Boost Your Brain Power
Have you ever bought a new electronic device, like a cell phone or a GPS, and spent days trying to learn how to use the thing? Or how about learning something totally new at work, where you use every spare second to cram information into your head so you won't disappoint your boss? Learning new things isn't always a simple feat, but it is always great for you… or at least it's great for your brain!
The more you stimulate your brain, the more equipped you are to maintain control over it. Just like exercising your body to maintain a desirable weight, the best way to hold on to your precious memories is to regularly give your brain a workout.
Think about your children or your grandchildren. They learn pretty quickly, right? That's because they're constantly stimulated by their environment, whether it be school or home. They're surrounded by colors, numbers, letters, animals, and so on, and soon they start spouting off the sounds those animals make from memory. Take this as a lesson: Feed your brain information and it will continue to absorb and learn.
Here are some ideas for exercising your brain:
- Do the daily crossword puzzle in the newspaper.
- Visit a local museum and find one thing you like and one thing you dislike about each piece.
- Help your children or grandchildren complete a homework assignment.
- Join a book club and share the opinions you formed about each book.
- Gather friends or family and play a few games of Scrabble.
Not to say that you should constantly be pushing yourself to learn, because relaxing is equally as important. But on those well-deserved "brain break" days, you might feel your mind slipping into a numbed state. Every now and then, I enjoy a day in front of the TV, doing nothing but watching movies and resting. But it's on these days that I have the most trouble recalling what I have planned for the next week or what errands I need to run the following day.
The best way to support brain function is to find a nice balance between stimulation and relaxation. Your brain can crack under the pressure of too much stress, just like your emotions can. So find some time every day, if only for a few minutes, to do something to bring back a sense of calm. Mediation has been proven to not only relax your body, but also to give a boost to your brain. Meditation may not be for everyone, but it couldn't hurt to give it a try once or twice to see if it works for you.
Here are some things I like to do to relax:
I love spending an afternoon at a spa that offers various saunas and steam rooms. There's something about sweating out toxins that really soothes my body. I also enjoy movie nights with friends—grabbing a bite to eat and catching a movie is great because you can let go and just enjoy good company. I love going for hour-long walks on nice days when the sun is out—sometimes I bring my dogs, and sometimes I walk with a friend so we can catch up. On weekends, I volunteer at an equine therapy center, which can be a lot of physical activity, but helping children and watching them succeed each week is one of the most peaceful and rewarding experiences of my life.
None of these activities carry the day-to-day stress of working and family obligations. So whether you prefer reading, taking a short power nap each afternoon, or practicing yoga, find something that works for you!
This combination of working your brain and then relaxing your whole body is a great formula for you to stay mentally healthy for years to come. How do you maintain your cognitive function? We'd love to hear your ideas!