Brain Training at Any Age

We know the importance of physical exercise, and we do it minimally (most of us). But, do you know the importance of keeping your brain health optimum? I encourage you to look at the 40-year old that you know who can’t remember anything. Or, sadly, the 65 year old who had to go into a nursing home way too soon because she wasn’t sure who her relatives were that were caring for her.

I beg you not to take your brain for granted. You only get one. And, thus far there isn’t liposuction for the brain the way there is for the thighs if you fail to care for yourself properly. Sure, there are medications but do you really want to add another pill to the regiment and chance the side effects for minimal benefits?

If you take your brain seriously, and you should at any age, then I suggest the following start today and continue each day or at least each week for 3 months. Report on your progress throughout- in a journal- and then decide if it’s a good idea to keep it up. Ask yourself how you feel overall? How’s your memory on a 1-5 scale? Do you feel “sharper”?

 Incorporate more antioxidants into your died (an example, blueberries)
 Take a 30 minute walk every day
 Talk to someone each day via telephone or in-person (try to vary the conversation and really get into a good chat about something new and thought provoking)
 Learn to play a new game or instrument (chess, bridge, or the guitar are examples)
 Brush your teeth with your opposite hand each day
 Drive a new way to work or a leisure activity
 Look for new things to do and new people to talk to (about a topic new to you)
 Look for challenging and really engaging activities that require focus, concentration, attention, and strategy- and let them get harder as you master them

Here’s to your brain health!