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Healthy Living How To

Vanessa Rae Romero

5 Steps to Boost Your Brain & Keep You Focused on Your Goals

May 16, 2012 By Vanessa Rae Romero

For most people, when it comes to achieving health, fitness and weight management goals, getting started isn't the challenge, it's staying on course. To stay on track and keep going in the face of life's daily demands requires consistently choosing to do what needs to be done and not what you want to do. Your brain is the control center of your body with incredible power and influence on your appearance, mood, stress and health. If you are finding it challenging to stay focused on your goals, your pre-frontal cortex, the area of your brain responsible for discipline and self-control, may need a boost.
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5 Steps to Boost Your Brain and Keep You Focused on Your Goals

1. Sleep 8 Hours Each Night

Getting less than 8 hours of sleep at night lowers overall brain function and causes your brain to release hormones that stimulate cravings and appetite. You may have thought your cravings were a sign of mental weakness, when in fact, it could be you just need more sleep. Read More: 6 Ways to Get More Quality Sleep

2. Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar

You are most likely to deviate from your nutrition plan when you are on the blood sugar roller coaster. Consuming sugary snacks, drinks and processed carbohydrates causes a rise and subsequent fall in blood sugar. Sugar acts like a drug in the brain and impairs cognitive function and decision-making. To control blood sugar, manage stress, get adequate sleep and avoid carbohydrate rich foods, instead fill up on protein, healthy fats and non-starchy vegetables. Read More: What You Should Know About Your Blood Glucose Levels

3. Exercise

Exercise is a wonder drug for the brain. It supplies oxygen and nutrients which in turn improves brain function. Aerobic exercise encourages the growth of new brain cells. When you are physically active, you are more likely to make healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices. Read More: Exercise Is More Than Just Calories Out

4. Pray or Meditate

Brain images of those deep in meditation or prayer consistently show an increase in blood flow to the prefrontal cortex. This activity not only enhances brain function but also alleviates stress and improves attention and planning. Just as lifting weights strengthens the muscles, prayer  and meditation strengthens the brain. Read More: How God & Meditation Changes Your Brain

5. Create Focused Goals and Write Them Down

When you focus on what you want, it makes it easier to match your behavior to your goals. Setting, writing down and verbalizing your goals allows your brain to stay forward-focused. Focus on your goals daily and it will make a big difference in your life.  Read More: Simple Thinking to Conquer Any Goal

About Vanessa Rae Romero

A Christ-follower, wife, mom, grandma, entrepreneur, city slicker, purple lover, and health nut who inspires women to live healthy, love intently, lead purposefully, and to have fun along the way.

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Filed Under: Healthy Mind Tagged With: brain, exercise, goals, inspiration, meditation, mind & spirit, motivation, prayer, sleep

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ABOUT VANESSA

Hello, I'm Vanessa! I once had someone tell me they did not like my purple hair, said it was for the birds. My nickname is Birdie. Sometimes, The Bird. I am a Christ-follower, wife, mother, grandmother, business owner, city slicker, purple lover, and health nut. I blog about healthy living; from food freedom to financial freedom and everything in between.

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live healthy,
love intently,
lead purposefully,
& have fun along the way!

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AND JUST LIKE THAT...our little buddy is seven!!! He loves the great outdoors; fishing, swimming, and four-wheeling are his favorite things. He wakes up happy and goes to bed happy. He is super sweet and gives the best hugs. He is humming, singing, or whistling at all times. He makes us all smile and spreads joy wherever he goes. Happy birthday Asher, you are oh so loved!!! 💜
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Since the very beginning of our time with Young Living Essential Oils, I have asked God what I did to deserve the success we’ve had. He has blessed and enriched our lives with so so so many special people that I deeply care about. We are excited when new members say yes and super sad when members move along. Yesterday, we had a fun gathering in our home, for the first time in a long time. I cried. I’m crying now. This isn’t my YL “business”. These are PEOPLE that God placed in our path to love, support, serve, encourage, and educate. I’ve been doing this for 7 1/2 years and plan to do it for at least 7 1/2 more!!! 💜🤍🖤
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I bought this petunia planter for myself on Mother’s Day. I have deadheaded and watered her daily. Sometimes twice a day. In return she has brought me so much JOY!!! And when that joy runs out, I have 16 more flowering planters to tend to. 💜💜💜 #addictedtoflowers
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OUR VERY FIRST HARVEST...Wild black raspberries ripe for the picking in our backyard!!! 💜
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We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! 💜
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SO LONG MINNEAPOLIS...thank you for being our home these past seven years!!! Praying today for the city and state leadership, that law, order, and safety is restored, and that the livelihoods, dreams and businesses lost, be reclaimed. 💜💙
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FOUR MORE SLEEPS...The next time we have our little buddy, we’ll be in the country in our new house!!! Four more sleeps until moving day!!! 💜
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A PRAYER FOR OUR DAD...Dear Lord, we gratefully thank you for for giving us our dad. You must really love us, 'cause you gave us the best you had. Watch over him and bless him Lord, and keep him in your care. And may he feel our LOVE for him, is our humble, heartfelt prayer. 💜🙏🏽
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Went to a speakeasy spa and got my purple pixie done up good. 💜
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