The brain is an extraordinary organ that weighs just about three pounds and, like the rest of the body, needs regular exercise to stay sharp and healthy. Just as physical activity is essential for maintaining a strong body, mental and sensory stimulation plays an important role in improving memory, concentration, focus, and overall cognitive function. Here are five easy and enjoyable ways to keep your brain active and sharp.
Play card games to sharpen your thinking
Research from 2023 revealed that playing card games can improve essential thinking skills such as self-control and the ability to switch between tasks, particularly in children facing social challenges. Interestingly, even games not specifically designed to enhance brain function still had a positive impact on these abilities. Card games can also be valuable to older adults. A 2020 study showed that modern card games helped improve skills like verbal fluency and self-control in seniors.
Boost your brain power with dance moves
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that learning new dance routines can improve memory and increase your brain’s processing speed. In other words, bust a move on the dance floor and your brain will thank you. There are various dance activities to try. Take a class in Afrobeats, traditional, or contemporary dance styles. Get a partner and try some smooth ballroom or cultural dance. Call your friends and dance together to owambe songs, TikTok challenges, or even church choreography. They all count.
Listen to or play music
One great way to increase your creative brain power is by playing music. Activities like singing in a group, playing simple instruments like drums or the piano, or dancing to your favourite songs can help improve or maintain thinking skills like memory, verbal fluency, and overall mental function. This is especially true in older adults showing signs of cognitive decline.
Read books aloud to stimulate your brain
Reading out loud activates the brain differently than silent reading. Take turns reading and listening to a book with a partner, friend, or child. If no one’s around, you can read to your pet. If that’s not possible, you can switch between reading with and listening to audiobooks. This activates the imagination in a different way. One of the earliest demonstrations of brain imaging showed three brain regions activating when the same word was read, spoken, or heard.
Get physical exercise
No conversation on brain health is complete without emphasising the power of physical activity. Many experts believe exercise is even more crucial for brain function than mental tasks alone. Physical activity benefits the brain in several ways. It improves circulation by providing more oxygen and nutrients to the brain. It also boosts feel-good chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, while lowering stress hormones such as cortisol. As a result, regular physical exercise can help you pay attention, learn faster, and remember things quicker.
