As much as I’m concerned with physical fitness, I recognize the immense value in mental fitness. Our brains are the most complex and crucial of our organs. Taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body. And, like the body, we must “use it or lose it.”
Though life can be busy and filled with distractions, carving out the time to exercise your mind means that you’re better equipped to navigate it all: solving problems, managing emotions, and living a long, fulfilling life.
Here’s how you can keep your brain in tip-top shape.
6 Habits That Maintain & Improve Brain Function
Habit #1 – Eat Right & Exercise Often
Naturally, diet and exercise impact your mind as much as your waistline. They don’t call it “brain food” for nothing! A diet consisting of whole foods, fresh leafy greens, probiotics, and healthy fats improves your processing power. The main thing is to avoid unhealthy fats, sugar, and processed foods. These can inhibit neuron development due to inflammation. As a result, you can be more susceptible to mental illness and the degradation of brain function.
Similarly, exercise makes a big difference. Studies show, for example, that running can drastically improve memory and brain function – possibly preventing or delaying the development of cognitive diseases like dementia.
Habit #2 – Learn Something New
If you’re looking to specifically exercise your brain, try learning something new. It doesn’t have to be anything too complex: try out a new hobby, watch a documentary, experiment with a new recipe, listen to music in another language, or build a model. Try drawing or painting, solve a puzzle.
Challenge yourself. It doesn’t need to be difficult or extreme: just something brand new.
Habit #3 – Switch Up Your Habits
Have you noticed those “auto pilot” moments in your day? It might be that same drive to the grocery store you’ve taken for years, the same procedure of getting dressed, or the same habits of making coffee in the morning. When our brains are used to these habits, they’re less engaged. You can work your brain but slightly altering how you do things. Take a new route on your next routine drive. Make a different breakfast in the morning. Put your socks on before you put on your pants.
Tiny, inconsequential changes can improve your brain function and help you stay sharp!
Habit #4 – Pick Up New Reading Material
I don’t know about you, but most people tend to stick with certain kinds of reading. Some of us are into non-fiction. We like biographies and news over the latest fantasy novel or thriller. While there’s nothing wrong with these preferences, selecting new reading material (be it books, comics, newspapers, or blogs) exercises your brain.
Ask for a few recommendations from friends and families and pick a good read that’s well beyond your comfort zone.
Habit #5 – Stay Socially Engaged
Human beings are social creatures. Being social helps alleviate symptoms of depression and stress – both of which impact memory. You may not realize it, but socialization engages so many parts of the brain. You’re not only listening to and interpreting the conversation, but you’re formulating a response, reading body language, interpreting tone and inflection, and dealing with emotions.
Besides, healthy conversation can introduce you to new ideas and concepts that you can think on and parse through afterwards – another great exercise for your brain!
Habit #6 – Get Enough Sleep
Please get enough sleep. It’s not just about your brain health, though it plays an enormous role. That sleep needs to be between seven to eight hours consecutively. Current theory and research suggest that sleep helps our brains flush out abnormal proteins and process memories from the day. This process, in turn, improves memory.
If you’re not getting enough sleep, your brain will struggle to form and maintain critical pathways. As a result, your memory and concentration will suffer. Learning will be hindered and your processing speed may be delayed. There are both short and long-term consequences for your brain if you consistently lack proper sleep.
You might recognize the sluggishness, the foul mood, the difficulty concentrating: but what may not be immediately evident is the impact on your memory and ability to learn new things.
Additionally, sleep improves cardiac health, and helps regulate both hormones and the immune system.
What exercises do you use to improve your mental acuity? Share in the comments!