It’s no secret that keeping your brain active is important for overall health and well-being. Countless studies suggest that activities that stimulate the brain can help ward off conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Here are some easy activities you can do throughout the day to keep your brain active and healthy:
Take a Walk
A study published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience has found that walking can help to improve brain health. The study looked at a group of older adults who walked for 30 minutes three times per week and found they had better cognitive function than those who did not walk. The researchers believe that the benefits of walking are due to the fact that it helps to increase blood flow to the brain. Walking also helps to reduce inflammation and improve the function of nerve cells, contributing to better brain health.
Read a Physical Book – Not a Digital One
According to cognitive scientist, Maryanne Wolf, physical books have a number of advantages over electronic reading devices when it comes to cognitive benefits for the brain. For one, physical books require readers to engage in more active reading, which has been shown to lead to deeper comprehension and retention. Physical books also provide readers with tactile and sensory feedback that can help with focus and concentration. Electronic devices, on the other hand, often provide too much visual stimulation, which can lead to distraction and reduce comprehension.
Do a Puzzle
According to a long-term study done by the University of Exeter, doing puzzles can help keep your brain functions sharp. The study found that people who did puzzles such as crosswords or Sudoku on a daily basis had significantly better cognitive function than those who didn’t. The benefits were most pronounced in people over the age of 50, but even young adults showed some improvement.
The Exeter study is just one of many that have shown the benefits of mental exercise. Puzzles help to keep our brains active and prevent cognitive decline. They also improve our memory and problem-solving skills. So if you’re looking for a way to keep your mind sharp, try doing a puzzle or two each day.
Do Simple Math in Your Head
Doing everyday math in your head or on paper instead of pulling out the calculator helps keep your brain sharp. From figuring out a discount on an item you want to purchase to adding or subtracting hours and minutes while scheduling your day, doing math computations in your head uses your brain to solve a problem, which helps keep your mind active and engaged.
Eat Healthy and Reduce Sugars
Eating healthy foods is one of the best ways to keep your brain active throughout the day. Foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are packed with antioxidants and other nutrients which help protect the brain from damage and improve cognitive function and memory.
Additionally, reducing your sugar intake can have a big impact on your brain health. Sugar has been linked to cognitive decline, and research suggests that it can interfere with memory and learning. It is worth noting that although it is not clear whether the effects of sugar are specific to certain types of cognition or whether they are generalizable to all aspects of cognitive function, the available evidence on this suggests that cutting sugar out of your diet may have beneficial effects on your cognitive health.
Schedule Social Activities that Involve Meeting New People
When we meet someone new, our brains are active in trying to process all of the information about that person. This includes making judgments about their personalities, forming first impressions, and trying to determine how we fit into their social world. As a result, meeting new people provides our brains with a valuable workout. In addition, socializing has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve mood, both of which are important for maintaining cognitive function.
There are plenty of easy activities you can do to keep your brain active and healthy no matter what age you may be. We hope this brief list gives you a great place to start in giving your brain a better day.