1. Put together Jigsaw puzzles!

Whether you’re putting together a 1,000-piece image of the Egyptian pyramids or joining 100 pieces to make a car, working on a jigsaw puzzle is an excellent way to strengthen your brain. Research has shown that doing jigsaw puzzles recruits multiple cognitive abilities and helps protect the brain from aging. When you put a jigsaw puzzle together, you have to look at different pieces and figure out where they fit within the larger picture. This tedious task makes your brain work harder and it gets stronger! This is a great way to challenge and exercise your brain to reach new heights!

2. Build your vocabulary to sound smarter and exercise your brain!

 

A rich vocabulary makes you sound super smart. Well it can also boost brain function! Research shows that many more regions of the brain are involved in vocabulary tasks, particularly in areas that are important for visual and auditory processing. Here’s a cool task to try: Keep a notebook with you when you read. Write down one word you don’t know, then look up the definition. Try to use that word five times the next day. Then again 5 times the following day. This will help your brain work hard and improve!

3. Play a game of cards!

Do you play cards regularly? Some research conducted on mentally stimulating activities for adults, say a quick card game can lead to greater brain volume in several regions of the brain. The same research found that a game of cards could improve memory and thinking skills. Maybe a Vegas trip is in order!

4. Learn a new skill!

Learning a new skill is not only fun and interesting, but it may also help strengthen the connections in your brain. Research shows that effectively learning a new skill can help improve memory function in adults. Plus its cool to have a new skill in your arsenal!

5. Dance like no ones watching!

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control notes that learning new dance moves can increase your brain’s processing speed and memory. In other words, busting a move on the dance floor will make your brain better! Get some friends together and go dancing once or twice a week!

6. Listen to or play music!

Do you want an easy way to increase your creative brain power? The answer may lie in music. According to some research done on the subject, listening to happy, positive tunes helps generate more innovative solutions compared to being in silence. Which means, turning up some feel-good music can help boost your creative thinking and brain power. And if you want to learn how to play music, now is a great time to start because your brain is capable of learning new skills at any point in your life. That’s why you’re never too old to start playing an instrument like the piano or guitar!

7. Meditate!

Daily meditation can calm your body, slow your breathing, and reduce stress and anxiety. But it may also help fine-tune your memory and increase your brain’s ability to process information better! Find a quiet spot, close your eyes, and spend ten quality minutes meditating each day.

8. Learn a new language!

Science has overwhelmingly proven the many cognitive benefits of being able to speak more than one language. According to numerous studies, bilingualism can contribute to better memory, improved visual- spatial skills, and higher levels of boosted creativity. Being fluent in more than one language may also help you switch more easily between different tasks, and delay the onset of age-related mental decline. According to researchers, you can boost your memory and improve other mental functions by becoming a student of a new language at any time in your life. Rapido, let's learn a new language!

9. Change your routine!

Don’t get stuck in a rut when it comes to your daily tasks. Instead, try new ways to do the same things. For example, if you normally brush your teeth with your right hand, use your left hand. Instead of watching TV in the morning, read a book. Choose a different route to get to work each week or try a different mode of transport, like biking or using public transport instead of driving. Your brain can benefit from this simple change, and you might be surprised by how easy it is to change your thinking.

By incorporating some brain exercises into your everyday life, you’ll get to challenge your mind, sharpen your cognitive skills, enhance brain health, and learn something new and useful along the way!