There was a time when a whole range of inspirational posters adorned the walls of any dorm room. Though they might have moved places to phone or laptop wallpapers, the effect is still the same. If you think you’ve outgrown the importance of motivational calls to action, then it might be time to search for a new bunch of inspirational quotes. There is some science-backed evidence that these positive mindset slogans could have a positive impact on us, after all.
The subject has always fascinated scientists, leading to many pieces of research that studied the connection between the notions of positive thinking and academic performance.
A recent study published by the Stanford University School of Medicine involved 240 children and affirmed that positivity has been beneficial in enhancing memory and problem-solving abilities. The researchers also studied MRI brain scans to support their conclusions on the neurological effects of positivity.
The subject of study was mathematics, and how associating and blending it with a positive outlook impacted the children. The methodology looked into the tendency towards generating more interest in the subject with subsequent leading to more practicing in the field.
The findings further claim that irrespective of one’s IQ, a positive attitude can help improve memory and even reduce anxiety.
How Positivity Affects Brain
While discussing the effect of positivity on academics, it is inevitable considering how a positive mindset could affect a person’s brain.
When you feel something positive, such as happiness, the brain produces serotonin and dopamine hormones. Both of these neurohormones are closely tied together with cognitive abilities. They can determine the performance of students not only in academics but in other aspects of lives as well.
Dopamine changes in the system have been observed as encouraging the feeling of motivation among individuals and reinforcing memory.
In a 2016 study conducted by Bryant J. Jongkees, the participants showed better cognitive skills with dopamine levels artificially increased. The heightened prefrontal activity will result in enhancing mental functions leading to faster processing of information.
On another note, positive emotions can expand your attention span and help notice details. For instance, if you have no idea how to write a term paper, but remain positive, you might start noticing reliable sources or platforms to help you with lowering academic pressure.
Being optimistic can help you focus more, allowing you to use metacognition techniques to boost academic performance.
How to Use a Positive Mindset to Study Better
Learning is not about applying one’s intelligence only. A number of factors can contribute to how a person can perform in a school or college. It could be genetic, physical, mental abilities, external circumstances, and even the surroundings. If you want to get a positive mindset to encourage your learning abilities, consider the following tips.
Start Organizing
An organized and clean space always indicates a cheerful setting. You might start noticing a difference in your mood towards wanting to learn when you have a clean room and an organized desk. The psychologists connect cleanliness to numerous benefits, including setting goals, planning one’s work schedule, and managing more tasks.
Affirmations
Positive affirmations are another strategy many students use. This article on Psychology Today states that affirmations can help you perform better on tests.
On a behavioral level itself, one can notice that self-affirmations lead to boosted confidence and advanced problem-solving skills.
Meditation
People who meditate daily have more positive emotions and outlook towards life. Meditation can help improve focus by balancing the activity of the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
If practiced regularly, it can bring a substantial positive difference to one’s life, improving cognitive skills and memory.
Physical Exercise
It is common knowledge that an enjoyed physical activity makes one feel good. It is due to the release of endorphins that can contribute to the feeling of happiness and relaxation. If you have been stressed over tests or have been cramming for days, it might be a good idea to go out and engage in any physical activity.
Final Words
Remember that while many of these methods could help with positive thinking. It might take time for an individual to shape such a mindset. If one has been focused on the negative aspects, then one day of meditation or positive affirmation is not going to make a difference.
Patience is crucial if you are planning to make a change in lifestyle by turning to positivity.
Finally, such an approach can certainly make you feel happier and confident in all areas of life. After all, trying to like a subject might make you want to study it rather than hating it even before starting.
It seems possible to change how your brain works with little adjustments to thoughts. So why not try it, if better outcomes are just around the corner?