As we get older, our bodies start to slow down. While most people think of this solely in terms of the ability to crouch down to pick something up from the floor, age is just as impactful on the mind as well. Without proper care and maintenance, your memory can get worse, and you might even start to struggle to retain even basic information. That’s why it’s vital that you take steps to keep your brain on its toes. There are some great and effective ways to keep your mind sharp, and you should strive to keep your mental faculties as in shape as the rest of your body. Here’s how you get your brain sharper than ever no matter how old you are.
1: Keep On Learning
The more educated you are, the longer your brain will stay sharp. That’s because feeding your brain with new information helps to train it, and the more mental exercise you get the better it gets. Some people have jobs that require a lot of mental dexterity, but for those that don’t get the chance to engage mentally with their work, online learning can be a useful way of keeping their brain healthy. There are now online courses available in almost every subject. Not only can you choose from a wide range of MBA programs in Michigan that will boost your mental capacity, you might even be able to advance your career at the same time.
2: Using Your Senses
When you use more of your senses to try and learn something, it means that different parts of your brain are helping retain that information. The relationship between smell and memory has been studied since forever, so adding smell into your learning process can be very useful. Don’t neglect your other senses though. Chewing a particular flavor of gum might actually help you remember what you have learned when you chew the same gum during an exam. Music can also be beneficial for memory retention as well. So think about using as many of your senses as possible when you’re learning new things.
3: Smart Learning
A good way to make learning easier is to not focus on remembering inconsequential things. Make use of schedules and planners so that you don’t constantly have to remember where you need to go every day. Use calendars to plan your life, and get apps that can help you plan your schedule more effectively. This will free up brain space in the same way that clearing clutter from a room gives you more physical space. Being able to focus on what you actually do need to remember is a great way of improving your ability to retain important information.
4: Get Repetitive
Repetition is a globally recognized way of remembering something. Actors read their lines over and over again, and manage to learn entire plays at a time. Try it yourself. If you’re bad at remembering names, the next time you meet someone new try saying their name out loud a few times. Reinforcing a memory with the right connections can be an effective way of keeping your mind on track. Never stress about needing important info repeated more than once. If it takes a few goes to keep a vital lesson in your mind, then the more times that you have it repeated, the easier it will be to remember.
5: Get Healthy
Having a healthier body will lead to a healthier mind. That’s because eating right and getting some exercise can improve the way that blood rushes around your body, and you want good blood flow to keep your brain in tip-top shape. There are lots of ways to tie your healthy body to your mind. It’s always worth considering:
- Physical Exercise: This can help develop new synapses in your brain, and that can go a long way to improving your mental flexibility. Of course, even regular light exercise can improve blood pressure and reduce your cholesterol levels. Throw in the fact that exercise can reduce mental stress as well, and you have all the reasons in the world to start taking a little more care over your physical health.
- Diet: If you get your nutrition right, then your mind will improve. There are some types of food that have been shown to have a positive effect on the brain, with eggs, nuts, oranges, and green tea all shown to be beneficial. A Mediterranean diet has even been shown to slow down the development of mental deterioration, so it’s always worth giving your food intake a shake-up if you want to make improvements to your brain.
- Bad Habits: Smoking and drinking are shown to have a detrimental effect on many parts of your body, but your brain is particularly susceptible to damage. If you want to ensure that your mind stays as sharp as possible then it might be time to start cutting down on those bad habits. Consider quitting smoking, and cutting down your alcohol to a more sedate level of nightly drinks.
6: Get Emotional
Looking after your emotional health is vital for a more positive mind. If you are anxious, depressed, or sleep-deprived, then your cognitive levels will be seriously reduced. That’s why you need to look after yourself on an emotional level. There are some simple ways to look after your mental health, but seek help if you are struggling to cope with serious issues. If you’re simply feeling stuck in a rut, then it might be time to shake things up a bit with some mental health pampering. You might even find that all you need to start improving your mental sharpness is a good night’s sleep.
If you exercise your body on a regular basis but not your brain then you are missing a valuable opportunity to make life improvements. Make sure that you are always feeding your mind with useful information, and make lifestyle changes if you want your mental faculties to keep on getting better. While age can slow down our bodies, it doesn’t have to slow down your ability to think.