How to Keep Your Mind Sharp
Everyone has a tendency to be a little
forgetful. We sometimes forget to pick up our car keys, an important
file for work, or even someone’s name. As we grow older, we tend to lose
some of the gray matter in our brains which is responsible for memory,
among other things. If you want to preserve this gray matter for longer
(and who wouldn’t?), the following article will be extremely helpful.
Below are 7 exercises that will help keep your mind sharp at any age.
1. Use Your Non-Dominant Hand
If you’re a right-handed person, try using
your left hand once in a while when eating, writing, and picking things
up. It might sound difficult at first, but after some practice, you can
do at least a couple of daily tasks this way.
The idea is to use your non-active side of the brain. This helps to
expand parts of the cortex that are responsible for processing tactile
information.
2. Do Some of Your Daily Chores With Your
Eyes Closed
What kind of things do you do every day without even thinking about it?
How many steps do you take to get downstairs? How many plates are there
in your kitchen cabinet? There is a reason why we don’t recall these
answers right away – we do our regular, daily tasks inattentively.
This is why it’s advised that we carry out some of our daily tasks with
our eyes shut. This includes showering and moving from one room to
another. You’ll touch an object and this will send signals to your brain
about the object that you’re feeling.
3.Shuffle Your Morning Routine
We all have a set schedule which starts right from the moment we wake
up. However, novelty is the key to a sharper brain. It’s important that
you give your brain the newness of a fresh routine to keep it active and
alert.
You don’t have to do complicated things. All you have to do is shuffle
your daily schedule. For example, get dressed after having breakfast,
jog a different route, or even watch a cartoon instead of the morning
news.
4. Read Aloud
Reading aloud isn’t always possible, but
when it is, you must do it. It might take a couple of minutes longer
than usual to finish what you’re reading, it’s totally worth it. In one
of the demonstrations of brain imaging, 3 areas of the brain lit up
whenever words were spoken aloud from a book. In other words, by reading
aloud, we tend to use various circuits of our brain simultaneously.
5. Experiment with Different Foods
If you’re among those who always order the same cuisine or the same dish
every time you go to a restaurant, it’s time for a change. Trying out a
new dish will ask your brain to smell the new food and send signals to
the nose to activate its receptors. This new odor will also give your
brain new sensations and feelings. You should also try experimenting
with your daily dishes at home. For example, use a different condiment
or a new ingredient in one of your favorite meals.
6. Get Used to Mnemonic Devices
What is a mnemonic device? Well, it’s a creative way to remember lists.
Do you remember the phrase that we used to learn the planets of our
solar system when we were kids? “My Very Energetic Mother Jumps
Skateboards Under Nana’s Patio.” The first letter of each word is the
first letter of the corresponding planet.
Mnemonic devices help to sharpen your key brain areas and increase your
memory too.
7. Feed Your Brain
By “feed your brain”, we mean eating foods that are known to increase
brain functionality. It’s important to include a decent amount of
vitamins and fats in your diet to nourish your brain. Foods that are
known to increase brain power are walnuts, turmeric, eggs, coconut oil,
blueberries, avocado, and broccoli.