Brain drained? Get those cells firing!

Burnt out and running on empty? Energy-boosting moves, a little brain training and even some smart supplements can get things humming again.

Write A LIST!

If too much in your head is draining energy, write each niggly thought down on Post-its and stick them to the fridge. Each time you pass, pull off one and deal with it. Hooray for a clutter-free brain!

Declutter FOR A BRAIN BOOST!

Want to feel calm and energised? Decluttering is key! ‘Having less stuff to look at sends good vibes to the brain,’ says Helen Sanderson, creator of The Home Declutter Kit (£36.99).

Get sorting ‘I recommend a deep purge! Set time aside and get on with it. The problem with doing only 15 minutes a day is that it can become a chore. Life is too short and the inner rebel just won’t co-operate. So do it all in one or two days, reward yourself, then maintain it.’

No time right now? ‘Value the spaces that look after you, such as the kitchen, which nourishes you, or the bedroom, where you sleep and rejuvenate. Make these places calm and clutter-free and you will feel more energised, and have inner peace.’

Learn SOMETHING NEW!

Struggling with, and then cracking, a new activity – such as a second language, a tricky puzzle or a musical instrument – gives the brain a dopamine reward and you get energy-plus. Result!

Take YOUR MIND FOR A WALK

Clued up on mindfulness, but still not ‘getting’ it? ‘Many people struggle to focus in seated meditation,’ says expert Douglas Baker, author of Five Minute Mindfulness: Walking

(Fair Winds Press, £9.99). ‘Because so little is happening, the mind is all too ready to wander off. Mindful walking provides more to focus on.’ Try his easy intro… Imagine that you’re a puppy trainer and your wandering mind is a puppy. The practice is to walk with this puppy, allowing it to wander (think) and then patiently lead it back – placing your attention on walking. Find a place to walk where you won’t be in anyone’s way. Begin to step slowly, focusing on movements and contact with the surface of the floor. Focus on these details as you move. This is mindfulness in the body. Stay attentive for the moment when you notice the puppy has bolted: you’re thinking about something else. Don’t judge it as a failure; we’ve successfully noticed what the mind is doing – wandering. No dog trainer can prevent a puppy from bolting, they can only train it to come back by reeling it in. No one can prevent the mind from wandering – we can only notice it and bring it back patiently. Walk, notice, reel in the puppy mind. Give yourself a friendly pat.

We tried it! Yes, it helps make mindfulness easier and the walk blows away cobwebs.