”Having a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body…”
Brain training
Earlier this year we reviewed 7 apps that keep your health on track, where we covered some fantastic apps that help keep you motivated and organised on your fitness journey. Now that we’ve got the body sorted, we wanted to balance it out by focusing more on the mind with brain training apps. Technology has it’s pros and cons, and our electronic devices that we’ve become so dependent on, have become the centre of many controversial discussions.
Many health enthusiasts, professionals and scientists alike are concerned that modern technology is ruining the younger generations from the inside out. There is a great debate surrounding these unnatural habits, and perhaps the world is changing for the worse, but it’s important to remember: It’s not what we use, it’s how we use it. So, if we’re going to spend recreational time glued to our devices, why not take the opportunity to better ourselves instead of constantly checking on social media or monging out to mindless games and/or content.
Brain training and technology
Technology can be a wonderfully positive tool to help create convenience and add fun to your life, so if you’re someone who’s opposed to it, there’s really no sense in trying to block it all out. Seriously, good luck with that, even the Amish can’t fully resist. In life, everything is about balance. If you live mindfully and take things in moderation, they’re actually really good for you. Speaking of taking things in moderation, everyone keeps telling us to take time-out, and we should! We want to take care of ourselves, so we routinely take the time and money out to pamper our bodies (when we can). But do we ever think about pampering our mind?
Relaxation is one of the keys to maintaining a balanced mind, but just like a muscle, our brain needs to be properly exercised too. Creating challenge and prompting creativity are two ways that we can strengthen, broaden and improve the overall health of our mind. Brain training can be achieved by learning a new language, solving a puzzle, forming and memorising a dance routine or putting paintbrush to canvas. You can also try out these popular brain training apps which are basically cute little gymnasiums for your brain cells.
1 – Lumosity
Designed to challenge your memory, attention and more, this is one the most popular brain training apps on the market today. The app comprises of a collection of over 50 cognitive games created by a team of scientists and designers and university researchers to push our minds further in new and fun ways. One of the cool features, is the adaptation the games take depending on your individual unique performance.
Lumosity writes: “We give qualified researchers free access to Lumosity training and tools — helping them investigate new areas in cognition. As we learn more about the possibilities of brain training, we invite you to train with us, and join us in our mission to advance the understanding of human cognition.”
2 – Personal Zen
This app has been clinically proven to reduce stress. Built by a team of leading neuroscientists and mobile developers, playing Personal Zen has been carefully designed to actually re-train your brain to lower stress and anxiety. Personal Zen is based on 20 years of brain training and anxiety-reduction research. Shown to effectively boost stress resilience and decreases anxiety when used only a few minutes a day, a few days a week.
This app started getting so popular, that it was soon named the Nº3 Top 10 health app of 2014 by CNN Health, and has been featured in WSJ, Bloomberg TV, CBS, CNN, Lifehacker, and a host of other top news and health media outlets.
Personal Zen writes: “A science-backed digital health revolution will be the single most important paradigm shift in the failing mental health industry,” says Dr. Dennis-Tiwary. “This revolution will allow people to promote their personal wellness and access treatments that are effective without being too expensive, burdensome, and stigmatizing. She suggests using the app right before a stressful event, but 10 minutes a day will help build more enduring positive effects.
Visit the Personal Zen website
3 – Eidetic
The memory app. Eidetic uses a technique called spaced repetition to help you memorise anything from important phone numbers to interesting words or facts. It works differently from typical brain training apps by using items that have meaning and context, like your beau’s phone number, bank account details, or a new quote worth reciting. Notifications remind you when it’s time to test yourself and spaces out tests over time to make sure you retain the information in long-term memory.
Other Sources: Daily Burn
Holistic Qualifications
Here at The School of Natural Health Sciences we offer accredited courses which are perfect for brain training, deep relaxation and mind expansion. All of our courses come with internationally-recognised diplomas and once you have your qualifications, you’re entitled to practice, free to teach and well on your way to a brighter future! Check out our Yoga course, Mindfulness course or Meditation course for true enlightenment.
- See our full portfolio of 57 Holistic Health Courses
- See what our students have to say on our Testimonials page
- Contact us if you have any questions, we’d be delighted to hear from you!
