A few easy, yet important exercises not just help you boost your memory and concentration but also take care of the brain as you get older
Like other organs, your brain too needs extra care and pampering from time to time. According to studies, there are many ways you can hone your mental sharpness and keep the brain healthy – at any age. A few easy, yet important, exercises not only help you boost your memory and concentration but also take care of the brain as you get older.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the top ten evidence-based exercises that offer the best brain-boosting benefits.
Solve a jigsaw puzzle
While it may be fun doing so, a jigsaw puzzle-like putting together many pieces of an image is among the best ways you can strengthen your brain. Studies say the activity helps sharpen your cognitive abilities and is a protective factor for even visuospatial cognitive ageing.
Build vocabulary
A great vocabulary not only makes you smarter but is also one of the best stimulators for your brain. According to studies, there are many regions of your brain involved in vocabulary tasks, especially in areas that are important for visual and auditory processing. So, always:
- Keep a notebook with you when you read and write down one unfamiliar word only to find its meaning
- Try to use that word two to three times in conversations throughout the day
Dance
Dancing is not just great exercise but also a wonderful way to take care of your brain. It helps process speed and memory. Various ways to dance, like salsa, hip-hop, Zumba, jazz, or even slow ballroom dancing, can be wonderful.
Learn a new skill
Learning anything new – which makes you understand something and work towards mastering it – is among the best ways to strengthen brain connections. According to experts, older adults who learn various new skills – like language, drawing, and music – see a marked improvement in their memory and thinking abilities because of the boost it provides.
Music
Listening to or playing music helps increase your creative brain power. Studies say music-based activities like singing in a group, playing simple instruments like drums, or dancing to familiar songs improve and maintain thinking skills like memory, verbal fluency, and overall mental function in older adults with early signs of cognitive decline.
Try playing cards
Playing cards improves important thinking skills like self-control and the ability to switch between tasks. It not only boosts your brain function but also has a positive effect on thinking skills, verbal fluency, and self-control.
According to experts, card games can be beneficial for all age groups. While card games like Crazy Eights, poker, and solitaire can be lots of fun and an effective way to support brain health in seniors, they are also good for kids.
Meditate
Meditation is among the best ways to calm your body and mind and control your breathing. It also helps reduce stress and anxiety and gives you a sense of balance.
However, daily just 15 minutes of meditation also helps fine-tune your memory and strengthen your brain's ability to process information – thereby strengthening it.
Practice tai chi
Tai chi is a Chinese mind-body practice that combines slow and flowing movements along with deep breathing and mental focus. While it originally began as a martial art, it has now evolved into a popular exercise for physical and mental health and well-being. Experts say it can centre you when life seems out of balance.
Tai chi combines mental exercises with physical movement and can help older adults with mild memory problems improve their thinking skills and walking abilities.
Learn a new language
A new language usually requires lots of brain activity – and so it makes you mentally sharp as you age. Apart from improving your cognitive flexibility, it also strengthens focus and concentration.
Take a different route
While walking back home from somewhere or doing daily chores, try innovation. Take a new route or try new ways to do the same things. It helps benefit your brain, and you may also be surprised by how easy it is to change your thinking.
