“Brain Workouts” can boost your memory and your thinking skills. There are different ways that you can stimulate the most important muscle in your body.
Aging Doesn’t Mean You Have to Lose Your Healthy Brain Function
The mind and body are intertwined and what affects the body affects the brain. Daily exercise, including taking a short stroll, goes a long way toward strengthening your memory and cognitive skills.
Taking a walk sends pressure waves through your foot to the arteries, increasing blood flow and resulting in a healthier mind. Try adding any of these physical activities to your regular or weekly routine to increase blood flow to your brain:
- Tennis
- Walking your dog
- Tai chi
- Water aerobics
Stimulate your mind with reading
From relieving stress to improving brain function to increasing empathy, books are capable of doing a lot more than just entertaining the people who enjoy them. In fact, reading is the best workout for your brain, and it can even improve your memory. Sure, unwinding with Netflix at the end of every day is relaxing and all, but regularly reading is good for your mind, body, and soul. Regular reading and writing in late life reduced the rate of memory decline by 32%.
Here are ideas to get reading more often:
- Join or start a book club
- Subscribe to a magazine or newspaper.
- Set aside a time of day for reading.
- Read only what you like
Healthy Eating Grind
You may know that nuts, fish, and red wine have been linked to a healthy brain. For an extra brain boost, try including these foods in your diet:
Stand Upright
Maintaining an upright posture improves circulation and blood flow to the brain. Here are three ways to make yours better:
1. Spine alignment: Sleeping on your back or side has less impact on your spine. Sleeping on your back keeps your body centered over your spine. Sleeping on your side with your head in a neutral position and your chin straight ahead is the best.
2.Improve your balance: Staying balanced reduces the risk of falls and benefits the spine. Try online or in-person yoga for beginner’s classes to improve balance.
3.Maintain a healthy weight: Carrying extra weight adds stress to your muscles and makes it more difficult to maintain proper posture.
Keep it Fun
Studies demonstrate that card games, puzzles, and board games are good mental stimuli and help promote brain health. This is especially true for older adults. Games also stimulate the immune system and can trigger the use of visualization, memory and sequencing skills.
Many games also involve socialization and verbal interaction. We know that games can also help mitigate boredom and depression, both of which can cause cognitive decline. They can be fun activities that involve family and friends. This social dynamic also helps keep the brain active and engaged.
1.Sudoku puzzles. If numbers are more your thing, try solving one of these great logic puzzles.
2.Jigsaw puzzles. These are both visually as well as mentally stimulating.
3.Word searches. Buying a book of these can provide hours of entertainment.
4.Brain teasers. Buying a book of riddles is another fun game. Your loved one can solve them by themselves or use it as an activity with grandchildren.
Fairmont Grand Senior Living Community
Fairmont Grand is a resident centered senior living and memory care facility in Rapid City, SD. Our goal is to create an environment where resident well-being is at the heart of everything we do.
Our wide range of services are designed to meet you or your loved one’s daily needs. We offer restaurant style dining options, a variety of physical activities, and give residents the opportunity to live as independently as possible.
If you or a loved one near Rapid City, South Dakota are considering assisted living or memory care, contact Fairmont Grand to learn more about individualized living options or tour our community.
