How to Do Brain Health Exercises

As you get older, you may begin noticing that you are starting to have little episodes of forgetfulness or that your brain sometimes feels "foggy." This can be a normal part of aging, but it need not mean that matters are destined to get worse. That's why it is important to keep your brain in tiptop condition and even improve your mental capacity. There are some easy things you can do to help "exercise" your brain.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Time
• Effort
• Self-discipline

1. Exercise your body regularly. Physical exercise actually aids in boosting your brain power. It helps build brand new neurons and may even prevent Alzheimer's disease. When you get active physically, it can stimulate your ability to learn and remember. You need not do overly strenuous exercise, but moderate activity, such as walking for 30 minutes, five to seven days a week, can help.
2. Try playing games. Not only is this a source of fun and recreation, but it serves the purpose of challenging you mentally. Do crosswords, search-a-word puzzles and games of concentration. There are several free online game sites that have word skills, strategy and logic games. These can help with memory, clarity and mental quickness. Play games for short periods of time daily to get these benefits.
3. Work on training and expanding your brain power. You can find special programs designed to aid your brain in functioning better and more clearly. They chiefly focus on logic, memory and visualization, which all help strengthen and improve your cognitive skills.
4. Learn something new. Intellectual stimulation can improve your memory and protect against dementia. Some examples of things you can do are to learn a foreign language, learn to play the guitar, take up a totally new hobby, take some classes in a subject you are unfamiliar with, among other activities.
5. Interact with others. Socializing actually exercises your brain and speaking to and with people on a daily basis can help with memory and mental stimulation. If you can't get out every day, call up friends and family members on the phone and talk away. Lack of socialization can be detrimental to you, cognitively-speaking.