There’s much focus on exercising and eating a healthy diet, but nowhere near as much on exercising your brain and keeping your mind active and alert. However, it’s equally, if not more, important as we get older. If you exercise your brain, it helps reduce your stress levels, look after your mental health, and cut your chances of developing conditions such as Alzheimer’s as you age.
If you are interested in learning more about how to help yourself stay active and alert as you age, consider the study of gerontology. An online masters in gerontology could help you understand more about the aging population and find ways to help make sure they have a great quality of life and stay active in the community.
The Best Ways to Exercise Your Brain
In the meantime, here are some of the best ways you can exercise your brain.
1. Conversation
One of the worst things you can do for your brain is being alone for long periods of time with no one to talk to. Conversation is a great way to stimulate your mind and take your thoughts in different directions. Try to talk about different subjects, especially those that you may not be as knowledgeable about.
2. Puzzles
Puzzles can be anything from a word search to a jigsaw. Anything that you must think about and concentrate on. Puzzles force your brain to concentrate for a long period of time, which gives it a great workout.
3. Learn a New Language
The part of your brain responsible for learning language did most of its hard work when you were young, learning to speak and expanding your vocabulary. Since then it’s been on autopilot. Learning language can be more difficult as you get older, but see it as a challenge and a great way to keep your brain alert.
4. Write
Writing is something many of us do very little of after we leave school. You might write up the odd work report or invoice, but rarely sit and just write. Starting a journal, writing a blog, or trying your hand at writing short stories are all brilliant brain workouts.
5. Read
Reading is one of the easiest ways to exercise your mind. Try to fit a bit of reading into your day-to-day life. Not only will reading work both your brain and your imagination it will also help you to relax and unwind, which is great for your mental health.
6. Memory Recall Exercises
Your memory is often one of the first things to deteriorate as you age, which means it’s also one of the most important things to practice. Play memory games or just test yourself. Spend a few minutes each day challenging yourself to remember things.
7. Switch Hands
Doing anything you don’t normally do gives your brain a good workout. Have a go at writing, eating or carrying out everyday tasks, using your weaker hand to test your brain. Eating with chopsticks and doing chores with your eyes closed are other great ways to do this.
Summary
Literally, anything new that you have to think about is a brain exercise. Try new foods, go to new places, play a new game, or learn a new sport. Absolutely anything that is out of the ordinary.
Taking care of your brain health is one of the best things you can do to improve concentration, memory, focus and mental agility, regardless of your age. Incorporating brain exercises into your daily life will challenge and sharpen your mind, and what’s more you might just learn something new as well.
What do you think of these brain exercises? Have you got any others you can add?
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
My late Mom passed away from Alzheimers disease. It was horrendous nursing her through it. My Mom was so physically fit that the family joke was she would end up with dementia as this would be the only thing that could take her. Be careful what you give the universe cos it listens.
I have always said I would rather end up in a wheelchair (and I don’t want that either) than with an illness like Moms. The reason for that is I would still be me in a wheelchair.
If your not lucky to have a supportive loving family as Mom did then this illness is even worse cos your loved one/s become your voice. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
The things you suggest I do them all as I am extra diligent. It is a great review for anyone wanting to take some prevention action on one of the worst illnesses there is because it takes all of you
Oh no! I am so sorry to hear that! I am also worried this disease will ever visit me because I feel my memory is getting worst every year! I hope it never does! I can imagine how hard it must have been for you and your family!
Thanks for this post, I think it’s really important that people are aware of how a little bit of brain exercise each day can improve their mental health. I love to read and learn about new things. do jigsaws, crosswords and maths puzzles to keep my brain active
I think these brain exercises are fantastic and I always try to make time for reading and doing puzzles to keep my brain healthy. There are certainly more on your list that I will be trying, thanks 🙂 x
I’m not sure if these exercises are brilliant or whether they would just make me worried as I failed at doing them
We have had family members and friends with dementia. I do try and exercise my brain, I love doing puzzles, crosswords and sudoko and read as much as possible. My Mum did not have dementia and she was still exercising her brain by reading and knitting at the grand age of 104.