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Take care of Your Body to Take Care of Your Mind
Research has shown that people who engage in healthy behaviors such as exercise and proper nutrition are less susceptible to the cognitive declines associated with the aging process.
- So, if you want to build a better mind, start by working on your physical health first.
Draw a Map of Your Town From Memory
While you might feel like you can navigate the streets of your neighborhood with your eyes closed, try challenging your brain by actually drawing a map of your town or neighborhood from memory.
- Once you are done, compare your memory map to a real map of the area and be surprised by what you missed.
Meditate
This ancient Buddhist tradition has gained considerable recognition for its effectiveness
- Studies have shown that mindfulness meditation can help engage new neural pathways, resulting in improved self-observational skills and increased mental flexibility
- It has also been shown to improve attention, focus, empathy, and even immunity
- Some studies suggest that meditation might even increase the capacity of working memory
Learn Something New
This brain exercise requires a bit of commitment, but it is also one that just might give you the most bang for your buck.
- Learning something new is one way to keep your brain on its toes and continually introduce new challenges.
- Not only will you be stretching your mind, but you will also be continually learning something new as you keep expanding your skills and becoming more accomplished
What About All Those Brain Training Games?
Many of these tools claim that these computerized brain exercises can increase your mental flexibility, keep you mentally sharper as you age and even make you more intelligent
- There is still plenty of debate about whether or not these claims are true
- If you think you would enjoy such games, there are a number of brain training resources that you might want to check out
Try Using Your Non-Dominant Hand
One neurobiologist suggests using your non-dominant hand to strengthen your mind.
- Switch hands while eating dinner, writing down ideas, and even holding a pen and paper to increase your mental strength.
- Switching hands can increase brain activity, too.
Socialize
Socializing tends to engage multiple areas of the brain and many social activities also include physical elements, such as playing a sport, that are also beneficial to your mind.
- Even if you are an inveterate introvert, seeking social interactions can be beneficial in the short and long-term.
