This post was initially posted in a secret groups I run with fellow creatives. As with any group we share many secrets on performance.
However I decided to be very generous with it it and have edited out parts where I highlighted names of group members.
Below this are tips ongiving you high energy and cognition throughout the day. Enjoy
Exercise
The first thing you wanna do in the morning is aerobic exercise (jogging works). Make sure you go beyond you hyper ventilation thresh-hold.
By doing so your brain releases chemicals known as BDNF (Brain Derived Neutrophic Factor) — These increase your memory and cognition through out the day & over time increase the brain cells in your Hippocampus by about 13% (meaning you get sharper at remembering things)
(If mornings are tough, jog after work. I jog before because I start at nine… NB u must get exhausted for this to apply)
Drink Bullet Proof Coffee with Green Tea.
Green Tea contains a substance called L-Theanine which reduces anxiety, boosts mood, boost memory. It also removes jittery effect of coffee.
So when u mix green Tea and Coffee you will feel more awake than you have ever been because you will be in a theta brain state all day.
Bullet Proof Coffee
This is when you put butter in your coffee &/or Coconut oil. Its not recommended if you are gunning for weight loss (But I can get away with it because of my body type)
Oats in the morning!
That’s the best way of having energy through out the day. Have these after the jog.
Chicken or Eggs
Lots of feel good hormones. Have these maskati they increase your serotonin & magnesium levels.
More ability to stay focused through the day without breaking.
Sunshine breaks
Get enough of this for Vitamin D. For most of us it automatic anyway.
Reduce Blue Light on your Phone and Computer
It drains energy. I use f.lux on my computer it reduces blue light according to time of day.
On android I have app called Blue Eye. I also have glasses that block out blue light which my cousin is wearing in the picture below.
Iron Sources
Beetroot Juice is great. It has Potassium and Iron. If you take it in the morning you wont get tired even if you jog.
My cousin usually out jogs me but I did an experiment where I had Beetroot juice 3hrs earlier & he had our regular meals & he couldnt outjog me.
Other iron rich foods are of course spinach or anything with purple or red streaks in it.
Polyphenols and Antioxidants
Basically take 100% juices especially of colourful fruits and also dark chocolate (better if it doesnt have sugar)
Lots of benefits. To check which are the most charged foods Google ORAC values of foods.
Nootropics
These are mostly used by highly busy people esp in Silicon Valley. Green Tea actually has Nootropic properties because it has L-Theanine.
But in general these are supplements for people who want to stretch it.
I can say I have only used herbal Nootropics in life like.
Bacopa Monnieri — It improves cognition, memory, mood (anti-anxiety) even long after you no longer take it.
Rhodeola Rosea — Same benefits as above it just recalibrates your mind’s normal permanently.
Both can be had as herbs or you can get capsules at a Smart Pharmacy.
But they do this over time.
As a night owl this is where I do bad. But sleep long enough to dream. Sleep in total darkness.
These days I sleep longer… but if am editing I sacrifice this one.
This is the most crucial part of everything.During dreaming your brain removes junk, clears cache and takes what you learnt where it must go. This is called Consolidation If you dont complete it you will have a hard time grasping new things.
Finally
You can combine all these or the ones you have access to optimize your mood, energy, creative flow and as I said I do this daily in my life.
Feel free to follow me on twitter @Mcpotar for quick updates.
Originally published at https://themikestemplar.co.za.
