10 Simple Workouts to Make Your Brain Sharper Every Single Day

Your brain works hard to make you do things, and like any other part of your body, it needs a lot of care as well. According to studies, there are many ways you can hone your mental sharpness and help

your brain stay healthy, no matter what age you are. Many brain exercises can help boost memory, concentration, and focus – helping you make daily tasks quick and easy, keeping your brain sharp as you age. 10 evidence-based exercises offer the best brain-boosting benefits.

Play chess

Playing chess helps you protect against cognitive decline in older adults. Regular chess games also significantly benefit those with existing dementia and other brain conditions that lead to cognitive decline.

Do the jigsaw puzzle

Try putting together a 1,000-piece image of animals or working on a jigsaw puzzle, which is among the best ways to strengthen your brain. Studies say doing jigsaw puzzles helps enhance your cognitive abilities and is a protective factor for visuospatial cognitive aging. According to experts, when you put together a jigsaw puzzle – looking at different pieces and trying to figure out how they would fit within the larger picture challenges your brain.

Go dancing

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, learning new dance moves increases your brain’s speed to process and strengthens memory. While being a great physical exercise, dancing is also a wonderful way to hone your brain power. You can try activities like:

• Take a salsa, tap, hip-hop, or contemporary dance class.
• Try a Zumba or jazz exercise class.
• Lean ballroom dancing.
• Do line dancing with friends.

Learn a new skill

Learning a new skill is not just fun and interesting, but it also helps strengthen brain connections. According to studies, older adults who learned a new language, drawing, or even music have improved memory and thinking abilities.

Socialising

Enjoying the company of friends may be a mentally engaging leisure activity and may help preserve cognitive function. Frequent contact in your social circle reduces the instances of cognitive decline and dementia. A few activities that help stimulate the brain include:

• Having discussions
• Playing games
• Participating in social sports

Go for a brisk walk daily

Regular exercise – which includes an aerobic workout like a brisk walk or cycling can significantly boost blood circulation to your brain and support the hippocampus, the part which is extremely important for memory formation and storage.

Listen to or play music

To increase your brain’s creative and cognitive power, you must turn to music. According to studies, music-based activities like singing in a group, playing simple instruments like drums, or dancing to familiar songs improve or help maintain thinking skills like memory, verbal fluency, and overall mental function in older adults with early signs of cognitive decline. Music can be used as a fun, supportive tool alongside traditional treatments to help keep the brain active and healthy.

Do meditation

Doing meditation – even for 10 minutes daily- can help relax and calm your body and mind, along with helping you regulate breathing and reduce stress and anxiety. It is also helpful in enhancing your brain’s ability to process information.

Learn a new language

Languages not only connect people but are also instrumental in helping strengthen your brain activity. Learning a new language helps you stay mentally sharp as you age. It also improves cognitive skills like memory and cognitive flexibility in older adults.

Exercise

Regular physical activity or working out is extremely beneficial for both your brain and body. Studies say exercise helps improve cognitive function in older adults. Regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and resistance exercise may be particularly useful.

Prioritize quality sleep

For good brain health, make sure to create a relaxing bedtime routine which includes uninterrupted sleep. To do that, you must avoid screens an hour before bed and keep your room cool and dark.