Studies have shown people's IQ levels fluctuate during the day depending on their habits and lifestyles. According to http://www.careerbuilder.com, there are six ways students can avoid a mentally sluggish day.
Limit Message Distractions
Clinical trials conducted by Dr. Glenn Wilson, a psychiatrist at King's College London University, provide evidence that workers who distract themselves with phone calls, e-mails and text messages lose an average of ten IQ points. Surprisingly, workers lose more IQ points from continually checking messages during work than from smoking marijuana. The trials also indicate that men tend to lose more IQ points to message distractions than women.
In order to limit message distractions, students should set aside time to check and respond to messages instead of sitting in front of a computer typing away for hours on AOL Instant Messenger.
Get Adequate Sleep
It's no secret that sleep deprivation is a major contributor to reduced productivity and errors at the workplace. A study by the National Sleep Foundation concluded that 50 percent of workers find inadequate sleep interfering with their work. Almost 20 percent admit that they have made mistakes due to drowsiness.
The brain processes new memories and stores them into long-term memory during sleep. Some studies also show that sleep increases problem-solving skills for students.
With academic workloads and busy lifestyles, college students are especially vulnerable to sleep deprivation.
"If you've been awake for 21 hours straight, your abilities are equivalent to someone who is legally drunk," says Sean Drummond from the University of California, San Diego in an interview with New Scientist.
Plan a Healthy Diet
Diets rich in antioxidants like beta carotene and vitamins C and E can boost memory abilities for students. Additionally, antioxidants decrease the probability of age-related memory loss in the future.
Students should avoid munching on junk food or highly processed foods like cakes, pastries and biscuits, all of which contain trans-fatty acids.
A diet high on trans-fatty acids may have adverse effects on mental health and have been linked to mental disorders such as dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Students feeling mentally drained in the afternoon should start off the day by nourishing their brains with breakfast in the morning. Studies have shown people who skip breakfast are more likely to be less productive than those who eat breakfast before school and work.
For students with exams during the day, Douglas Kalman, director of clinical research at Peak Wellness, suggests eating a breakfast full of protein, which helps increase alertness by raising serotonin levels. Carbohydrates also boost serotonin levels in humans. Grabbing a fruit or energy bar on the way out might do the trick for those short on time.
Work Out
Physical exercise helps circulation in the body and improves creativity, reaction time and retention by bolstering chemicals in the brain.
In a study by Middlesex University, students scored higher on creativity tests after 25 minutes of aerobic exercise.
A recent study by Fred Gage from the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California also shows that exercise promotes the growth of new brain cells.
Students don't need to spend everyday working out at the Recreation Center. New Scientist claims even walking for 30 minutes three times a week can raise learning abilities, concentration, and abstract reasoning by 15 percent.
Engage in Mentally Stimulating Activities
Mentally stimulating activities such as learning a new hobby, new language or participating in an intellectual conversation can help raise the brain's IQ level.
As the brain works through new problems, blood flow increases and synapses between nerve cells strengthen.
More importantly, a Washington University study shows engaging in these activities allows the brain to become more efficient and reduces the possibility of age-related memory loss.
If students are stuck on ideas, Dr. Robert Goldman suggests brushing teeth with the other hand or reading challenging books.
Think Positively
A research conducted by neuroscientist Richard Davidson shows specific thoughts and emotions can alter the way the brain functions.
Participants in the study who showed love and compassion raised their mental acuity.
As cheesy as it may sound, positive thoughts can help students become smarter and happier during the day.
