We’re constantly fed being advice and information on how to keep our bodies healthy – our hearts, our liver, our digestion system, etc. But have you ever thought about how important it is to keep your brain healthy?
Think about it this way. Our brains are the dictatorial leader of our bodies. It tells it what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. So ensuring our brain is in tip-top health is so much more important than you probably realized.
Here is our mini-guide on why keeping our mind active is extra important as an adult, and some steps you can be taking to ensuring you maximise your brain’s health.
Why is it important?
Brain health is essential for making sure we live our lives to the best of our abilities, no matter what age we are. Our brain controls how we think, how we speak, and how we act, so it is essential we keep our mind as active as possible at all times.
As we grow older, our risks of developing serious life-changing diseases increases, and the health of the brain is a major factor in how at-risk we actually are. Although we cannot change our genetic inheritance, we can make changes in our lifestyles that can significantly reduce our risks of developing diseases such as Alzhiemers or dementia.
More and more research is pointing towards the importance of us doing all that we can to improve our brain health. The onset of Alzheimers or dementia, for example, is thought to be affected by the ongoing activity of the brain and the health of our cognitive abilities as we get older. Therefore, if we want to reduce our risks of developing such diseases, we need to make sure we are combating the signs of age-related cognitive decline by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping our brains active.
How can I keep my brain active?
There’s a whole host of different things we can be doing, and here are what we think are the most effective methods…
Keep learning:
Pursue a hobby, learn a new skill, or educate yourself on something new. Continuously challenging your brain will activate mental processes and stimulate individual brain cells.
Keep believing in yourself:
Research shows older people perform worse on memory tasks when they are exposed to negative ideas about age and memory. Keep believing in yourself, stay positive, and remember that age is just a number. Don’t give up too early.
Keep organized:
It is very important that you keep your daily life organized and in order. You don’t want to waste mental energy on unnecessary things – i.e. remembering where your keys are. Make lists, keep routine, and concentrate on the important stuff.
Keeping using all your senses:
Your brain will work best when you use more senses – you’ll be much more likely to learn something quickly and remember something better. So always challenge and notice the use of your senses by living in the moment.
Keep physically healthy:
This one goes without saying. Develop basic good health habits. Quit smoking, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Maintaining healthy and positive social relationships is also important.
No matter how old you are, whether you’re still in your teens or you are on the other side of 50, what we have told you still applies to you. It’s never too early to prioritize maintaining a healthy brain. Always remember, and never forget!
