When a person like SpaceX CEO Elon Musk hires you on just the weight of a good conversation, you know you’re doing something right.
And it looks like brain coach Jim Kwik got a lot right after bonding with the billionaire over science fiction greats like Isaac Asmimov’s ‘Foundation Series’ and J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’.
According to Kwik, Musk hired him after the conversation and learning more about his work. The expert was specifically brought in to teach memory and learning techniques to SpaceX’s scientists and researchers.
You can learn these handy techniques from the brain coach’s new book or read through our quick summary below.
Battling Negative Thoughts
One of Kwik’s tips is to kill all your automatic negative thoughts (ANTs), which often discourage you from trying to learn something new.
As the brain coach elaborates, putting yourself down constantly from doing something will ultimately turn you off from doing that thing. One way to combat ANTs is to actively talk back to them.
Think you’re too old or not smart enough to learn coding? Immediately think to yourself that you can learn.
The Right Brain Food
The brain is just like any other organ in your body. It needs the right kind of food fuel to function properly.
And you’ll want your brain to be in top shape if you want to learn new skills or topics fast.
Kwik specifically points to 10 brain foods that you should try to get a serving of every day. His list includes avocados, blueberries, eggs, broccoli, omega-3-rich seafood, green leafy vegetables, turmeric, walnuts, dark chocolate, and water.
All of these foods contain certain vital nutrients that contribute to the brain’s efficient function. For example, blueberries are rich in antioxidants, which work to reduce the effects of brain aging.
While technically not a food, water has a lot of benefits for the brain as well as the organ is 80% water itself, according to Kwik. Staying hydrated can prevent the slower reaction time and brain fog that dehydration often comes with.
Reading Everyday
Reading is an essential part of learning. Kwik acknowledges this and recommends everybody to make time for it daily even if it’s just for 10 minutes.
From there, you can build up to read longer over time. The key to doing so, as the brain coach shares is consistency.
Make your reading time worth while by picking up a book you actually want to read and removing all distractions around you.