Best Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp As You Age
/If you’re not into sudokus, don’t worry! There are lots of fun ways to keep your brain healthy.
Healthy brain function is important at every stage of life, but as you get older, it also plays a critical role in preventing conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
There are lots of articles floating around online that recommend puzzles (sudokus and crosswords are the classic examples) to keep your brain humming along happily. However, if you don’t have the patience to work through a word search, don’t worry – there are lots of fun things you can do to stay mentally active.
Here at Turnagain Social Club, we believe it all starts with maintaining an active social life! Joy and connectivity are essential when it comes to healthy aging. Here are some of the mental exercises we love to recommend to our members.
Interested in coming to visit? Contact us to arrange a time.
Be A Social Butterfly. Staying social promotes brain cell growth, stimulates happy brain chemicals, and generates an awful lot of fun along the way. The best way to do this is to join a social club – hey, we can help with that! We run fun activities every week for our members to enjoy. Check out our schedule here.
Exercise Daily. Daily exercise is really important for both your body and your mind. A daily walk is a great way to incorporate it into your routine, but you can also try senior-safe exercises at home or with your friends. If you’d like to get some ideas, check out this blog post we wrote a few months back.
You Are What You Eat. Good nutrition supplies your brain with all the vitamins and minerals it needs to function at its best. For an extra boost, you could consider adding some of these foods to your diet:
Salmon is abundant in Alaska and it’s filled with Omega-3 fatty acids, which are major building blocks for your brain.
Green tea improves alertness and focus. It’s rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, which can slow diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Eggs have many nutrients tied to brain health such as B6, B12 and folate, which help regulate mood and memory.
Blueberries are also rich in antioxidants and help improve communication between brain cells, delay short-term memory loss, and reduce inflammation
Focus on things that make you happy. Staying positive keeps a supply of good chemicals running into your brain. It’s won’t just help you feel better, it will create a sense of joy that can spill over into others. Laughter really is the best medicine, so make time to have fun and smile at the small things.
Sit Up Straight. Yes, and please don’t slouch! Maintaining an upright posture improves circulation and blood flow to the brain. It also improves core strength, leading to fewer aches and pains, and makes you feel good.
Sleep Tight. Your brain is like a battery that needs to recharge every night in order to maintain mental acuity. Doctors recommend a minimum of seven hours of restorative sleep each night. Anything less than can leave your brain foggy and your immune system vulnerable.
Turn Up the Music. Even better, sing along! Music stimulates many parts of the brain and increases levels of those “feel-good” chemicals we keep talking about. Ask your kids or grandkids how to create a playlist of your favorite songs. That way, with a press of a button, you’ll be tapping those toes any time you wish. You can even join us for a sing-along virtually on your tablet or in-person at our state-of-the-art facility in Anchorage.
Practice Your Penmanship. Writing stimulates neural pathways and improves both mental focus and fine motor skills. You can try:
Cards/Letters. There is nothing like a handwritten note to bring a smile to someone’s face. Thoughtfulness is good for both the heart and mind!
Journaling. Write down all your favorite memories and celebrate the good times you’ve had, as well as hopes and dreams for yourself and your family,
Gratitude. We all have things to be thankful for. Making a gratitude list each day sparks memory and releases more of those happy brain chemicals.
Stay on Schedule. Creating a structured daily routine can help you feel successful and accomplished every day. Prioritize things like exercise, cooking, and time with friends and family. Remember, time flies when you’re having fun!
There is no better place than Turnagain Social Club for holistic adult day care services in Anchorage. Our wide range of in-person and virtual services are designed to suit a variety of interests. Come take a tour and we’ll find something for you.
Ready to get started? Give our friendly team a call today.