Showing all posts tagged guest post

In Health and Exercise, Healthy Eating

Brainpower: Tips For Brain Exercise

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on
Brainpower: Tips For Brain Exercise

You may or may not know this, but your brain is like a muscle and in the same way you exercise your body to maintain a level of fitness and health, you should also be exercising your brain to improve your cognitive abilities and maximise your brainpower!

Now, you’re probably thinking, that’s all well and good but how do I lift a barbell with my brain?

Fortunately, exercising your brain is a little bit simpler than this and there are a number of ways you can flex your brain ‘muscles’. In this article, we’ll focus our attention on to 3 simple ways you can stimulate your brain to harness your brainpower. 

To begin let’s gauge an understanding of what brainpower is. 

The Cambridge dictionary definition for brainpower is:

“Your intelligence or your ability to think” 

  • Solving this problem has taken all my brainpower. 

Walk It Off

Being physically active has a plethora of benefits for your body, but it also has great benefits for your brain. A study conducted by the University of British Columbia found that aerobic exercise does wonders for your cognition. Researchers found that regular activities such as walking help to increase the size of the hippocampus – the area of the brain which is involved in your memory and learning (Godman, 2014). It doesn’t just stop at walking, any activity which gets your ticker pumping like swimming, climbing or dancing will have similar benefits. 

Eat a Mediterranean Diet 

With so many diets and meal plans floating around in the mainstream media, it can be difficult to know which one is the best one for you. Studies suggest a Mediterranean diet is an ideal way to bump up your brainpower. It consists of consuming large amounts of fruit, veg, legumes, cereals and olive oil, moderate consumption of fish, dairy products and low consumption of poultry, red meat and wine (with meals, of course). Researchers of one study found that consuming a Mediterranean diet is good for both brain and body; It can lower inflammation, reduce risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and improve cognitive function (Luciano et al., 2017). 

Train Your Brain 

Another effective way of boosting your brainpower is through brain training. Several studies have been carried out which highlight the long term positive effects of using computerised cognitive training. Dr Barbara Sahakian of Cambridge University designed a game called Decoder in partnership with Peak – Brain Training which aims to better cognitive abilities and enhance sustained attention. Sahakian and her team of researchers found that Decoder was a “superior” form of cognitive training and is an “effective method for enhancing attention” (Savulich et al., 2019).

It doesn’t just stop there, there are numerous other things you can do to boost your brainpower by treating your brain like a muscle. Finding what’s best for you will help to improve your cognitive functions and boost your memory, attention, language and problem-solving skills. 

BrainPower Research Sources Cited:

Godman, H. (2014). Regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory, thinking skills – Harvard Health Blog. [online] Harvard Health Blog. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110

Dictionary.cambridge.org. (2019). BRAINPOWER | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary. [online] Available at: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/brainpower.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/brainpower

Luciano, M., Corley, J., Cox, S., Valdés Hernández, M., Craig, L., Dickie, D., Karama, S., McNeill, G., Bastin, M., Wardlaw, J. and Deary, I. (2017). Mediterranean-type diet and brain structural change from 73 to 76 years in a Scottish cohort. Neurology, 88(5), pp.449-455.

https://n.neurology.org/content/88/5/449

Savulich, G., Thorp, E., Piercy, T., Peterson, K., Pickard, J. and Sahakian, B. (2019). Improvements in Attention Following Cognitive Training With the Novel “Decoder” Game on an iPad. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 13.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00002/full#B17

 

In Business & Blogging, Creativity

13 Spring Sewing Projects

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

spring craft projects

Spring is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to get your closet up to speed with some spring sewing projects. When sewing something new and exciting ourselves, we often look for the latest fashion trends for spring sewing inspiration and ideas. But keeping up with current fashion can be quite tricky sometimes.

Here’s the good news. I have here a list of 13 easy spring sewing projects that’ll help you impress your most fashionable friends. My youngest sister Lauren is an absolute whizz at things like this. She’s my go-to girl if I ever need anything stitching. I might give a few of these a go myself though as they seem easy enough (I know where she is if I need help unstitching myself from material or fixing a sewing machine)

  1. Simple Reversible Bag

Love carrying a reversible bag? Then you’ll love this reversible bag tutorial. You’ll notice it’s simple and easy to make. All you need is pick your favourite fabrics and get ready. Who says a girl can never have too many bags? 

  1. 3D Triangle Pillows

Want a fun little pillow for your kids? Simply follow this simple triangle pillow tutorial.

As you’ll notice, making these funny looking pillows is really easy, all you have to do is gather your favourite fabric scraps and start stitching few of them together. A very easy one.

  1. Picnic Bowl Covers

This potluck bowl cover tutorial is a weekend project. Once completed, go outside in style this coming spring for the first outdoor parties and picnics of the year (if the weather agrees).

  1. Button-Up Window Shade

Make this easy to sew window shade quickly, and lift up the window shade into two heights to allow different shades of light into your room.

You only need buttons, twill tape, raw linen… and French ticking.

  1. Oilcloth Lunch Bag

Have an unused oilcloth cover on your kitchen table? Then follow this oilcloth lunch bag tutorial to transport your children’s lunches (or your own) in a leak-proof style.

  1. Knee Pad

Thinning, weeding and planting require a great deal of effort, and your knees often get hurt the most. But, with this attractively neat and stylish knee pad tutorial, you can prevent your knees from getting injured.

You’ll notice that the pad in this easy to follow tutorial is made from a sturdy and water-resistant acrylic, with a wide range of colours.

  1. Outdoor Pillows

Don’t just throw away those cheap-looking vinyl kitchen cloths. Why? Because they can be used for purposes other than just picnics – to make excellent materials for outdoor pillows that are super easy to clean.

  1. Handkerchief Valance

This tailored men’s handkerchiefs will turn more heads than just looking great in your pockets. If you have a set of vintage or new hankies, follow this easy handkerchief valance tutorial… to turn them into the most stylish valance.

  1. Raffia Window Curtain

Stitch a series of tufted raffia bow ties on a curtain with matching thread, and add freshness and sunniness to your windows, almost overnight! I might do something like this in my dining room.

Here’s how to create a raffia window curtain.

  1. Ruffled Coin Pouch

This spring, make yourself fall in love in head over heels with a cutesy ruffle coin pouch.

Creating this coin pouch is easy, too: All you need is little ruffle here and there… and everything will start to come together.

Here’s how you can create a pouch with a zipper.

  1. Chiffon Maxi Skirt

Last year, I realized that the chiffon maxi trend was starting to become really popular. This year, however, I’m sure it’s going to pick up a full momentum.

Maxis make excellent sewing project for spring and the summer.

They’re simple to make and comfortable to wear! You’ll find them in double maxi designs, either worn as a skirt or a dress. Here’s a simple chiffon maxi skirt tutorial to help you stand out from the pack.

  1. Simple Skirt

Do you know what’s popular on the spring runway these days? It’s the sweaters paired with circle skirts.

Recreating this look is quite fun and easy, too. Simply follow this simple skirt sewing project. You’ll realise you’ll only need some fabrics, some elastic bands to go around your waist, and thread.

Once it is sewn, pair it with your sweater and a pair of flats to look really, really ‘cool’ this spring.

  1. Day Date Dress

Do you want midi skirts that’ll turn heads without making you look “too granny”? Good.

Here’s a simple tutorial to make a day date dress.

Pay attention to how you wear it, though. To grab the attention of the most stylish friends, you can, for example, pair this easy midi skirt with heels, and accessorize the look properly!

Do you have any spring sewing projects planned? I could probably manage a few of these and the reversible bag is top of my list to try.

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