It takes a little longer but is much better for your brain. No Calculators:ĭo the math in your head or even long-hand whenever it comes up in daily life instead of reaching for a calculator. Seems counterintuitive, but no discussion about brain exercise would be complete without emphasizing how important physical exercise is for the brain. Physical Exercise: Source: ThoroughlyReviewed Try to expose yourself to new ideas and other ways of thinking.ġ8. Disagree with People:ĭon’t stress yourself, but you’ll get huge brain benefits from spending time with people unlike you. It’s easy to be lazy with this now that we have cellphones, but memorizing a few of your most used numbers every month is super good for your brain. Things that engage all of your senses at once like camping, gardening, or shopping at a farmer’s market all stimulate your brain in ways that will keep you young and sharp. But taking an unfamiliar route activates the cortex and hippocampus. On a routine commute, your brain is on autopilot and gets very little stimulation. Switch Up Your Commute: Source: Bernal Saborio Better yet, alternate between reading and listening to books as often as you can. After returning home from visiting a new place, try to draw a map of the area repeat this exercise each time you visit a new location. Our brains are hardwired for mapping things. It sounds like hard work but involved listening stimulates wide swathes of the brain, plus a bigger lexicon is linked to reduced long-term cognitive decline. Try doing mindless chores like showering or folding laundry with your eyes closed, it will force your brain to use new neural pathways. You can find endless ones online but be aware, the effectiveness goes down if you do it every single day, so vary up your routine. Crosswords: Souce: PublicDomainPicturesĪnother classic brain trainer. Try using your non-dominant hand to do things like brushing your teeth or eating, it will be hard at first but greatly increases activity in your brain making it a great workout.ĩ. There are lots of great sites for brain training, but Braingle claims to have the largest collection of puzzles, games, and brain teasers. Try memorizing small shopping lists when you go to the store, this can introduce you to different memory techniques like mind palaces or peg words. It may seem childish, but any regular activity that involves fine-motor skills is great for getting your brain to work harder. Try taking up an athletic exercise that utilizes both mind and body such as yoga, golf, or tennis. Those of us in the West have to really focus to eat with these things, try having lunch with them every other day to shake things up. This forces your brain to really think every time you glance at it. It’s challenging and addictive and forces you to think in ways you normally don’t have to which is great for brain training. Sudoku: Source: GoodFellowĪ classic brain teaser. Once they become routine, they’re no longer challenging your brain. New tricks and strategies to keep your brain young are being developed everyday, but for now, here is a list of some of our favorite methods you can start making a part of your mental fitness routine today! Just make sure not to get too good at any of these little tricks. There are even games now that exercise your brain so you can trick it by having fun while also keeping yourself mentally fit.
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