One of our most powerful tools throughout our lives is our mind, one that as we age, tends to weaken; which can be a terrifying thought. Thankfully there are some surprisingly simple steps that we can take to avoid the mental decline we fear, and in the process, may even strengthen our brains so that we can become more than what we already are. One thing that must be kept in the back of our minds as we explore these options, is that our brain is a muscle. The less we use it, the more ineffective it becomes. So just what are some exercises we can use to keep our minds healthy and strong? Read on and find out!
One of the best steps that we can take to keep our minds healthy, is to keep it consistently active. As mentioned before, the brain is like a muscle, the more it is used, the stronger it becomes. One of the best ways to challenge your mind and keep it active, is to learn something new. This can be as small as learning how to knit or crochet, or as challenging as learning a new language or subject, but the key to it is to challenge yourself. That being said, it can be difficult to remember what you’ve learned. Don’t be discouraged, however, as there’s actually a trick to learning that you can utilize that will actually further help strengthen your mind! When you’re trying something new, or learning something new, use all of your senses. The more senses you use, the more involved your brain is in retaining that information. So fiddle with something with a nice texture (like a plushie or a cloth), and light a scented candle or incense when you sit down to learn that language you promised yourself you’d master someday. When exposed to similar textures or scents, it’ll assist in triggering the memory of your learning exercise, which in turn helps you to remember more!
Another important factor in mental health is the belief you have in yourself. That’s right, your self-confidence plays a role in your memory. Studies have shown that people fighting depression or who have a low self esteem, actually have a harder time remembering things. Why? The answer is simple, if you don’t think you can, your brain will take that literally, and then you won’t be able to do it. You mind is a very literal thing, so the more you think “I can totally do this!” the more your mind will retain, because it thinks and/or knows it can. Naturally it can be hard to change your way of thinking if you’ve already gotten into the habit of self-deprecation on any level, but you can change that the same way you created it – through repetition. Yes, doing things over and over again is a good thing – but you also need to time it do it properly as well. Let’s compare methods for a second. You could take a couple of hours within a single day to try and learn something – say the spelling of a word, and write it over and over and over; but it’s still going to be hard to remember. On the flip side, if you write it a couple of times one day, then a couple of times the next day, then the next day, and so on; you have a higher chance of remembering how to spell that word. That’s because you’re giving yourself time to ‘forget’ it, which means you have to remember it; and in recalling it, you’re further solidifying the knowledge in your mind.
Now none of this matters unless you take the last, most important step: prioritize your mind. Professional athletes prioritize their bodies, and you can see the outcome; so if you prioritize your thinking, your mind may very well become stronger, and stay stronger even into your later years. Repeat your mental exercises, remind yourself that you can do this, and do it daily. Just a couple minutes here and there throughout your day can make a huge difference in the aging process, and the more you do, the stronger your mind will become despite growing older! In a nutshell, remember to learn at least one new thing (big or small, it doesn’t matter) every day, and believe in yourself; and you’ll be remembering where you put that controller when you’re sitting at home, taking a break from terrorizing kids who had the gall to step on your yard.