Do you always aspire to a mind like the clever sleuth Sherlock Holmes? Or a brain like whacky Sheldon Cooper (minus its’ whims, of course). Here are some ways to keep your mind sharp. Your mind becomes sharper as you train it, just like your body gets stronger when you lift weights.
Maintaining an active mind and prioritizing your mental health are crucial. Over time, making little everyday changes to maintain the health of your brain may have a big effect. You may maintain mental acuity in several ways without leaving your home’s comforts.
How To Keep Your Mind Sharp
1. Keep Learning
As the examples of Sherlock Holmes & Sheldon Cooper have given, we can guess that one of the ways to keep your mind sharp is to never stop learning. Increased educational attainment is linked to improved cognitive abilities as one age. Experts believe that higher education might assist in maintaining good memory by instilling in people the habit of engaging in mental activity.
Mental exercise is thought to trigger systems that support individual brain cell maintenance and enhance inter-cognitive communication. Many individuals work in psychologically stimulating environments. Other strategies for maintaining mental acuity include taking up a hobby, picking up a new skill, volunteering, or mentoring.
2. Make Use Of All Your Senses
Your mind will spend more resources to remember the information you acquire, the more senses you employ to do so. In one study, a set of emotionally neutral pictures was displayed to people, each accompanied by a scent. They weren’t questioned about their observations.
Subsequently, participants were shown a series of pictures, devoid of scents, and asked to identify which ones they had previously viewed. They could clearly remember every picture connected with an odor, but they did so best with pleasant-smelling images.
According to brain imaging, even though the scents were no longer present and the individuals hadn’t made an effort to recall them, seeing things that had previously been associated with odors caused the piriform cortex, the primary odor-processing area of the brain, to become active. So, while you explore the unknown, push your senses to the limit.
3. Manage Your Blood Pressure And Cholesterol Levels
Managing your blood pressure & cholesterol levels is one of the tips to keep your brain sharp. Elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes, which are believed to be linked to the onset of severe memory loss and certain forms of dementia.
Research published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that improved cardiovascular health, which includes keeping a healthy weight and having normal blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels, is linked to improved cognitive performance.
Your physician may advise you on how to maintain or enhance your cardiovascular health, as well as if your levels are within a healthy range.
4. Make Brain Rest A Priority
Both general health and mental wellness depend on getting adequate sleep. However, what is sufficient?
We usually tell individuals that they should be sleeping for seven to nine hours a night on average. That wins you half the fight. If you get close to seven or eight hours of good-quality sleep, it doesn’t matter if you don’t get exactly that much. That will support brain regrowth.
Taking short naps throughout the day may also help your brain function better. A study revealed that those who took frequent naps had an average higher brain capacity compared to those who did not. Adhere to a regular sleep and wake-up schedule each day.
Unplug your thoughts as well. Even if you’re not sleeping, find another meaningless activity to engage in, like going on a walk, doing some gardening, or having a conversation with a friend.
5. Avoid Too Much Tobacco Or Alcohol
Avoiding too much tobacco or alcohol is one of the ways to keep your mind sharp. The Alzheimer’s Association states that excessive drinking and smoking both raise your risk of dementia, so it’s better to cut down on your alcohol intake and, if you do smoke, to stop completely.
Less than two drinks for males and less than one drink for women on days when alcohol is consumed is considered moderate drinking according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Twelve ounces of beer, eight ounces of malt liquor, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or liquor are all considered “drinks.”
A study that indicated alcohol use over seven units per week is linked to increased brain iron, which is linked to worse cognitive performance, emphasizes how important it is to restrict your alcohol intake. Three ordinary glasses of wine or four bottles of beer roughly equal seven units of alcohol.
6. Read More Often
Regular reading also helps your brain’s connections become stronger. It may help you focus and remember things better. In addition, it may ease tension, promote relaxation, and lessen the likelihood of dementia.
Boost the amount of time you dedicate to reading each day. Grab publications or books on subjects you are interested in. Get phone applications that customize news and magazine articles based on your preferences.
7. Exercise Daily
Frequent exercise is assumed to help preserve blood flow to the brain and lower your chance of getting diseases like high blood pressure, which are linked to dementia development.
The research discovered further beneficial benefits of exercise on the brain and concluded that encouraging older people to have physically active lives might save almost one-third of dementia cases globally.
It’s crucial to find things you like doing regardless of age and to gradually increase the length and intensity of your exercises.
8. Try Writing
Writing is one of the tips to keep your brain sharp. Another brain workout that might help with memory improvement and mental stimulation is writing. Keep a notebook or diary, or send emails to loved ones to update them on your activities. Additionally, you could compose and mail cards and messages by hand.
If you have a certain passion or pastime, you may want to establish a blog covering different aspects of it. Alternatively, if you’re artistic, try writing poetry or short tales. Search the internet for writing prompts that can inspire you to be creative and analytical. It is one of the best ways to keep your mind sharp.
9. Learn a New Language
It may be thrilling to learn a new language, particularly if you like to travel. Learning a new language forces your brain to get used to new terminology and grammatical norms, according to Middlebury Language Schools. Additionally, it improves your memory’s ability to retain new terms and apply them appropriately.
Numerous applications are available for your tablet and smartphone that might help you learn a foreign language. Choose to enroll in a class at a college or neighborhood community center if you would like to study a new language with peers. Next, make an effort to apply your newly acquired language abilities by visiting a place where the language is spoken by native speakers.
Mental Sharpness Can Be Fun
Being more active and engaging in mild exercise can help you maintain mental clarity and alertness. Consider this: excessive sedentary behavior makes you feel lethargic. The longer you go without engaging in any kind of exercise, the more difficult it is to start up again.
The secret to being physically active is to discover what kinds of things you like performing. Some people like going for walks in the neighborhood or playing golf with friends. Some like to take their grandkids to the park for playtime or go bowling. As long as your doctor certifies that you are well enough to engage in any activity, it is OK.
Playing video games or solving puzzles is one of the most enjoyable ways to keep your mind sharp. Whatever game you choose to play on a regular basis to keep your brain sharp is Sudoku, a daily crossword, or some Xbox.
Your brain also works during hand-eye coordination exercises. Counting exercises such as knitting, embroidery, model-building, and even playdough with little grandchildren. According to some research, grandparents who watch their grandchildren for at least one day a week have a lower risk of dementia than grandparents of similar age.
FAQ
Q: Why is it crucial to maintain mental sharpness?
A: Maintaining mental health as you age may help stave off dementia and cognitive loss. Making a few easy adjustments may help promote better mental health without requiring a lot of work. Being more active and engaging in mild exercise might help you maintain mental clarity and alertness.
Q: Does reading maintain mental sharpness?
A: Reading may surprise you with its many advantages, whether you like factual or fiction. These benefits range from improving vocabulary and developing empathy to keeping your mind clear and lowering stress levels for a better night’s sleep. These advantages might start in early infancy and continue until the senior years of life.
Q: How can you maintain your sharpness as you get older?
A: Steer clear of hydrogenated oils, trans fats, and saturated fats. Engage in regular exercise. Being physically active lowers the risk of high blood pressure, which is linked to the onset of dementia, and helps maintain normal blood flow to the brain. Stop smoking and drinking in moderation.
