Brain health starts with exercise, and the brain itself is one of the most active muscles in the body—some research has even shown that it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you get your blood pumping. Following are some brain exercises to keep you sharp, no matter how old you are or how often you use them. It’s never too late to start!
Brain Games
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Playing chess, Sudoku, and other brain games can help you improve your focus and memory. Additionally, crossword puzzles and word games that involve rhyming help with spelling and auditory processing. No matter what game you play or how often you engage in mental gymnastics, it’s always a good idea to consider all of these strategies for keeping your brain active—no matter your age!
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is important for a healthy brain. A great way to build mindfulness is through meditation. If you haven’t tried it before, give it a shot! There are many different styles of meditation, so there is one that will work for you. To get started, try Transcendental Meditation (TM). It’s pretty simple: all you do is repeat a mantra over and over again while sitting in silence.
Diet & Exercise
The research is clear—to keep your brain healthy and sharp as you age, you need a healthy body. Exercise is shown to boost brain function, prevent memory loss and even delay symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. But that’s not all—exercise also strengthens your cardiovascular system, boosting blood flow throughout your entire body.
Music
Music is an easy way to stimulate your brain. It can improve your working memory, encourage problem-solving skills, enhance spatial abilities and help you stay alert and focused. When studying music, classical seems to be best, but it’s also important that you like what you listen to—so if rock and roll is more your thing, listening while studying won’t hurt as long as it keeps you interested.
Meditate
Meditation has been shown to increase blood flow, reduce stress and even reverse aging in brain tissue. If you have not already developed a meditation practice, now is as good a time as any. Start by taking 15 minutes each day and follow these simple instructions: Sit with your back straight, close your eyes and focus on inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. When thoughts arise (and they will) simply let them pass—just gently refocus on inhaling/exhaling.
Sleep Well
Just as exercise is vital for physical health, so is sleep. Sleeping well helps keep your mind fresh and sharp. As you get older, it’s natural that you’ll need less sleep; however, there are steps you can take to ensure a healthy amount of rest each night. Try limiting screen time before bed and eating dinner early enough that it doesn’t disrupt your body clock.
Learn Something New
One of the best things you can do for your brain is to learn something new. It doesn’t matter what it is, either—so long as you’re doing something that requires some mental effort. Studies have shown that just one hour a week of learning something new, like a musical instrument or language, has been proven to increase gray matter in your brain and boost overall intelligence.
Challenge Yourself
It can be easy to lose track of your fitness goals as you get older. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Getting your brain into shape is just as important as getting your body in shape. To add variety to your routine, make a point of challenging yourself and staying fit—your mind will thank you for it. Challenge Yourself: It can be easy to lose track of your fitness goals as you get older. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
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