Simple habits, sharper mind
What if staying sharp were this simple? 10 easy habits
Solving a puzzle, reading a book, going for a walk, or talking to friends may do a lot more for your mind than you think. Our brains aren’t as adaptable as they were when we were kids, but luckily we can help keep them sharp and healthy with simple habits . Did you know that exercising for less than 3 hours a week can help your mind stay younger? Or that learning new things can improve your memory and reasoning? Here are 10 simple habits to keep your brain active as you age.
1 Stay physically active
Staying physically active doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym . Simple things like walking, gardening, or even household chores can count as physical activity. Making sure you stay active is crucial for your physical and mental health: it helps maintain your memory and other aspects of thinking, and is often linked to a lower risk of dementia.
With less than 3 hours of physical activity per week, you can make a big difference. Active older adults tend to be sharper when it comes to cognitive tests and enjoy overall better health.
2 Stay socially connected
Who would’ve thought that chatting with the neighbors or talking to a friend on the phone could have a positive effect on our brains? It can not only improve your mood, but also force your brain to communicate, listen, interpret emotions, and respond to all of that—you are using your mind more than you think.
Social isolation can affect your cognitive health, so it’s important we keep engaging with people as we age.
3 Get enough sleep
We tend to think of good sleep as simply a way to have more energy during the day. But the truth about sleeping well is a bit more surprising. Getting about 7–8 hours of sleep can improve your concentration and memory as well as help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
When we sleep, the brain performs different processes related to memory consolidation and learning. One way to maintain healthy sleep habits is to go to bed and wake up consistently at the same time every day—a 30-minute nap in the afternoon can also be incredibly helpful.
4 Keep learning new things
Every time you take on something new, like a class, recipe, technology, language, or even picking up a craft, your brain has to make a new effort. We should try to learn unfamiliar things rather than always sticking to what we already know.
There is evidence that learning new things helps prevent dementia and improve memory. You don’t have to become an expert; it has to do with giving our brains something different to work on and putting ourselves in the position of being beginners again.
5 Challenge your brain
If you already like solving crosswords, doing puzzles, or even playing card games with friends, you’ll be happy to hear that these activities are good for your brain. Anything that makes you think or solve a problem challenges your brain, keeps it sharp, and improves specific skills.
The key is to notice when something becomes automatic, and your mind no longer has to work hard to figure it out. When that happens, increase the difficulty to make sure it still feels like a challenge.
6 Read every day
It’s fascinating how much 30 minutes of daily reading can do for you. Reading is an incredibly stimulating activity for your brain: you interpret symbols, translate them into language, and use reasoning to link different concepts. And if you're reading fiction, you are also stimulating your imagination and creativity by creating scenes and images in your mind.
You can help keep your brain active and healthy by reading novels, biographies, newspapers, history books, magazines, and even articles. And if you discuss your readings with people, the experience becomes even richer.
7 Eat for brain health
You may already know that a balanced diet can help you stay strong and energetic as well as prevent several diseases, but eating nutritious food is also associated with brain health. Your heart and your brain are connected .
Things like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, fish, nuts, and healthy unsaturated fats can lower the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which affect blood vessels linked to cognitive decline. There isn’t just one healthy diet, so it’s important to consult with a professional for each specific case.
8 Drink enough water
We often wait until we feel thirsty to drink water, but as we get older, our sense of thirst becomes less noticeable, and a lack of proper hydration can affect our thinking, mood, concentration, or even cause headaches.
Try to drink water steadily throughout the day rather than all at once when you feel thirsty, and you can also get fluids from foods like fruit and vegetables. That can help keep your body functioning properly, including your brain.
9 Take up a musical instrument
If you think it is too late to start playing an instrument, think again, because it can be incredibly beneficial for your mind—and fun, too, of course. When you play a musical instrument, you work on your attention, memory, coordination, listening, fine motor skills , and more, all at the same time.
It’s a deeply stimulating activity that gives your brain a real challenge and a sense of reward. It can also help you tap into your creativity.
10 Try something outside your routine
Doing the same stuff every day can often make us function on autopilot. But when we add something new to our routines, we force ourselves to pay more attention, keeping our minds active instead of simply relying on familiar habits.
The key is: it doesn’t have to be dramatic. Take a different route on your walk or visit a place you’ve never been before, join a club, or try that hobby you’ve always been curious about. Giving our brains something they don’t already know how to do can help keep them active and sharp.
