Challenge your brain!

16 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

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ASAP Science, brain, burn out, challenge, challenging, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, memory, wake up

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Here’s a great tip from the book “ASAP Science”: On how to tap into your own brain. Within 3 hours of waking up, plan to do your most mentally challenging work of the day. That’s because our memory is sharpest around mid-morning, before our brain gets burned out from working and thinking all day. In fact, a study found that we forget almost THREE TIMES more facts in the afternoon, compared to mid-morning!

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Stretch for energy!

16 Friday Feb 2018

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anxiety, anxious, confident, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, energized, energy, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, starfish, starfish pose, stress levels, stretch, stretching, testosterone, wake up, X

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Try this to start your day with more energy. Before you get out of bed, lie on your back, and stretch out your arms and legs as if you’re making the letter “X.” It’s called the “starfish pose,” and a Harvard study found that holding that posture for 2 minutes raises testosterone levels, while lowering stress levels. So you’ll feel confident and energized, but not anxious, and start your day out right.

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Waking up at night? Try this.

18 Tuesday Apr 2017

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If you always wake up during the night, try massaging your ankles before bed. Researchers at the University of Arkansas say an ankle massage stimulates the nerve pathways that boost production of the calming hormone oxytocin… Which should help you wake up less often during the night. And pay special attention to the indentations just below your ankle bones. Experts say that 3 minutes of massage is all it takes for a better night’s sleep.

All you may need to get better sleep are earplugs!

08 Wednesday Mar 2017

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Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, ear plugs, earplugs, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, light sleeper, sleep, sleeping, snoring, sound sleeper, wake up

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Harvard researchers found that the key difference between sound sleepers and light sleepers is this: The brains of light sleepers stay more alert… Which causes them to wake up at the slightest sound – from a dripping faucet, to the neighbors arguing, to your dog’s snoring. But light sleepers who are able to block out noise with earplugs are much more likely to sleep soundly.

Wait before having your first cup of coffee…

14 Monday Nov 2016

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90 minutes, brain, caffeine, coffee, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, energy boost, energy levels, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, morning coffee, Steven Miller, stress, stress hormones, stress levels, wake up

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No matter what time you wake up – wait 90 minutes – THEN have coffee. Psychologist Steven Miller is from BrainFacts.org – and he says when you wake up, your stress hormones will start rising. So drinking coffee right out of the gate is a waste of good caffeine. Because we’re already on a natural cortisol upswing, so you won’t feel the energy boost. But after 90 minutes, those stress hormones will start leveling off. That’s when a dose of caffeine will pay off, raising your energy levels back up again. So remember, wake up time – plus 90 minutes – equals coffee.

Be sure to set that alarm!

11 Thursday Aug 2016

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alarm, alarm clock, bed, bedtime, biological clock, circadian rhythm, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, Dr. Michael Breus, important, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, sleep, wake, wake up

Which is more important: Always going to bed at the same time, or always waking up at the same time? You may be surprised to hear that our wake-up time has a bigger impact on our health than our bedtime. According to sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, morning light helps reset the biological clock in our brain…And when we open our eyes at a consistent time every morning, that helps our brain regulate our circadian rhythm, and keeps all our organs functioning properly. Bottom line: It’s okay to go to bed late every once in a while…But it’s never smart to skip your alarm!

Try this to overcome insomnia:

06 Friday May 2016

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Wear an over-the-counter acupressure wristband! The kind that helps motion sickness. A study found that insomniacs who wore an acupressure wristband fell asleep faster, slept more deeply, and woke up fewer times during the night. That’s because the same acupressure spot on the inner wrist that prevents motion sickness and nausea, also induces deep relaxation at night.

Which is worse: Going to bed full, or hungry?

21 Thursday Apr 2016

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acid reflux, almonds, awake, bed, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, digestion, feeling full, hungry, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, low blood sugar, protein, restless, sleep, small snack, snack, stomach, wake, wake up, yogurt

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NYU sleep specialist, Dr. Rebecca Scott says going to bed full is worse. That’s because it can cause acid reflux, which can wake you up, or cause restless sleep. But going to bed with a growling stomach isn’t ideal either. Low blood sugar could also cause you to wake up in the middle of the night. So if you’re hungry before bed, eat a very small snack, like almonds or yogurt. The protein will digest slowly, so your stomach won’t rumble – but it won’t be too heavy or fatty and keep you awake.

Do you wake up earlier than your man?

22 Monday Feb 2016

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circadian rhythm, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, Harvard, Harvard University, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, morning, sleep, sleep pattern, wake, wake up, waking up

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Ladies – have you ever wondered why you always wake up earlier than the man in your life? Harvard University researchers have the answer. They discovered that the sleep cycle – or circadian rhythm – of women is 6 minutes shorter than a man’s. The difference may seem slight, but it’s enough to throw off the sleep patterns of couples. It also helps explain why women are more likely than men to wake up earlier each morning, and get tired sooner at night.

Do people ever sneeze in their sleep?

19 Thursday Nov 2015

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bedtime, brain, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, Dr. Richard Wassersug, inhale, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, irritation, neurobiologist, neurons, nostrils, sleep, sleeping, sneeze, sneezing, wake, wake up

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The answer is “NO.” According to neurobiologist Dr. Richard Wassersug, sneezing occurs when something irritates the nerve endings inside your nostrils. The nerves then send a message to your brain, which triggers a sneeze to eject the irritant. But if you’re asleep, your brain is relaxed…And the neurons that trigger a sneeze are turned off. However, Dr. Wassersug says if you happen to inhale something strong while you’re asleep – like a nose full of pepper, for example – your natural reaction will be to wake up first…and THEN sneeze.

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Tag Archives: wake up

Challenge your brain!

Stretch for energy!

Waking up at night? Try this.

All you may need to get better sleep are earplugs!

Wait before having your first cup of coffee…

Be sure to set that alarm!

Try this to overcome insomnia:

Which is worse: Going to bed full, or hungry?

Do you wake up earlier than your man?

Do people ever sneeze in their sleep?