Obviously, I strongly believe that brain games can be an invaluable tool in your quest for a healthier, stronger brain. However, exercising your mental functions with games is only part of the picture; there are a number of other valuable activities you should engage in that will help keep your mind sharp and fit. Below is a list of some of the other important lifestyle choices I recommend for optimal brain function.
Physical Exercise
- Above all else, your brain requires blood flow and the oxygen that comes along with it. If your brain is not provided with a sufficient supply of this most valuable resource, all your other efforts will be for naught. Ideally, you should be getting regular cardiovascular exercise from running, swimming, biking or another strenuous exercise of your choice. If your health does not permit this, you should at least try to take brisk walks a couple times a day to keep your heart pumping and your blood flowing
Proper Diet
- Just like your heart, your liver, or your intestines, your brain will benefit from healthy food choices. Diets high in fat can restrict blood flow while excessive sugar consumption can cause lethargy after an initial rush. Furthermore, it is important to make sure your diet includes the complement of vitamins and minerals necessary for synthesizing the myriad chemicals in use within your brain.
Socializing
- The primate brain evolved largely to facilitate social interaction, and deprived of such stimulus it can rapidly deteriorate. whether it is hanging out with old friends, or meeting new people, socializing is invaluable when it comes to keeping your mind sharp. In fact, several studies have indicated that the quality of one’s social life is one of the strongest predictors of longevity and mental health
Try New Things
- The brain is well known for its plasticity, and even in old age it is creating new neurons and forging new connections. When younger, we are exposed to all sorts of different stimuli and ideas, but as we age many of us tend to become more limited in what we do. Learning new skills or exploring new hobbies – whether it be dancing, quilting, bridge, or a new language -challenging yourself with new activities keeps your mind sharp and ready to handle whatever life throws at you. Don’t be discouraged if you find learning difficult – it is well worth the effort, and usually fun to boot.
Relax
- Elevated levels of stress cause your body to release cortisol. While this is adaptive and beneficial in the short term, over a longer period it can wreak havoc on your body, and in turn, your mind. Obviously, this is easier said than done, but do your best to stay relaxed and calm. Breathe deeply and try not to worry too much, especially about things that are beyond your control.
Be Positive and Have Faith
- Literally, you have the power to program your brain with your thoughts. while genetics plays a role in our mental makeup, much of our personality is a product of choices we make – the things we choose to do (or not do) and the thoughts we choose to entertain. Being positive and believing in yourself can go a long way when it comes to achieving goals, recovering from illness, or being happy. In life, it is not always the most capable or the most experienced people that succeed, but rather those that really believe in themselves. Filling your mind with notions of self-worth and good health can go a lot further than you might expect!
Yoga
- We have chosen to include yoga on this list because it has myriad benefits. Depending on the type of yoga you do, it can offer physical exercise, social interaction, relaxation and positive frame of mind. Furthermore, any form of yoga you do will require you to learn new ways of moving your body, breathing, and focusing, all of which benefit the brain. There is a reason that yoga has been so popular in the East for over a thousand years and is now catching on in the West like wildfire-it’s because it can work wonders for mind and body alike.
Don’t Be Lazy, Mentally Speaking
- While it might be easier to use your cell phone for keeping track of phone numbers, or a calculator for making computations, you are doing yourself a disservice by relying on these crutches. Your brain is specifically designed to facilitate these sorts of activities, and you should not shy away from chances to utilize these skills. Life is constantly presenting you with opportunities to use your mind and it is your choice whether you take advantage of them or whether you choose the easy way out. “Use it or lose it”.
I stumbled across a study just now that suggests that playing tetris after experiencing a traumatic event may reduce the chance of developing post-traumatic-stress-disorder, or at least soften the blow. Sounds a bit crazy, right? Well the idea behind it is that by otherwise employing your visuospatial skills, you effectively disrupt the consolidation of the traumatic memory – in other words, playing tetris distracts your mind from the offending event and makes it less likely that you will encode it in a deep and damaging way. Here is a little excerpt from the researchers:
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