Everyone ages. People will tell you “it’s part of life,” which is true, but not entirely reassuring. Truth is, aging can be incredibly frightening. First, we notice our bodies can’t do the things they used to be able to. Stairs we once climbed two steps at a time become something we plan our days around. Bathing, once relaxing, is now an ordeal. Yet, our anxiety of physical aging is almost always overshadowed by the worry that our minds will one day regress.
In the developed world, countless innovations have allowed us to overcome physical barriers in our day-to-day, walk-in showers make bathing safer, and wheelchair lifts help us tackle impending stairs. And in past articles, we’ve described various ways you can slow down physical decline, such as eating healthy or exercise. Luckily, there are also countless tips, tricks, and lifestyle alterations that can slow down the aging of our minds. That’s why we made this list.
Follow these tips to help the mind stay young and healthy:
1) Daily physical exercise
A study at the University of Edinburgh found that subjects in their 70’s who were most physically active had less brain shrinkage than those who got less exercise. Any activity that burns calories‚ including brisk walks are effective. Find an activity that is fun so you look forward to it each day. Even better, join an exercise class or walk with a friend. You’ll feel more committed and it will be more fun anyways.
2) Exercise your brain
Just as lifting weights, stretching, or cardio activity can keep your body young, engaging in “mental gymnastics” can keep your mind sharp. Daily puzzles and activities like Sudoku‚ crosswords and other brain exercises on websites like Lumosity.com and Positscience.com are just a few of the many ways to flex your “mental muscle” and increase brain longevity. You can even try more creative tasks, such as drawing, knitting, or playing an instrument, which tests your ability to think abstractly as well as your manual dexterity.
3) Break out of your routine
Using your opposite hand for daily activities like brushing your teeth‚ using cutlery, or moving the computer mouse, can help keep the brain active and young. Routines put us on auto-drive, meaning our brains don’t need to work too hard to complete a routine task. So mix up your routine to engage new areas of your brain. This can help develop new neural connections to fight the connections that are weakening.
4) Learn something new
Take a continuing education course‚ learn a language‚ or join a choir. Learning something new will refresh your brain‚ forcing it to work hard to learn new things. The social interaction with fellow classmates will also help keep the brain young as you learn new perspectives. Never been to college or miss your college days? Many post-secondary institutions offer free college tuition for people over 65. Take courses that interest you for free. Maybe you’ll even be study buddies with your grandkid.
5) Eat seafood at least once a week
Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA) are vital for brain cell function and have been shown in multiple studies to improve cognitive function scores. Seafood with high levels of Omega-3 (DHA)? Salmon, mackerel, anchovies, oysters, and many oily fish types. Not into fish? Try chia seeds, flaxseed oil, walnuts, and spinach.
6) Read regularly
Reading stimulates several parts of the brain‚ improving visual and verbal comprehension‚ decision-making skills and developing new neurons. Reading will also help improve memory‚ focus and problem-solving skills, not to mention it’s a lot of fun. Consider joining or starting a book club!
Everyone wants to be that “sharp as a tack” senior and there’s no reason we can’t all be. Aging is inevitable, yet the speed of aging is anything but predestined. Incorporate a few of these tips into your lifestyle or seek out new ways to challenge your brain, this in itself would be challenging it! See what we did there? Stay healthy our friends.
Do you have any tips to add? What are your favourites habits and hobbies that keep your mind young? We’d love to hear from you.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it on Facebook or Twitter below.
P.S. We’d love to meet you on Twitter here or on Facebook here