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How to Keep Your Mind Sharp

Have you noticed that things slip your mind more and more often as you age? Everyone forgets things once in awhile. Maybe you walked into a room and forgot why you were there, or perhaps you missed a meeting because it simply slipped your mind. An occasional lapse in memory is normal, but as a person ages, sometimes their mind seems to slow down significantly. Have you ever wondered how to keep your mind sharp as the years slowly creep up on you?

How to Keep Your Mind Sharp

It’s never too late to learn something new. By the same token, it’s never too early to start developing good habits that will benefit your brain for years to come.

Keep Learning

Never stop learning new things. A higher level of education is often associated with better mental focus and function as an individual ages. However, you don’t have to attain a college degree to keep your mind sharp. Pursuing a new hobby, reading interesting books, volunteering for projects that require unfamiliar skills, or simply taking a free online course are all great ways to keep your brain active and sharp for years to come. If you want to learn how to keep your mind sharp, start by learning something new.

Brain Games

Try teasing your brain once in awhile with a challenging puzzle. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, trivia games, and brainteasers are effective and fun ways to keep learning and exercise your mind. You could also play card games like gin rummy or poker. Not only do these games test your memory, strategy, and concentration, but they also provide a fun opportunity for social interaction. Finally, don’t simply work the same puzzle or play the same games over and over again. Challenge your mind on a constant basis with new and more difficult challenges. Who knew playing games was so beneficial to your brainpower?

Food for Thought

You are what you eat. There is more truth to this statement than people realize. Your overall health has a great deal to do with the kinds of food you put into your body. Nutrition doesn’t just affect the way your body functions, however. It also has a lot to do with the way your brain operates. For example, too little or too much energy can cause your brain’s machinery to malfunction. High-glycerin foods like starches and sweets break down quicker than foods containing healthy amounts of fiber, proteins, and unsaturated fats. This quick breakdown can cause high energy levels followed by sluggishness. A steady digestion rate supplies the brain with a more reliable energy flow, resulting in a happier, healthier brain.

Foods rich in antioxidants are also known for their heath benefits. In fact, some studies indicate that eating antioxidant-rich foods can help ward off dementia and improve the overall function of the brain. Foods high in antioxidants include blueberries, citrus fruits, nuts, fish, avocados, coffee, Greek yogurt, whole grains, and eggs.

Work It Out

Regular exercise may be one of the most important things you can do for the health of your brain. While your body can definitely benefit from a workout, you may not realize that your brain is also silently getting healthier with each step around the track. Diseases like diabetes and hypertension can largely be prevented with a healthy diet and exercise. These diseases affect the brain’s cognitive prowess and can lead to dementia and other mental illnesses. To maintain mental fitness, you should try to exercise at least 30 minutes every day.

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So if you’re wondering how to keep your mind sharp, don’t worry! You don’t need to invest in pricey treatments or subject yourself to tedious training. By simply learning new things, playing brain games, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly, you can protect and improve your brain’s function for years to come.

Looking for an assisted living community in Tennessee? Check out Hearthside Senior Living in Collierville. Our warm and inviting community makes it easy for seniors to embrace a healthy lifestyle, with home-cooked and restaurant-style meals, exercise classes, and a nurse devoted to residents’ health and wellness. To learn more about our amenities and services, please give us a call at 901-854-6590 or contact us online.

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