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by Tony Gjokaj May 03, 2021 6 min read
When I was studying in college, I committed to various activities that allowed me to retain more information, improve focus, and ultimately make things easier for me.
Some of the more notable differences consisted of exercise and supplementing with nootropics.
So in this post, we are going to go over 7 ways to transform your mental fitness so that you perform your best - regardless of what you do.
Let's dive in!
Whether it's for studying, work, health, exercise, and more, cognitive performance is of utmost importance to all of us.
The following are some practical ways to improve our mental fitness.
Exercising is one of the best ways we can improve our mental or cognitive performance. Exercise has been shown to improve mental health through means of reducing anxiety, depression, and more.
In addition, exercise has been shown to improve cognitive power in the additional ways:
What I would propose to optimize your fitness for cognitive performance is the following:
Sleep can play a huge role in our mental fitness, as there is an inverse relationship when it comes to sleep and depression: with symptoms of depression, it is difficult to sleep, and sleep-deprivation has been shown to cause depression. In addition, poor sleep can impair alertness and concentration.
We need to consider sleep a restorative process. It takes out the waste our brains have accumulated, helps us recover, and helps us perform our best.
Here are some strategies we would recommend if you find difficulty getting a good night's rest:
Improving your nutrition through means of consuming less processed foods and more whole foods can not only improve your body composition, but your brainpower and focus as well!
For practical strategies around nutrition, I have listed some recommendations we should take to optimize our nutrition for cognitive performance.
There is a strong correlation between poor diets and mental health. For example, not having enough Iron in your body makes you more prone to depression and anxiety.
To get a proper nutrient intake, you should eat a diverse palate of fruits and vegetables per day. This can be easily achieved by eating about 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
Here is what we mean by serving sizes:
In doing so, you not only get a great amount of vitamins & minerals, but you also get a good amount of fiber in your diet.
Protein is an essential macronutrient that helps us rebuild muscles, hair, skin, and brain neurotransmitters.
According to one study, protein has a large impact on cognitive performance because of its neurotransmitter production. As most neurotransmitters are amino acids, protein consumption produces neurotransmitters like dopamine.
What we recommend in getting the right amount of protein is the following:
For more on protein, you can read our article here.
According to Harvard Medical School, a survey of 6000 found that the individuals who consumed more monounsaturated fats (olive oil, nuts, and avocados) performed best on cognitive performance tests.
Monounsaturated fats are fats that can aid to lower your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels. To add to that, a recent study found that high levels of monounsaturated fat consumption are correlated to greater levels of intelligence.
This means that we should focus on including more monounsaturated fats in our diet.
Here are some recommendations in monounsaturated fat consumption:
Research has shown that individuals who committed to most ambitious goals led to higher performance levels. This is due to the fact that there is a correlation to goal-setting and the part of our brain that elicits emotion.
Another studyshowed that high-performance individuals reach their goals because they are emotionally-attached to them. The more emotionally-invested the individual was to their goals, the more you will perceive the obstacles you encounter to be less difficult than they appear.
So strive towards accomplishing big goals every day.
We recommend starting off with the following:
A 2013 study found that learning new skills helps aid in cognitive function as we age. As such, we should pursue knowledge in some form every day. For example, reading can facilitate cognitive improvements based on knowledge.
When it comes to pursuing knowledge daily, we recommend the following:
According to a Michigan State University study, childhood participation in arts and crafts led to more creativity and innovation as these children reached adulthood. This makes sense, as taking more risky endeavors can lead more creative opportunities.
Here are some recommendations to improve your mental fitness:
Nootropics are brain boosters that help improve mental performance, notably from memory, concentration, and more.
Believe it or not, many nootropics are found in various foods we consume, but in small amounts.
Supplementing with more potent amounts of nootropics, like N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine have been shown to aid in stress-induced memory and attention deficits.
Our Nootropic Energy Elixir, Impulse, is my go-to nootropic that I have been using pretty much everyday for the last two years.
There are only a few ingredients in Impulse, but each ingredient is efficaciously-dosed to provide you the cognitive focus necessary to grind through work, exercise, studying, and more.
You can get yours by clicking here, or the banner below.
To conclude, here is a simple breakdown, the TLDR of this post:
As you can see, many of these strategies can be implemented by simply adding or reinforcing current lifestyle habits. Organizing your life around multiple habits allows you to create a routine that automates your health & fitness - physically and mentally.
With that being said, I want to personally thank you for taking the time to read this post!
If you have any questions, comments, or insights, feel free to email us at support@reforgedperformance.com or follow us on Instagram!
Until next time, Reforged Legion!
Tony is the Owner of Reforged. He is a PN1 Certified Nutrition Coach and has been in the fitness space for over a decade. His goal is to help millions exercise their way out of depression and anxiety.
by Tony Gjokaj September 18, 2023 3 min read
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in many bodily functions, including muscle and nerve function, blood sugar regulation, and bone health.
Despite its importance, many people do not get enough magnesium from their diets alone.
This is where supplements like magnesium glycinate can be helpful.
Magnesium glycinate is a highly bioavailable form of magnesium that is easily absorbed by the body and has several potential health benefits.
In this post, we'll explore the benefits of magnesium glycinate and why it may be a valuable addition to your overall health and wellness plan.
Let's dive in!
by Tony Gjokaj September 13, 2023 3 min read
Depression is a complex mental health condition that affects millions of people around the world.
While seeking professional help is crucial, integrating exercise into your routine can be an effective complementary strategy to alleviate its symptoms.
Exercise isn't just about physical fitness; it has a profound impact on your mental well-being as well.
In this post, we'll explore the link between exercise and depression and delve into five potent ways that regular physical activity can help you on your journey to improved mental health.
by Tony Gjokaj August 13, 2023 5 min read
Depression Slayer,
Have you asked yourself why most people fail their diets?
A lot of it comes from extremes: huge diet restrictions, following a fad diet that's not prescribed to your body, and more.
Many of us go too extreme to the point of so much discomfort, which makes us actually fail rather quickly.
Most of the time, people stop their diets within 5 weeks.
So today, I wanted to shift your mindset towards nutrition.
In this post, we are going to go over 5 nutrition principles for success.
Let's dive in!