Keep Your Brain Healthy

As you age, a few forgetful moments are common. Maybe you misplace your keys or walk into a room and forget why you’re there. However, there are ways to ensure that these small lapses are few and far between. By keeping your mind sharp and training your brain to stay healthy, you can decrease your rate of cognitive decline and even potentially reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

You want your retirement to be filled with happy moments and unforgettable memories, and that means taking charge of your brain health and keeping your mind sharp. 

This doesn’t have to be difficult, challenging, or feel like overwhelming work. There are a few things you can do every day to keep your mind healthy and strong. 

Try New Things

Your brain loves a new challenge or a unique experience, so try new things whenever you can. Take a cooking class, join a book club, try a new sport, learn a new language, or sign up for a dance session. New experiences help stretch your brain and even improve cognitive function. 

Many studies show that seniors who learn new skills have enhanced memory function, so think of something you’ve always wanted to try and give it a shot! Don’t worry, you won’t be an expert right away and that’s fine. Just having the new experience is what matters. 

Get Enough Exercise

Your physical health helps improve your mental health. Studies have shown that people who are physically active are less likely to experience mental decline as they age. That’s because working out helps increase blood flow to the brain and being physically fit helps control your blood pressure. High blood pressure is linked to cognitive decline.

Go for walks, take up low impact activities (swimming is a great one), or join classes at a local community center. If there’s a sport or game you enjoy (such as tennis or golf), try to do it regularly. All physical activity adds up and it keeps your brain strong as well as your body.

Eat Well

Much like exercise helps your brain, so does a healthy diet. When you eat nutritious foods, you’re not just fueling your body, you’re also fueling your brain. Natural, plant-based foods (such as leafy greens, berries, and other fruits and vegetables) as well as nuts, seeds, whole grains, poultry, and fish are all great for brain health. 

Be sure to also get enough healthy fats (such as omega-3s from fish other good fats from olive oil or avocados) to power your brain.

Get Enough Sleep

A lack of sleep makes your brain feel foggy or confused. On the other hand, getting enough sleep each night (between 7 and 9 hours, for most adults) is linked to improved brain function and memory. 

It’s not just about how long you sleep, but the quality of your sleep as well. Try to sleep in a dark room with as few distractions as possible. Avoid using phones, tablets, computers, or TV right before bed. Keep a consistent bedtime to make it easier to fall asleep at night. 

Be Social

Having friends, conversations, and an active social life are all great for your brain and your state of mind. When you’re socializing, you’re doing more than just having fun. You’re working on your listening skills, you’re doing complex reasoning, you’re asking and responding to questions, and you’re improving your overall mental state as well. 

Staying connected to friends and family is so important as you age but so is meeting new people and enjoying new relationships. Participate in social situations, talk to other people as you take part in classes or sessions, and have discussions whenever you can. 

Try Puzzles

Puzzles of all kinds are perfect for training your brain and staying mentally sharp. 

A jigsaw puzzle is a great way to work on your special reasoning as well as manual dexterity, for instance. Start small with a 100-piece puzzle and work your way up to larger and more difficult challenges. 

Word puzzles like a crossword puzzle or word jumble game are great options as well. They stimulate your brain, cause you to think of new words and ideas you don’t regularly encounter, and help boost your memory as well. 

Number puzzles, like sudoku, are also great for challenging your brain. Several studies show that people who complete these regular have better cognitive function. 

Up The Challenge in Your Hobbies

Trying new things is a great way to train your brain, but it’s not the only way. If there are activities you already enjoy doing, why not up the intensity and challenge yourself a bit more? This might mean trying a more difficult golf course, knitting something you’ve never knit before, or cooking a brand-new recipe. Taking your existing hobbies and interests and boosting the difficulty is an excellent way to exercise your brain. 

Keeping your brain healthy and strong is important, especially as you age. By actively working to train your brain, you’ll reduce your risk of cognitive decline and have a great time too!