Your brain is essentially a muscle that needs a good workout, too. Many people mistakenly exercise their body without giving one of the most important organs that they have much thought. Exercising your brain on a regular basis has its benefits.
For example, brain plasticity research proves that the brain continues to make new neurons throughout a person’s life in response to the mental activity they’re involved in. You can prevent cognitive decline no matter what age you currently are by challenging yourself mentally each day. Even if you were to get dementia as an older person, you’d still be able to delay some of the symptoms even after your brain has physically changed.
Here are some ways to give your brain a good workout:
- Get at least 15-30 minutes of physical activity daily. A healthy body often leads to a healthy mind. Exercise helps prevent and manage diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
- Learn something new. Challenge yourself to think differently. Go the extra mile to learn something that interests you and gives you something to consider.
- Stay engaged with family, friends, and members of your community. Keep in contact with the people that are important to you. Write letters, update your social media accounts or start a book club. Find ways to connect and tell your stories.
- Be mindful. Be aware of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Stop multi-tasking and instead, focus on one thing at a time. Pay close attention to how it feels to pump gas into your vehicle, wash dishes by hand, and truly enjoy each mouthful of food you eat.
Now that you know how to challenge your brain and keep it strong and healthy, you’ll be better equipped to tackle whatever the day throws at you. You’ll be better able to problem solve and come up with solutions to whatever hardships you face. Your life will be fuller, happier, and healthier when you make exercising your brain a priority.