Shelli Bakken | Feb 8, 2016
As we age, keeping our brain healthy and sharp is imperative. Your brain is a muscle and mental exercise is as important as physical exercise. Flexing, stimulating, and boosting your brain with various activities will keep you feeling your best. But why, and how do you exercise your brain? Below are some suggestions to help you promote healthy brain habits.
The Benefits of Exercising Your Brain
Keeping your memory sharp is important, especially as we age. Brain exercises stimulate the growth of new connections between cells. What does that mean? Every time we do something, our brain creates a pathway. The more that pathway is used, the more familiar our brain becomes with it. Our brain recognizes these accustomed pathways we have created, and it naturally becomes more efficient.
Brain Exercise Activities
The newspaper, recommended by Everyday Health, is a great place to start for brain exercises. Various word and logic games like crossword puzzles, Sudoku word games, comics, and word searches are printed in your local newspapers. These are all great free brain-stimulating activities that can be done regularly.
In addition to the newspaper, here are some more activities that are ideal for brain exercise:
- Journaling
- Coloring
- Reading
- Art Projects
- Card Games
- Puzzles
- Board Games
- Music & Memory
By participating in the logic activities below, you will keep your brain stimulated and making new pathway connections. Try one of these seven everyday activities to improve your cognitive strength.
Use your opposite hand to:
- Brush your teeth
- Turn the pages of a book
- Dial a telephone
- Hold your drinking glass and eating utensils
- Turn on/off the water faucet
- Write your name
- Open the door
The scientists at BrainHQ, a world class leader in scientific research, indicate anything that is good for your heart is also good for your brain. That makes it a win-win for every aspect of your health.
How Walker Methodist Encourages Active Thinking
Our Mission is Life. And all the living that goes with it. Enhancing the lives of older adults through a culture of care, respect, and service. Active thinking is a priority in every community at Walker Methodist. Engagement activities like bingo, painting, scrabble, coloring, cards, and cribbage encourage brain exercise, social activity, and a healthy social life.
We have a variety of care programs and communities available to support and encourage a variety of activities. Brain exercise takes precedence in what we plan for our Residents to live a healthy and happy life at Walker Methodist.
