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Last Updated on October 3, 2024 by Alaina
Undertaking exercises to maintain brain health is generally considered a priority for older people. However, as with most things in life, you don’t need to wait to start engaging your brain. There are numerous benefits associated with an active brain:
- Faster thinking
- Quicker learner
- Improved memory
- Better problem-solving skills
- Ability to concentrate for longer periods
- Elevated mood and lower risk of depression
In short, the more you keep your brain active, the better you’ll be in health, cope better with difficulties, and enjoy a higher quality of life.
As a bonus, you can do some of the following brain activities with your family, boosting your bond.
1. Write a Novel
This may seem strange, especially if you don’t already have an affinity with the written word. However, everyone has a story in them, whether it’s your life story or something else you’ve been cooking in your imagination.
All you need to do is work out who the protagonist of a story is, and determine the antagonist. Once you picture these characters you can build chapters around the way they interact.
Writing a novel means dedicating a short period to writing daily. That’s time you won’t waste in front of the television and time you will spend thinking.
As with any muscle in your body, the more you use it the stronger it gets. Writing a novel and thinking about what you’re going to write works your brain, making it stronger and better able to deal with the challenges of life.
2. Exercise!
In the past, scientists believed it was impossible for the brain to grow new neurons. It was believed the brain started to lose its power in adulthood, which was irreversible.
Today, we know this isn’t the case. Keeping the brain active encourages new neurons which helps to ensure brain health into old age. A study in the 1990s revealed that exercise is as essential as brain exercise for rebuilding neurons and decreasing the chance of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions.
The best part is that you don’t need to be doing strenuous exercise. Walking, dancing, and cycling are great forms of exercise, fun, and give you an opportunity to spend time with your family!
If you’re already struggling with health issues, such as arthritis, there are low-impact activities you can do at home to help your brain and your mental and physical health.
3. Play Games
Playing games challenges your brain. This is true whether you’re indulging in a game of scrabble, monopoly, chess, or a game of baseball.
In all cases, you need to think about what is going on around you and react as quickly as possible. That requires good hand-to-eye coordination, cognitive skills, and even some physical fitness. It will benefit your overall health as well as brain health.
Playing games also means less time spent watching television, which is a good thing as games are far more mentally stimulating.
4. Learn a New Skill
Many older people take up gardening, finding pleasure in learning how to grow plants or developing backyard landscaping ideas.
You don’t have to be old, and you don’t have to take up gardening. Learning any new skill will stimulate your brain, encouraging the growth of neurons, which is excellent for memory and overall brain health.
All you have to do is choose something to learn. It could be learning to speak a different language, teaching yourself a new game, such as golf, or even teaching yourself computer coding.
Learning something new challenges your brain, effectively reducing stress and making you feel happier. A boosted brain will be better at juggling multiple tasks and could even make you more intelligent.
5. Volunteer to Help Others
This may seem like a surprising way to keep your brain active, but it works. When you volunteer to help, you never know what situation you’ll find yourself in. You’ll have to think fast and deal with a variety of issues.
In addition, interacting successfully with others will boost your self-confidence, and you’ll get a rush of endorphins when you help others. That makes you feel happier and more capable of doing anything.
It will help you stay mentally alert, boost your memory, and retain cognitive function.
Summing Up
The majority of people don’t worry about brain health until they are older. After all, when you’re young, you feel invincible.
Starting activities to keep your brain active can be done at any age. You’ll see benefits even if you’re already advanced in years.
The best approach is to start today regardless of your age. Brain activities can be fun, they can improve your quality of life, and they are a great way of building connections with others. It’s never too soon to try the above five ways to keep your brain active.