Tips to help keep your brain mentally sharp
10 Brain Exercises to help keep you Mentally Sharp
The brain is involved in everything we do, and, like any other part of the body, it needs to be cared for too. Research has shown that there are many ways you can hone your mental sharpness and help your brain stay healthy, no matter what age you are. Doing certain brain exercises to help boost your memory, concentration, and focus can make daily tasks quicker and easier to do and keep your brain sharp.
Exercising the brain to improve memory, focus, or daily functionality and people of all ages can benefit from incorporating a few simple brain exercises into their daily life – here are just a few.
1. Have fun with a Jigsaw Puzzle
Doing jigsaw puzzles uses multiple cognitive abilities. You have to look at different pieces and figure out where they fit within the larger picture. This can be a great way to challenge and exercise your brain. Learning is fun – our Millionaire or Snakes and Ladders games are included in our online library – a great way to exercise your mind.
2. Try your hand at cards
A quick card game can lead to greater brain volume in several regions of the brain. A game of cards can improve memory and thinking skills. Try learning one of these card games: solitaire, bridge, gin rummy, poker, hearts, crazy eights – and many more!
3. Build your vocabulary
A rich vocabulary has a way of making you sound smart. But did you know you can also turn a quick vocab lesson into a stimulating brain game?
- Keep a notebook with you when you read.
- Write down one unfamiliar word, then look up the definition.
- Try to use that word five times the next day.
4. Dance your heart out
Learning new dance moves can increase your brain’s processing speed and memory. In other words, bust a move on the dance floor and your brain will thank you. It could be salsa, tap, hip-hop, a Zumba or jazz exercise class. Maybe watch an online video with fun dance moves you’ve always wanted to learn.
5. Use all your senses
Using all your senses can help strengthen your brain. To give your senses and your brain a workout, try doing activities that simultaneously engage all five of your senses – smelling, touching, tasting, seeing, and hearing all at the same time.
6. Learn a new skill
Learning a new skill is not only fun and interesting, but it may also help strengthen the connections in your brain. Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn how to do? Give it a go, and learn a new skill.
7. Teach a new skill to someone else
One of the best ways to expand your learning is to teach a skill to another person. After you learn a new skill, you need to practice it. Teaching it to someone else requires you to explain the concept and correct any mistakes you make. For example, learn to swing a golf club, then teach the steps to a friend. Pass on a new skill to a friend or colleague.
8. Take a new route
Don’t get stuck in a rut when it comes to your daily tasks. Instead, be willing to try new ways to do the same things. Learn a new skill to do a task differently. Your brain can benefit from this simple change, and you might be surprised by how easy it is to change your thinking.
9. Meditate
Five minutes of daily meditation can calm your body, slow your breathing, and reduce stress and anxiety. But did you know that it may also help fine-tune your memory and increase your brain’s ability to process information?
10. Focus on another person
The next time you interact with someone, take note of four things about them. Maybe you observe the colour of their shirt or jumper. Are they wearing glasses? Do they have a hat on, and if so, what kind of hat? What colour is their hair? Once you decide on four things to remember, make a mental note, and come back to it later in the day. Write down what you remember about those four details.
And finally.
Focusing on your brain health is one of the best things you can do to improve your concentration, focus, memory, and mental agility, no matter what age you are. By incorporating brain exercises into your everyday life, you’ll get to challenge your mind, sharpen your cognitive skills, and possibly learn something new and enriching along the way, too.
You can really exercise your brain power by subscribing to our Bite Size Library. It’s packed with 3-5 minute lessons, 90 second videos and tests and games to help grow and develop your skills. Test your brain power with Bite Size today.
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