When you’re learning a language, you will naturally use your brain. So what does “being physical” have to do with it? Quite a lot actually.
The human brain comprises 2 percent of a person’s total body weight. However, it requires as much as 25% of the same person’s entire oxygen supply in order to function properly. That’s a lot. As such, the more oxygen you manage to get into your system, the better your chances of maximizing your brain’s capabilities.
Sitting down for a home-based language software session religiously is one thing. Getting your brain in tip-top shape for that activity is another.
1. Get regular exercise. Exercise helps pump oxygen into the brain. It also keeps you healthy. We’re not talking about being gym rat here – just 30 minutes of regular exercise three to four times a week can do wonders.
2. Avoid smoking. Smoking cigarettes depletes your oxygen. It’s just an overall bad proposition. And working with a language software, alone at home, tends to encourage doing it. Just don’t.
3. Get up every 30 minutes and stretch. Sitting for long periods dulls the brain into thinking your body’s in rest mode. As a result, you frequently go to the brink of sleep. To avoid it, get up every 15 or 30 minutes to do some stretching. A couple pushups here or there wouldn’t hurt either.
4. Act it out. Instead of just reading and internalizing your lessons sitting down, try getting up and acting it out. At the least, it gets you moving; at best, it helps the lessons really sink in.