How to Speed Up Your Mental Processing

In this podcast (episode #402) and blog, I talk about mental processing speeds and how we can improve our thinking.

Our nonconscious mind is operating at a faster speed than our conscious mind. Intelligent thinking occurs in the nonconscious mind at about a million operations per second. Our nonconscious mind is therefore constantly working and is operating at faster speeds than our conscious mind. 

To make this simple to understand, think about the way that cartoon animations are made. An illustrator will draw around 40 images of different actions and that will be put together to form one action that we can see and understand as an action on the TV as we watch the animation. Yet behind that one simple action are those 40 images that were put together in sometimes just under a second. For example, Mickey Mouse could be jumping up and down waving his hands and we only see the action as ONE scene yet behind that scene were multiple single images put together. This is comparable to how the nonconscious mind puts 40 or however many “actions, senses, stimuli” together to form a conscious thought.

Basic signs of slower mental speed include a consistent pattern where you are struggling to follow or process what people are saying to you or you struggle to follow lectures, videos, conversations, readings, movies, stories and so on. An important thing to point out here is that everyone has those moments where they struggle to do all of these things. However, it is a concern when it is consistent.

But there is hope! Although our thought life is a stream of consciousness with thousands of individual thoughts blending together, we can bring a level of order to our thinking by managing what we allow in our mind and editing what is already in our mind and brain. We are able to learn to evaluate the individual frames of thought (those “individual illustrations”) by self regulating our stream of consciousness. By learning how to regulate our consciousness, we can learn to tap into our nonconscious mind at a faster rate and thus improve our mental speed!

So what exactly is regulating our stream of consciousness? And, how can we improve our mental speed? This means we have to learn how to tune into those individual “images” that make up the “action” we see. I have spent 38 years researching how to help people tap into the intelligence of the nonconscious mind and developed a system called the Neurocycle. This system can be used to build your brain and improve your mental speed, as I discuss in my latest book, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess and app Neurocycle.

Below is a brief overview of how to do a Neurocycle to improve your processing speed:

Step 1: Gather Awareness 

The goal of this step is to understand what you’re hearing, reading, seeing or experiencing and to get the info in the brain properly. You can choose the information you are going to practice building your mental speed with. Read a small section or listen to a small portion of whatever you choose.

Step 2: Reflect

ASK yourself what you just read, watched or listened to (who, what, when, why, and how).

ANSWER yourself by reviewing what you just read, watched or heard.

DISCUSS–explain to yourself in your own words until you understand it.

Step 3: Write 

Write down the information you selected to help organize your thinking.

Step 4: Recheck

Go through what you wrote and compare it to the source to see if it makes sense. Edit or add information if necessary.

Step 5: Active Reach 

Reteach the information to yourself or a loved one.

It is best to repeat this 5 step process until you have finished reading the whole document, watched the whole clip, or listened to the audio. This helps you tap into training your conscious mind to connect faster with your nonconscious mind and improve your mental speed.

Once you train your brain to do this automatically, you will start applying these techniques at a much faster rate and improve your mental processing, which I discuss in my book Think, Learn, Succeed.

It is also important to look at your environment and think of ways you can improve your lifestyle to increase your mental processing speed. This includes seeing your mistakes as learning opportunities, and managing your thinking and stress levels through daily self-regulation (see my other podcasts and blogs for more on this) and mental decompression techniques like meditation and deep breathing.

For more on mental processing speeds, listen to my podcast (episode #402). If you enjoy listening to my podcast, please consider leaving a 5-star review and subscribing. And keep sharing episodes with friends and family and on social media. (Don’t forget to tag me so I can see your posts!).

You can now also join me on Patreon for exclusive, ad-free content! Sign up for a membership level that suits you, and receive access to ad-free exclusive bonus podcasts. These episodes will include more targeted, step-by-step guides for specific mental health issues AND some fun, more personal podcasts about topics like my favorite skincare products and favorite books, as well as live Q&As, fan polls and requests, and exclusive digital downloads!       

