Forgetfulness is a normal part of growing old. As you age, changes happen to different parts of your body, including the brain. As a result, you might notice that you tend to misplace things, take longer to learn new things, and take time remembering certain information. These mild forgetfulness incidents are often a normal part of aging.
You’re probably aware that regular physical exercise is not just good for your muscles and bones, but it also boosts brain health. But did you know that you can also engage in a mental workout by doing brain exercises? Yes, you can! Here are some fun ways to keep your brain sharp and healthy.
Whether you’re putting together a 1,000-piece puzzle of Van Gogh’s Starry Night or a 100-piece puzzle of Snoopy and friends, working on a jigsaw puzzle is a great way to stimulate the brain. Doing a jigsaw puzzle exercises the left side (logical) and right (creative and intuitive) side of your brain at the same time. This fun activity helps improve your attention span, visual-spatial reasoning, mental speed, and problem-solving skills. Puzzling is a great activity if you want some quiet time and break from your digital lifestyle. Although you can work on a Jigsaw puzzle by yourself, it’s more fun doing it with family or friends. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft Corporation admits that he is an avid puzzler.
Do you have a deck of cards lying somewhere at home? It’s a good time to bring those cards out for some fun card games to stimulate the brain. A study conducted in 2015 stated that a quick card game can boost brain volume in certain regions of the brain.
Card games are not only beneficial for brain health but they can be a fun bonding activity with family and friends. What are you waiting for? Invite your family or friends for a friendly game of bridge, gin rummy, or poker. If you want something simpler, how about a round of the classic “unggoy-unggoyan”? If you prefer a solo game, you can play Solitaire.
Just as there is a wide range of exercises for the body, there are also many brain exercises to improve cognitive function. The activities mentioned above are just a few examples of what you can do to keep your brain sharp. Engaging in one or few of these activities will help you focus better, think faster, and remember more. You just have to find what you like and what works best for you.
If you’re concerned that your memory problems may be linked to more serious conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, you can talk to your doctor about it. Prioritize your health through quality healthcare plans that include consultations to comprehensive medical benefits.