Upgrade your brain in 10 days

Boost memory, learn faster and reboot your thinking with brain coach JIM KWIK’s exclusive new plan

Set a daily reading goal, even if it’s just for 10 minutes a day

EVER feel you’re juggling so many things at once that your brain is completely full?

What you need is brain training, says expert Jim Kwik.

Try his plan to get your brain in shape in just 10 days.

DAY 1 – LEARN FASTER

Put the acronym FASTER into action:

●Forget There are three things you want to forget, at least temporarily – what you already know, what’s not urgent and anything you think limits you.

●Act Ask yourself how you can become more active in your learning – take notes, find a learning buddy and hold each other accountable. Before you start reading, take a few moments to recap what you learnt last time.

●State Your state of being is highly influenced by your thoughts and physical condition. Try changing your posture or the depth of your breathing. Consciously choose states of joy and curiosity.

● Teach To deepen your learning, learn with the intention of teaching the information to someone else.

●Enter Put a block of time on your calendar each day to invest in yourself.

●Review Get in the habit of doing a daily review of what you’ve learnt.

DAY – 2 KILL YOUR ANTS

Identify voices in your head that focus on what you can’t do – those automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) and start talking back to them. When you find yourself thinking, “I always mess up this sort of thing” counter with, “Just because I haven’t always been good at this in the past doesn’t mean I can’t be great at it now.”

DAY 3 – QUESTION YOUR QUESTIONS

Start asking the questions that will help you get the empowering answers you need.

Instead of asking yourself, “Why can’t I do this?”, make questions positive. For example, “How can I use this information?” or “What can I do to make this even better?”

DAY 4 – IMAGINE WHAT YOU WANT MOST

Take a moment to write down all the disadvantages if you don’t train your brain.

For example, “I will continue to doubt myself or, “I won’t get a good job.” Now, write down the advantages you will have when you apply what you learnt, such as, “I’ll be able to learn with confidence and get a job I love.”

DAY 5 –CONSIDER YOUR PURPOSE

What do you want to share with the world? This is what should motivate you.

Be specific about who you’re letting down by setting limits in your life. Now think about how you can affect the lives of others when you apply 100 per cent in all you do.

DAY 6 START A HEALTHY HABIT

Pick one new habit you will start doing today and break it down into small, simple steps you can do each day.

Your new habit can be anything from stopping snacking to exercising.

DAY 7 – BOOST YOUR BRAIN ENERGY

Nourish your brain by eating a healthy diet.

Write down creative recipes you can make using brain foods such as avocados, broccoli, blueberries, eggs, green leafy vegetables, salmon and walnuts.

DAY 8 – OPTIMISE YOUR STUDY

Use the HEAR (halt, empathy, anticipate, review) method the next time you are listening to a talk you want to learn from.

Halt any distractions such as music or your phone buzzing with a text alert. Empathise by imagining yourself in the speaker’s shoes. Anticipate what they might say so you.

DAY 9 – ALWAYS REMEMBER MOM

Before you begin a task, always check your MOM (motivation, observation, methods).

What is your motive for remembering that person’s name? What do you observe?

Remember, most of your memory is not a retention issue, it’s an attention issue. Practise remembering the names of everyone you meet. If you forget someone’s name, write down if it was your motivation, observation or method that led you to forget it. Then try again. Assign names to strangers you see and test how many you can remember.

DAY 10 – THE POWER OF READING

Set a daily reading goal, even just for 10 minutes. Pick a book you want to read and set a timer for 10 minutes.

● Extracted by DEBBI MARCO from Limitless, by Jim Kwik (£20, Hay House).