5 Brain Exercises to Strengthen Your Mind
While you might know that you need to exercise your body, did you know that it might also be important to exercise your mind? You’ve probably heard the old adage “Use it or lose it.”
Draw a Map of Your Town From Memory
While you might feel like you can navigate the streets of your neighbourhood with your eyes closed, try challenging your brain by actually drawing a map of your town or neighbourhood from memory. No cheating! Try to include major streets, major side streets, and local landmarks.
Once you are done, compare your memory map to a real map of the area. How did you do? Are you surprised by some of the things that you missed? If you found this activity too easy, try drawing a less familiar area from memory, such as a map of the entire United States or Europe, and try to label every state or country.
Navigating your way to the supermarket or doctor’s office might seem simple and almost automatic when you are behind the wheel of your car. However, forcing yourself to remember the layout of your neighbourhood as well as draw and label it helps activate a variety of areas of your brain.
Learn Something New
This brain exercise requires a bit of commitment, but it is also one that just might give you the most bang for your buck. Learning something new is one way to keep your brain on its toes and continually introduce new challenges.
In one study, researchers assigned older adults to learn a variety of new skills ranging from digital photography to quilting. They then did memory tests and compared the experimental groups to the control groups. Those in the control groups had engaged in activities that were fun but not mentally challenging such as watching movies and listening to the radio.
Some things you might want to try learning a new language, learning to play a musical instrument, or learning a new hobby. Not only will you be stretching your mind, but you will also be continually learning something new as you keep expanding your skills and becoming more accomplished.
Try Using Your Non-Dominant Hand
Up next is an interesting brain exercise that one neurobiologist suggests might help “keep your brain alive.”
Try switching hands while you are eating dinner or when you are trying to write something down. It will be difficult, but that is exactly the point.
The most effective brain activities are those that are not necessarily easy.
Up next is an activity that you probably do every day, but you might not realize just how beneficial it might be for your mental strength.
Socialize
Studies from 2019 suggest that people who are socially active are also at a lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.8
Socializing tends to engage multiple areas of the brain and many social activities also include physical elements, such as playing a sport, that are also beneficial to your mind.
Even if you are an inveterate introvert, seeking social interactions can be beneficial to your brain in both the short and long term. Some ideas for staying socially engaged include signing up for volunteer opportunities in your community, joining a club, signing up for a local walking group, and staying in close touch with your friends and family.
Meditate
Up next is a brain exercise that has been in use for thousands of years but has recently gained considerable recognition for its effectiveness.
Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.
One brain exercise you might not have considered might actually be extremely effective – meditation.
If, however, you already spend too much time staring at your computer screen or smartphone, your time is probably much better well spent going out for a stroll, enjoying a new hobby, or even visiting with a friend. All these activities can have major long-term effects on the health and vitality of your brain.
#StayStrong
Samantha
#MasterStrokeCoaching
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