Join my Neurocycle Certified Facilitator program! This is an intensive training certification program designed and led by me, where eligible individuals have the opportunity to learn how to correctly facilitate the instruction of my methods, including the Neurocycle, within their practice or business with clients. The training is done in-person, and on successful completion of the training, the certified facilitator will have access to the CF portal where they can sign up and manage clients.    

How will I get a return on my investment?    

• You will become one of the most in-demand coaches in your community by taking your business to the next level.
• You will make client connections: we’ll help you create a profile in our exclusive directory, which is sent to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
• You will learn the business & marketing strategies I have developed over many years to turn my passion for helping others find healing into a successful & sustainable business model
• You will hear helpful insider tips from me on using this certification to improve & expand your business and reach.
• You will access new & exciting opportunities to diversify & increase your revenue streams.
• You will receive hands-on training with Dr. Leaf in the Neurocycle Method & an exclusive license to facilitate the Neurocycle™ method with your clients.
• You will have the opportunity to make new friends, find a business partner or start a new career!
• You will have access to extensive resources, including the Neurocycle App, Neurocycle Method materials & our exclusive Facebook group.     

If you are looking to deliver better results for your clients and build a coaching or mental health business that you love, the Neurocycle Facilitator certification could be a great fit! Use the coupon code INAUG25 to get 25% of the cost of the Neurocycle Intensive training here. ONLY 3 SPOTS LEFT!

This podcast is sponsored by:

Noom. We are all in different places in our lives, and on our health journeys. Many of us are faced with difficult decisions every day—what to eat, when to work out and how to live our best lives. We want to make the best choices for our brain and body health, but it isn’t always easy. Indeed, what health looks like for you may be completely different to what it looks like for someone else—there is no one size fits all. This is why I love Noom’s different approach to health and eating. The program is driven by a singular mission: to help as many people as possible live healthier and happier lives through behavior change. They use the latest in proven behavioral science to empower people to take control of their health for good. And, through a combination of psychology, technology, and human coaching, Noom has helped millions of users meet their personal wellness goals. Start building better habits for healthier, long-term results. Sign up for your trial at noom.com/DRLEAF.

BetterHelp. One of my resolutions for 2022 is to treat myself like I would my best friend, and one way I am doing this is to spend more time doing the things that make bring me joy, such as walking my two puppies or reading novels in the bath. Therapy is another great way we take care of ourselves. Indeed, you don’t have to be in a crisis mode to benefit from therapy. Therapy can provide preventative and protective strategies, so that when things do get tough, you will know what to do—it is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. And, this month, BetterHelp online therapy wants to remind you that you matter just as much as everyone else does, and therapy is a great way to make sure you show up for yourself! BetterHelp is online therapy that offers video, phone and even live chat sessions with your therapist, so you don’t have to see anyone on camera if you don’t want to. It’s much more affordable than in-person therapy and you can be matched with a therapist in under 48 hours. Visit betterhelp.com/drleaf, and join the over 1,000,000 people who have taken charge of their mental health with the help of an experienced professional. In fact, so many people have been using BetterHELP that they are recruiting additional counselors in all 50 states! I am proud to say that this podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, and Cleaning Up the Mental Mess listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com/drleaf.  

Catalina Crunch. One of my favorite ways to wake up every morning is with a delicious bowl of cereal, which is why I love Catalina Crunch, a delicious cereal that is zero-sugar, keto-friendly, and low-carb. There are a ton of great flavors, including Honey Graham, Maple Waffle and Mint Chocolate Chip. I personally have their cinnamon toast flavor with a splash of coconut milk and cream every morning, but all their cereals are also delicious with a spoon of creamy yoghurt or ice cream for dessert after a meal! See why Catalina Crunch Cereal is the fastest growing cereal brand in America. Just go to catalinacrunch.com/DRLEAF for 15% off your first order—plus FREE shipping.

Podcast Highlights

2:30 What processing speed is

3:15 The new science of intelligence

4:00 Mental processing speed & intelligence

4:25, 8:00 How stress & trauma can impact our mental processing speed

8:30 How mind management & brain building can help you improve your mental processing speed

12:10 The benefits of a faster mental processing speed

20:00, 23:30 Steps to improve your mental processing speed

This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. We always encourage each person to make the decision that seems best for their situation with the guidance of a medical professional.