Five Ways to Increase Cognitive Functions When You Have A Stressful Job

It’s said that stress has the ability to improve your performance, mostly because it keeps your brain attentive and active. However, too much stress will do just the opposite and can take you even more over the edge. If you want to improve your cognitive functions and become more productive in a stressful environment, here are a few ways for you to do just that.

1. Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise should be part of your daily lifestyle. The problem is that when you have a stressful, busy job, you’re not always able to sneak the exercise in. However, if you’re stressed out and unable to do your work properly, you can’t afford to skip exercising.

Exercising puts your blood in motion and relieves tension from your muscles, all while helping your brain release serotonin – the happy hormone. This way, you’ll be focusing on the bright side of things rather than focusing on the stressful side. Plus, exercising improves your brain health, which is actually what you’re looking for.

1. Use Nootropics

Nootropics, otherwise known as brain boosting supplements, will give your brain a little extra help so that you’ll be able to perform at your finest. Something as simple as coffee is also considered a nootropic. If you plan on using these supplements, you should find out how nootropics work before you begin.

1. Get Some Sun

Have you noticed how happy you become each time that first rays of sunlight hit your face? While too much sunlight can be fairly bad for your skin, too little of it can damage your brain. For your brain to function properly, you will need to get some vitamin D into your system, which you can achieve by basking into the sun. If that’s not possible, you might want to fill in the blanks by using vitamin D supplements or a SAD lamp.

1. Get Enough Sleep

The less you sleep, the more stressed out you will become, and the more difficult it will be to focus on your tasks. Sleep is a necessity if you want to consolidate your learning and your memory – which is why you should try to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Bear in mind that too much sleep can also make you feel groggy, which is why you should not sleep for more than 9 hours.

1. Eat Properly

Suffice to say, fast food and nuking your body with soda won’t do much for your brain health. If you want your cognitive functions to provide peak performance in stressful situations, you need to bring in the right nutrition. Amino acids and antioxidants are the best, but make sure that you also bring some vitamin E in the line. Also, don’t be afraid of that glass of wine; when had in moderation, it can improve your brain functions.

If your job is stressing you out, all you have to do is to balance out the bads by bringing in the goods. It may not be easy to achieve – but once you turn these into a habit, you will be able to perform better at your job.

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