A mind that is always sharp will serve you well now and as you get older. Research shows that engaging in brain activities helps stave off diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. If you do them on a regular basis, you’ll keep your cognitive functioning humming along like it should. Wondering what you can do? Don’t worry. There are lots of fun choices. Here are some good ones to get you started.
1 Sit down and Read a Book
One of the best things you can do for your brain is read a book. Sitting down with words on a page totally engages your mind and keeps it working. The great thing is that studies show that it doesn’t really matter what you’re reading as long as you’re doing it. However, if you read something that really makes you think, it has even more benefits. What’s your favorite thing to read?
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2 Do Crossword Puzzles Every Day
Crossword puzzles are fun and a great way to spend your free time, but they are also really great for keeping your brain active too. If you still get the newspaper, you can do the daily crossword puzzle when you grab it out of the driveway. You can also buy crossword puzzle books at the store or print them off the Internet so you always have one on hand when you need one.
3 Play a Game of Chinese Checkers with Your Kids
Chinese checkers activates both sides of your brain and experts say that going back and forth between the right and left sides is really good for warding off age related decline. Chinese checkers requires at least two people, so this is the perfect choice if you also want to boost the brain power of the ones you love.
4 Try Anything New
Doing something new is always a good way to make your brain work harder, keeping it in shape. Anything you’ve never done before works, so go ahead and take that knitting class you’ve been wanting to sign up for. Cooking, dancing, painting and exercise are other great ways to get your brain in shape. And they’re all fun too!
5 Hang out with Your Friends
Even if you aren’t doing anything strictly educational, spending time with your buddies can help stave off Alzheimer’s disease. Experts say that people who regularly spend time with friends have better memory, abstract thinking and language skills. Who knew getting together with the girls could be so good for you!
6 Overhaul Your Diet Today
What you eat plays a big role in all aspects of your health. That includes how your brain works. Studies show that people who eat a diet rich in antioxidants have better overall brain functioning, but are also have lower cholesterol levels, which is good for brain health. Foods that contain a lot of antioxidants include fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The more variety you eat, the better so start adding these foods to your meal plan today.
7 Pop a Stick of Gum Anytime You Want
Studies show that chewing gum can boost thinking, memory and overall cognitive function. It doesn’t matter what flavor you choose, they all do the trick. Other research shows that chewing gum while you study can help with recall later when you try to remember what you learned.
8 Ditch the Calculator, Use Your Brain
When you use your head or a pen and paper to do math, you're increasing your problem solving and reasoning skills. So next time you're calculating your simple grocery list budget, ditch the calculator and use your pretty little noggin.
9 Make Use of All Your Five Senses
It's been proven that when you actively use your five senses, you're increasing the ability to retain long term memories. You can do this easily by being mindful at any given time. When you're outside - feel the sun, taste the rain, smell the trees, touch the grass and listen to the birds.
10 Use Your Non-writing Hand to do More Activities
Whether you're left or right-handed, try use your other hand for some activities. You could start opening your front door or holding your coffee with the opposite hand. This is a unique way to stimulate the less used half of your brain.
