how to get mentally sharp

[CoffeeDrinker]

Play improvised music, watch comedians and learn to discern the shitty from the awesome, run, write, learn a useful topic, discuss things beyond simple small talk, but embrace and enhance small talk as well, do martial arts(sticky hands!!), meditate, eat healthy, memorize phone numbers, don't watch cable news, learn to shave without a mirror, learn to listen to things in the background, do something exciting with other people that isn't drug related, play chess, read fiction at the end of the day it's better than a sleeping pill when it comes to forgetting about the past day's bullshit, ignore people who tell you listening to classical will make you smarter listen to the music you truly enjoy and try to always expand your horizons, if you like some classical songs that's cool too, drink some good teas (I am no longer a coffee drinker btw lol), cook for yourself, eat Tibetan goji berries, don't over-think it, just be yourself, learn to love yourself, help others, volunteer, clean your room, wash your dishes, complete the tasks you set out to do.
I'm sure there's lots more.
That's more to remind myself than anything. I think it could help others though.

 

[Toast to the Spirits]

You are really just lacking motivation. Seriously I know what you are talking about. You are just bored with a negative attitude. Next time something really sparks your interests notice how you snap out of it. Its all in your mind man. Try exercising or something. That might help a bit.

 

[bighooter]

ye i think y'all right its probably just a result of depression and thinking its true.

However that Brain Fitness game sounds immense, where can I purchase it from?

 

[nleksan]

First, I'll say that if you can improve your mental clarity to the point to which you desire using sources such as classical/"smart" music and such then stick with them.

For those that feel they may need a more chemically-induced feeling of well-being, here is what I was taking when I felt at my absolute sharpest/best (not including opiates hehe). I can't remember what specific doses, just what products, but doses are highly individual anyway so start with the manufacturer's recommended dose and increase/decrease from there. (These are only supplements available OTC in the USA; drugs, prescription or otherwise, are not included on this list):

Vinpocetine - supposedly increases oxygenation of the brain
Gingko Biloba - increases peripheral oxidation, meaning more blood/oxygen to brain
Ginseng
B-Vitamin Complex - beneficial to neuronal conduction
5-HTP - increases the raw material for Serotonin production, the "feel good" chemical in the brain
L-Tyrosine - increases the raw material for Dopamine, the reward chemical in the brain
SAM-e - not sure what it does, but it seems to help
Fish Oil (Omega-3) - helps with depression and as a bonus it clears your skin
DMAE - helped a lot with short term memory

There were quite a few more, but since I've stopped taking it my memory doesn't work as well. Let me search my old posts and get more.

 

[desmondsparrs]

Ive cut down on my sitting-time on my computer and playing videogames and started lifting weights again(something Ive been doing for almost 8 years now) on a more continual basis. Being sedentary too much dumbs the shit out of me. Isnt what all yall are talking about related to mutiple intelligences?

Connect with other people. Good diet(fish oil or fatty fish, less refined shit and more natural stuff heavy on the nutrients, vitamin d, exercise, most of these tips are prolly suggested in this thread).

Aint feeling like going into more detail about stuff but Im quite knowledgeable on nutrition(being a natural bodybuilder and all). Check out the Biorhytm-diet(based on science on circadian rhytms, hormonal-fluctuations etc), trying it right now. Cant give a good review of it cause I still drink booze too often(the reason I got back into the training-groove, its fucking hard to kick a bad habit).

base your meals AROUND protein(not only protein ofc). high amounts of protein to carb-ratio meals makes me stimulated and heavy carb-meals make me more parasympathetic(this is basically what the Biorhytm-diet is based on, more carbs in the evening, more protein and fat during day-time).


Im a musician and Im learning electric bass and guitar foremost. gotta get to learn more music theory though(been thinking this for years lol) and stuff like that defintively helps your brain out. If youre really depressed ofc most of these things wont do shit(because of apathy, reduced enjoyment of various stimuli).

 

[twistedhunter]

this is a awesome thread