25
Jul
Think Better with Chewing Gum
About 9 months ago, I started chewing gum. I was originally inspired to try this by an article in the Friday Mind Massage Ezine by Maya Talisman Frost, (aka “the Mind Masseuse“). In this article she writes, “Research has shown that chewing does indeed increase our ability to concentrate and to retain what we’ve learned. In fact, studies indicate that, for both kids and adults, mental tasks are completed up to 20% more effectively when we chew gum.”
It made sense. I get a lot of my best ideas when I’m in the shower, mowing, or doing some other activity where my body is actively engaged but my mind doesn’t have to think much about what it is doing. It is like my body is mostly on auto-pilot so my mind is free to do what it wants to do, which is to be creative. Chewing gum is a mindless physical activity like the aforementioned activities except that we can do it while sitting at the computer or while engaged in some other activity in which we need extra mindfulness.
I usually prefer Orbit gum. The pieces are bigger than the pellet style gum that seems to be so popular today and the flavor lasts a long time. I sometimes realize that I’ve chewed a piece for a couple hours and it still has a good flavor. About every other month I’ll buy five 3-packs (one of each flavor—I like having the variety). I keep some in my truck, some at my desk at home, and most of it at my desk at work. On Orbit’s Benefits of Gum page they agree that it improves concentration and eases tension.
If you don’t already chew gum on a regular basis, give it a try! And let me know how it works for you.
[...] Think Better with Chewing Gum – [Ricky’s RAM Dump] Do you think can chewing gum increase effectiveness? Discussion at Community.Lifehack [...]
July 26th, 2005 at 8:36 amYou won’t believe but it actually worked for me. i have a deadline this friday and this morning, i was pretty flumoxxed as to whether i will be able to complete my project or not. I had a gum around 12 in the noon, and after 8 hours of gum chewing and intense coding, voilla I am on track to complete my project.
Thanks dude.
July 26th, 2005 at 9:19 pm[...] Ricky’s RAM Dump | Think Better with Chewing Gum [...]
July 27th, 2005 at 12:49 amHmm, interesting.
I have a lot of my good ideas while driving, eating, and sitting on the toilet. The single best way I’ve found to have ideas is to have something to collect them with, which is something that David Allen says as well.
I’m going to have to try this gum thing.
July 27th, 2005 at 12:52 amCool. I have noticed that it wakes me up around 2 or 3 if I start feeling sleepy, but wasn’t aware that research had been done on it. You have to be careful how much you chew though, it can cause jaw problems.
July 27th, 2005 at 8:20 amI am doing a project about gum making people smarter
February 19th, 2006 at 5:34 pmwow i cant believe this actully worx! i hav been able to finish my projects on tim ewhile be4, i was handin them in late!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE GUM (orbit)
May 24th, 2006 at 2:32 pmI agree that chewing gum can help you concentrate. In fact, I chew a gum specially designed for this purpose. It really helps me when I have finals! It has all the benefits of regular chewing gum plus herbs like ginkgo biloba and vinpocetine. It is called ThinkGum . I’m pretty sure you can buy it off thier website at ThinkGum.com
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:05 pmDash – Thanks for mentioning ThinkGum. I probably won’t try it because it has caffeine in it, and I try not to injest as much as possible–it gives some quick energy, but makes me sluggish later and headaches too.
April 4th, 2007 at 8:04 am