Five mental exercises for every day

Would you try to run a marathon without training for it? Probably not.  So why don’t we give our mental capabilities the same love?

Your brain is an organ but has some powerful similarities to muscles. It can be worked on, developed, tested and have its endurance and capacity increased. Just as physical activity keeps your muscles in peak condition, an active brain will be a healthier brain and can have a huge impact on your overall wellbeing. 

How is it beneficial to keep your brain active?

• it can help to prevent or lessen depression
• may slow down or lessen the impact of dementia
• shows signs of improving cognitive function 

Just like a dog at a park with a ball, your brain doesn’t need much to get it excited and working hard. Staring at a flat screen won’t do it though – to give your brain a full workout, you need to engage both hemispheres by tackling new tasks in the three-dimensional real world.

“Imagine getting to the end of your work day without feeling like a zombie”

Here are some daily mental exercises to try at work, home or on the go to keep your brain sharp:

Daily mental exercises

Experience something new

Yes, it’s that simple! When confronted with a new environment, action or challenge, your brain analyses and adapts to it. This doesn’t have to be a dramatic, life changing event. It might look like:

• writing with your opposite hand
• walking a different way to work or home
• visiting a new place
• listening to different styles of music
• meeting new people

Connect socially – in the real world

Email, SMS and social media make it easy for us to choose when and how we connect and communicate with the people in our lives but it’s not as good for us as the real thing.

Face-to-face social interactions force our brains to think and act on the spot (you can’t leave someone mid-sentence and pick up the conversation later). Conversations, discussions and exploring ideas will challenge your brain to accept new concepts and entertain abstract thoughts. Please always prioritise the health and safety of yourself and those around you by following alt physical distancing regulations in your area.

“Challenge your brain by getting back into the swing of face-to-face interaction if safe to do so.”

Switching your communication style to immediate, face-to-face interaction can be tricky, but there are ways to get yourself back into the swing of things:

• have a conversation with your recipient before or after sending them an email
• interact with people personally where possible – instead of leaving a message, make a call.
• if you usually make calls, organise to meet face-to-face
• say yes to a social event you’d normally avoid

Solve puzzles to prime your mind

Puzzles are like weights for the mind – deciphering abstract concepts, performing math problems and working to find answers helps your brain develop new neural pathways. There are puzzle types to suit almost anyone:

• chess
• some video games
• card games
• Sudoku
• crosswords
• word jumbles

“Music training is also shown to improve function and connectivity in certain regions of the brain and improve cognitive function”

Get enough sleep

When you’re asleep, you’re no longer bothering your mind with thoughts of Excel spreadsheets or whether it’s humanly possible to have just one more coffee. Your brain still powers along during this quiet time, and you can help it by getting the best sleep possible.

Need a little more motivation? Lack of sleep has been associated with reduced gray matter, and gray matter volume is important for healthy brains.

“Get plenty of sleep to preserve grey matter - essential for a healthy brain”

To get a better quality of sleep, look to improve your sleep hygiene by:

• making your room as dark as possible
• avoiding stimulants before bed
• associating your bed with sleeping only (not TV or devices). 

Sources:

Face to face social contact reduces the risk of depression – Psychology Today

Eight habits to improve cognitive function – Psychology today

All information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only. The information provided should not be relied upon as medical advice and does not supersede or replace a consultation with a suitably qualified healthcare professional.