– a good intermediary before meditation or further breath practice
Instruction:
1. Close the right nostril with your right thumb and inhale slowly and calmly through the left nostril.
2. Immediately close the left nostril with your right finger and at the same time remove your thumb from the right nostril, and exhale through this nostril.
3. Inhale through the right nostril. Close the right nostril with your right thumb and exhale through the left nostril.
Do this for 3-10min.
Useful links:
The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity, Daniel Reid
2. Take some Alpha Glycerophosphocholine
Apha GPC is one of the most bioavailable (easily absorbed by the body) sources of choline; an acetylcholine precursor.
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter (communicator molecule in the brain) associated with brain speed, learning, language acquisition, creativity and communication.
It has been used by nootropic enthusiasts for decades due to it’s possible cognitive enhancing abilities which are namely concentration, brain speed and memory.
Useful links
2 tips to becoming faster and younger
The Edge Effect, Dr. Eric Braverman
Optimum Nutrition for the Mind, Patrick Holford
3. Chi Kung slaps
Slaps are fantastic, and have been used by sports professionals and amateur athletes alike as a “wake up” technique for decades.
The practice of Chi Kung slaps increase blood flow, alertness, focus and body awareness.
Simply start slapping from knuckles to shoulder 3x, then from palm to shoulder 3x, oblique to just under arm pit 3x, stomach to chest 3x, low back to upper back 3x, outside ankles to butt 3x and lastly inside ankle to inner thigh 3x. Begin with gentle slaps and slowly build up intensity.
Below is a video demonstrating a more comprehensive routine.
4. Words have power
A high percentage of the words our brains generate are in the form of reflexive comments and background internal dialogue.
Words are a means to communicate. The questions is what is being communicated during those reflexive moments and hours of internal dialogue.
As an exercise today; observe your thoughts as they occur and note if they are positive/useful or negative/debilitating.
Once you have done that you should have a good idea where your majority of thoughts sit, and what form they come in.
As a daily practice, monitor your thoughts, lean them to the positive/useful category, catch any negative thoughts mid sentence and stop them completely. No discussion, no debate, just stopped!
‘Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.’~ Buddha.
These 4 tips are easy to implement and could make a positive difference to your energy levels, concentration and mood. All you have to do is practice a few minutes of alternate nostril breathing, slap your limbs and body a few times, take some Alpha-GPC, monitor your thoughts, recognise and stop negative thoughts in their tracks and curtail the internal dialogue towards positivity/usefulness.
I suggest picking 1-2 of the tips and practice for 1-2 weeks before bringing the other tips into play.
Part 4 coming soon.
If you have any questions or would like me to expand on a particular benefit or technique, simply leave a comment.
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