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The Magic Mind Blog
An illustration of the two hemispheres of the brain, indicating creativity and intelligence.

Differences Between Serotonin And Dopamine

* Verified by a US-based board-certified doctor. If you're like a lot of people, you've probably heard of the terms serotonin and dopamine, but you may not have any idea what they mean or how they differ from one another. If you're looking for some answers regarding their differences and similarities, you've come to the right place. Please keep reading to discover everything that you need to know about these neurotransmitters and their role in your daily life. Neurotransmitters 101: What Are They and How do They Work? Serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters, which are chemical messenge...

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Best Nootropics for Memory

* Verified by a US-based board-certified doctor. Today nootropics are an exciting topic for the enhancement of our cognitive processes. These processes include memory, focus, clear thinking, mood, creativity, and motivation. Nootropics have been found to improve thinking, increase energy, and give us an overall advantage in our mental capacity.  What are nootropics? The word, Nootropics, comes from a Greek word meaning ‘mind-turning.’ They are a class of substances, natural and synthetic, that have the ability to boost brainpower. They claim to enhance creativity, focus, and intelligence. ...

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Have You Asked, "Why Can't I Focus?" Here's Why

* Verified by a US-based board-certified doctor. To be able to zero in on what we’re trying to accomplish is essential to getting stuff done. But our environments are full of distractions - within and without. It’s not just our world that is noisy and clamoring for our attention, but it’s also our minds. We often struggle with concentration because of internal chatter and distracting thoughts. So how can we get past this? We have to begin by knowing why we can’t focus.  What is focus? We inherently know what it means to focus. It means to direct all of our attention on a single activity or...

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Neurotransmitters passing dopamine

How To Increase Dopamine Naturally

* Verified by a US-based board-certified doctor. Inadequate dopamine levels are responsible for fatigue, lack of motivation, mood swings, memory loss, and addictive behaviors. It is the neurotransmitter responsible for productivity, focus, and motivation. It makes life more joyful and fulfilling. Let’s look at ways to increase our levels, naturally.  What is dopamine? The 85 billion neurons in our brains communicate with one another through chemicals called neurotransmitters. Dopamine is an essential neurotransmitter because it is associated with so much of our behavior and fulfillment of l...

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L-theanine: What Is It And What Are The Benefits?

* Verified by a US-based board-certified doctor. L-theanine at a Glance L-theanine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning humans do not naturally produce it. It also means it’s not necessary for our survival. However, taking L-theanine may positively affect chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and dopamine. We find L-theanine in certain mushrooms, black tea, and green tea. It is very similar to glutamate, an amino acid our body does produce used to carry nerve impulses to our brain. This chemical may help improve stress levels and mood. This compound is considered safe, though scient...

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Top 10 Productivity Books to Read

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School – John Medina Ever wanted to know how your brain works when approaching specific tasks? Dr John Medina, a molecular biologist, explains the hidden facts on optimizing brain activity and performance. Each chapter identifies a new rule that the brain follows when it learns new material; he even explores other topics such as the effects of stress and sleep on the brain and the differences with how men and women learn new information. Along with these studies, the book also offers ways to implement optimal brain ha...

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How to Stop Overthinking: A Simple Guide to Help You Relax

* Verified by a US-based board-certified doctor. Overthinking can be debilitating to those who can't seem to get out of their own heads. If this resonates with you, here is a simple guide to help you relax.  Overthinking is something we all do at one time or another. Still, many people find that constant overthinking plagues their lives. Overthinking has been linked to mental issues such as depression and anxiety. It can cause a decline in mental health, and when that happens, you're even more likely to overthink. It's a vicious cycle!  When you overthink, you can find yourself having trou...

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How to Get Rid of Brain Fog: Tips and Tricks

* Verified by a US-based board-certified doctor. Have you found yourself unable to concentrate, recall something important, or get motivated? You're probably suffering from what is commonly referred to as brain fog. So what exactly is brain fog, and what causes this condition? First and foremost, brain fog is not recognized as a medical condition. While it can be a symptom of an underlying medical issue, it's often the result of poor diet, lack of exercise, and insufficient sleep. Sudden and persistent brain fog can significantly affect our mood and stress levels, especially when it drags ...

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Mental Acuity: A Guide to Staying Mentally Sharp

* Verified by a US-based board-certified doctor. Mental acuity refers to being mentally sharp. If you’re mentally sharp, you have an excellent memory, and you find it easy to complete different tasks. A lack of mental acuity can be detrimental to your health. You may forget important things, lack the focus to perform specific tasks, and struggle to concentrate. As a result, you become a shell of your former self.  Sadly, the mind gets weaker as we get older. Most people suffer a dip in mental acuity, which is why you need to focus on staying mentally sharp. What are the benefits of doing th...

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Strategies To Improve Your Time Management Skills

* “Verified by a US-based board-certified doctor” Are you looking to improve your time management skills but aren’t quite sure how to do it?  If you find you waste a lot of time procrastinating, you’re not alone. Eighty-eight percent of the American workforce admits to procrastinating for at least one hour per day.  Additionally, studies show that we spend 80 percent of the workday on non-essential tasks and  only 20 percent of our workday on essential tasks.  Whether you feel like you’re wasting your time on non-essential tasks, or you feel like you don’t have enough time in the day to get...

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How Vitamins And Stress Are Related

* “Verified by a US-based board-certified doctor” Have you been feeling stressed out lately? Are you unsure what to do about it? If you’re feeling stressed out, you’re certainly not alone. Stress is a significant health problem in the US. One-third of Americans report that they’re living with extreme stress, and 48 percent say their stress levels have increased over the past five years.  While there are many remedies you can try to alleviate stress, what many people don’t realize is that stress is linked to our vitamin consumption (or lack thereof). If you’re not getting enough vitamins in ...

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How to Memorize Material Faster

* “Verified by a US-based board-certified doctor” People often joke about their 'bad memory,' but science shows us that our memory can be what we make of it. If we give attention to memorizing things using proven techniques, we can see dramatic improvements.  How our memory works  To memorize material faster, it helps to understand the internal process. So let's discuss how our memory works.  After centuries of research and assumptions, science has narrowed the process of memorization down to three distinct stages: encoding, storage, and recall.  Encoding: At this first stage of memory fo...

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