The brain is involved in everything we do and, like any other
part of the body, it needs to be cared for too.
Exercising the brain to improve memory, focus, or daily
functionality is a top priority for many people, especially as they get older.
That said, people of all ages can benefit from incorporating a few simple brain
exercises into their daily life, which we’ll explore in more detail in this
article.
Research has shown that there are many ways you can hone your
mental sharpness and help your brain stay healthy, no matter what age you are.
Doing certain brain exercises to help boost your memory, concentration, and focus can make daily tasks quicker and
easier to do, and keep your brain sharp as you get older.
Let’s take a deeper dive into 13 evidence-based exercises that offer the best brain-boosting benefits.
Ending Alzheimer’s,
dementia, confusion… the natural way
1. Have fun with a
jigsaw puzzle
Whether you’re putting together a 1,000-piece image of the
Eiffel Tower or joining 100 pieces to make Mickey Mouse, working on a jigsaw
puzzle is an excellent way to strengthen your brain.
Research Trusted Source has shown that doing jigsaw puzzles recruits multiple
cognitive abilities and is a protective factor for visuospatial cognitive
aging. In other words, when putting together a jigsaw puzzle, you have to look
at different pieces and figure out where they fit within the larger picture.
This can be a great way to challenge and exercise your brain.
When’s the last time you played a game of cards? Researchers who
conducted a study in 2015Trusted Source on mentally stimulating activities for adults, say a quick
card game can lead to greater brain volume in several regions of the brain. The
same study also found that a game of cards could improve memory and thinking
skills.
Try learning one of these tried-and-true card games:
- solitaire
- bridge
- gin rummy
- poker
- hearts
- crazy eights
A rich vocabulary has a way of making you sound smart. But did you know you can also turn a quick vocab lesson into a stimulating brain game?
Ending Alzheimer’s, dementia, confusion… the natural way
The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control notes that learning new dance moves can increase your brain’s processing speed and memory. In other words, bust a move on the dance floor and your brain will thank you.
Want to test it out? Give one of these dance activities a try:
- Take a salsa, tap, hip-hop, or contemporary dance class.
- Try a Zumba or jazz exercise class.
- Watch an online video with fun dance moves you’ve always wanted to learn.
- Grab a partner and learn to ballroom dance.
- Gather your friends and go line dancing.
A 2015 research report Trusted Source suggests
that using all your senses may help strengthen your brain.
To
give your senses and your brain a workout, try doing activities that
simultaneously engage all five of your senses. You could try baking a batch of
cookies, visiting a farmer’s market, or trying a new restaurant while you focus
on smelling, touching, tasting, seeing, and hearing all at the same time.
Learning
a new skill is not only fun and interesting, but it may also help strengthen
the connections in your brain.
Research from 2014Trusted Source also
shows that learning a new skill can help improve memory function in older
adults.
Is
there something you’ve always wanted to learn how to do? Perhaps you’d like to
know how to repair your car, use a particular software program, or ride a
horse? You now have one more good reason to learn that new skill.
7. Teach a new skill to someone else
One
of the best ways to expand your learning is to teach a skill to another person.
After
you learn a new skill, you need to practice it. Teaching it to someone else
requires you to explain the concept and correct any mistakes you make. For
example, learn to swing a golf club, then teach the steps to a friend.
Do
you want an easy way to increase your creative brain power? The answer may lie
in turning on some music.
According
to a 2017 study
Trusted
Source, listening to happy tunes helps generate more innovative
solutions compared to being in silence. Which means, cranking up some feel-good
music can help boost your creative thinking and brain power.
And if you want to learn how to play music, now is a great time to start because your brain is capable of learning new skills at any point in your life. That’s why you’re never too old to start playing an instrument like the piano, guitar, or even the drums.
The dementia quick-fix
that makes the brain young again!
9. Take a new route
Don’t
get stuck in a rut when it comes to your daily tasks. Instead, be willing to
try new ways to do the same things.
Choose
a different route to get to work each week or try a different mode of
transport, like biking or using public transport instead of driving. Your brain can benefit from
this simple change, and you might be surprised by how easy it is to change your
thinking.
Daily meditation can
calm your body, slow your breathing, and reduce stress and anxiety.
But
did you know that it may also help fine-tune your memory and increase
your brain’s
ability to process information Trusted Source?
Find
a quiet spot, close your eyes, and spend five minutes meditating each day.
A
2012 review of
research Trusted
Source has overwhelmingly proven the many cognitive benefits
of being able to speak more than one language.
According
to numerous studies, bilingualism can contribute to better memory, improved
visual-spatial skills, and higher levels of creativity. Being fluent in more
than one language may also help you switch more easily between different tasks,
and delay the onset of age-related mental decline.
The
good news is that it’s never too late to reap the rewards of learning a new
language. According to researchers, you can boost your memory and improve other
mental functions by becoming a student of a new language at any time in your
life.
It’s
no secret that tai chi can
benefit your health in many ways, including your mental health. Plus, it can
also help center you when life seems out of balance.
Taking
up a regular practice of tai chi can help reduce stress, enhance sleep quality,
and improve memory. A 2013 study Trusted Source found
that long-term tai chi practice could induce structural changes in the brain,
resulting in an increase in brain volume.
Beginners do best by taking a class to learn the different movements. But once you know the basics, you can practice tai chi anywhere, anytime.
Ending Alzheimer’s,
dementia, confusion… the natural way
The
next time you interact with someone, take note of four things about them. Maybe
you observe the color of their shirt or pants. Are they wearing glasses? Do
they have a hat on, and if so, what kind of hat? What color is their hair?
Once you decide on four things to remember, make a mental note, and come back to it later in the day. Write down what you remember about those four details.
The Bottom Line
Focusing
on your brain health is
one of the best things you can do to improve your concentration, focus, memory,
and mental agility, no matter what age you are.
By incorporating brain exercises into your everyday life, you’ll get to challenge your mind, sharpen your cognitive skills, and possibly learn something new and enriching along the way, too.
Research shows that many more regions of the brain are involved in
vocabulary tasks, particularly in areas that are important for visual and
auditory processing. To test this theory, try this cognitive-boosting activity:
- Keep a notebook with you when you read.
- Write down one unfamiliar word, then look up the
definition.
- Try to use that word five times the next day.
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