Brain exercises:
Research has shown that there are many ways you can sharpen your mental acuity and help your brain stay healthy, regardless of your age. Doing certain brain exercises to increase memory, concentration and attention can make daily tasks faster and easier to perform and keep your brain active as you get older.
Let’s examine in more detail the 12 research-proven activities that have been shown to enhance cognitive function.
1. Have fun with a jigsaw puzzle:
Whether you’re piecing together a 1,000-piece picture of the Eiffel Tower or joining 100 pieces to create Mickey Mouse, working on a puzzle is a great way to strengthen your brain.
Research has shown that doing puzzles recruits multiple cognitive skills and is a protective factor for visuospatial cognitive aging. In other words, when you put a puzzle together, you have to look at the different pieces and figure out where they fit into the bigger picture. This can be a great way to challenge and exercise your brain.
2. Try your hand at cards:
When was the last time you played cards? Researchers who conducted a study in 2015 on mentally stimulating activities for adults say that a quick card game can lead to increased brain volume in several regions of the brain. The same study also found that a card game could improve memory and thinking skills.
Try learning one of these proven card games:
- solitary
- bridge
- gin rummy
- poker
- hearts
- eight crazy people
3. Build your vocabulary:
A rich vocabulary can make you seem smart. But did you know that you can also turn a short vocabulary lesson into a stimulating brain game?
Studies reveal that vocabulary tasks activate many more brain regions, especially those related to visual and auditory processing. To test this theory, try this cognitive-enhancing activity:
Keep a notebook with you when you read.
Write an unfamiliar word, then look up the definition.
Try using that word five times the next day.
4. Dance your heart out:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that learning new dance moves can increase the brain’s processing speed and memory. In other words, bust a move on the dance floor and your brain will thank you.
Would you like to try it on? Try one of these dance activities:
Take a salsa, tap, hip-hop or contemporary dance class.
Try a Zumba or jazz workout class.
Watch an online video with the fun dance moves you’ve always wanted to learn.
Grab a partner and learn to dance.
Gather your friends and go line dancing.
5. Use all your senses:
A 2015 research report suggests that using all your senses can help strengthen your brain.
To train your senses and your brain, try doing activities that engage all five senses at the same time. You might try baking a batch of cookies, visiting a farmers market, or trying a new restaurant while focusing on smell, touch, taste, sight, and hearing at the same time.
6. Learn a new skill:
Learning a new skill is not only fun and interesting, but it can also help strengthen connections in the brain.
2014 research also demonstrates that teaching older adults a new skill can help them remember things better.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn how to do? Maybe you’d like to know how to fix your car, use a particular software program, or ride a horse? Now you have another good reason to learn that new skill.
7. Teach a new skill to someone else:
Teaching someone else a skill is one of the finest ways to increase your own learning.
You must practice a new skill you have learned. It is necessary for you to clarify the idea and correct any errors when you are teaching it to someone else. For instance, teach a friend how to swing a golf club after you have mastered the technique.
8. Listen to or play music:
Want an easy way to boost your creative brain power? The answer may lie in turning on some music.
According to a 2017 study, listening to happy melodies helps generate more innovative solutions than staying silent. This means that listening to some pleasant music can help stimulate your creative thinking and brain power.
And if you want to learn to play music, this is the ideal time to start because your brain is capable of learning new skills at any point in your life. For this reason, learning to play an instrument like the drums, guitar, or piano at any age is never too late.
9. Take a new route:
When it comes to your everyday routine, avoid becoming mired in routine. Rather, be open to attempting the same tasks in new ways.
Choose a different route to work each week or try a different mode of transportation, such as cycling or using public transportation instead of driving. Your brain can benefit from this simple change, and you might be surprised at how easy it is to change the way you think.
10. Meditate:
Daily meditation can calm the body, slow breathing, and reduce stress and anxiety.
But did you know that it can also help you fine-tune your memory and increase your brain’s ability to process information?
Find a quiet place, close your eyes, and spend five minutes meditating every day.
11. Learn a new language:
A 2012 research review overwhelmingly demonstrated the numerous cognitive benefits of being able to speak more than one language.
According to numerous studies, bilingualism can help improve memory, improved visuospatial skills and higher levels of creativity. Being fluent in more than one language can also help you switch between tasks more easily and delay the onset of age-related mental decline.
The good news is that it is never too late to reap the benefits of learning a new language. According to researchers, you can boost your memory and improve other mental functions by learning a new language at any time in your life.
12. Take up tai chi:
It’s no secret that Tai Chi can benefit your health in many ways, including mental health. Plus, it can also help you focus when life seems out of balance.
Practicing Tai Chi regularly can help reduce stress, improve sleep quality and improve memory. A 2013 study found that long-term Tai Chi practice could induce structural changes in the brain, resulting in increased brain volume.
Beginners do best by taking a class to learn the different movements. But once you know the basics, you can practice Tai Chi anywhere, anytime.
The bottom line:
Focusing on brain health is one of the best things you can do to improve concentration, attention, memory and mental agility, regardless of age.
By incorporating brain exercises into your daily life, you can challenge your mind, sharpen your cognitive skills, and possibly even learn something new and enriching along the way.