Discover how mindfulness can sharpen your focus, reduce stress, and enhance problem-solving skills. Learn how a calm mind leads to smarter decisions with Brainkiz.
Have you ever been stuck on a problem and then, after thinking about it for a bit, the answer just comes to you?
It's not magic, it's your mind working more clearly, and it's all down to mindfulness practice.
Here at Brainkiz, we know that training your brain isn't just about logic and solving puzzles. It's also about knowing how to focus. So today, we're going to share some tips on how you can make mindfulness your best friend when it comes to solving problems more effectively.
What’s mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgement and with openness and curiosity.
Although mindfulness is often associated with meditation, you don't need to sit in the lotus position to practise it. You can practise mindfulness through conscious breathing, eating without distractions or observing your thoughts without reacting immediately.
What’s this got to do with problem solving?
It's much more than you imagine. Problem solving requires focus, creativity, mental flexibility, and emotional control. Mindfulness strengthens precisely those areas of the brain.
Let’s break it down for you.
1. It improves your focus
Being present enables you to detect details more easily and avoid distractions. Rather than getting lost in repetitive thoughts such as 'What if I'm wrong?', your mind can focus on what matters: the problem and its possible solutions.
2. It reduces mental stress
Your ability to reason plummets when you’re under pressure. Mindfulness can help calm your nervous system, reducing stress and enabling you to adopt a more logical and reflective mindset.
3. It boosts creativity
Studies show that practising mindfulness makes people more creative. Why's that? Because they can view problems from multiple perspectives and don't stick to a single way of thinking.
4. It increases frustration tolerance
Have you ever felt tempted to give up on a tricky puzzle or a tough maths problem?
Mindfulness can help you persevere without succumbing to anxiety or frustration, by fostering patience and acceptance.
5. It improves decision-making
Mindfulness gives you the chance to stop and think before you act, which helps you choose the best option, rather than the one that you feel most impulsively.
Mindfulness exercises to help you solve problems.
You don't need any major rituals. Here are three simple exercises you can incorporate into your daily routine:
1. Conscious breathing (2 minutes)
Focus on your breathing. Breathe in and out slowly, paying attention to the air moving in and out of your body. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the present moment.
2. Conscious pause before a challenge
Before you start a puzzle or test on Brainkiz, close your eyes and take three deep breaths. This will help you to focus.
3. Mindful walking
Go for a five-minute walk and observe your surroundings, focusing on the sounds, colours and movements you can see. This exercise strengthens your attention span.
To sum up: clear minds, brilliant solutions
- Problem solving is not just a matter of logical intelligence.
- Mental clarity, calmness and creativity are just as important.
- Mindfulness is a simple but powerful tool to develop these skills.
🔍 Ready to train your body and mind? Click here to try our logical thinking and focus challenges.