A sharper brain in 28 days

This easy-to-follow plan will boost your mind in just four weeks

Our brains are remarkable. From in the womb to old age, our grey matter is changing constantly. Brain size increases rapidly as an infant and by the age of six, it has reached 90% of adult volume. On the downside, our brain reaches peak performance between 16-25, after which decline kicks in. We may find it tricky learning new skills and struggle to remember names. But you’ll be happy to hear that you can make lifestyle changes which will sharpen your brain in just 28 days, and could also reduce the risk of developing dementia and other cognitive impairments by 33%.

‘The brain is just like any other body part – it needs to be looked after and exercised in order to stay fit, strong and functioning effectively,’ says neuroradiologist Dr Emer MacSweeney. All it takes is three simple steps: decluttering, de-stressing and retraining. Here’s how...

Be a bookworm

With every page we read, our brain works to store and retain more information. Researchers* discovered heightened connectivity in the area of the brain in charge of memory after reading a book over nine days.

1 DECLUTTER

Our brains can store as much information as the entire internet – mind-blowing indeed. While being informed is never bad, overstimulation can be as the brain’s ability to problem-solve decreases and neurons can be destroyed. ‘When we have a clearer mind we’re able to make better decisions,’ says clinical hypnotherapist Fiona Lamb. ‘By decluttering, our mind becomes sharper – clearing the old for the new.’

Do a digital detox