Exercising the mind is just as important as keeping our bodies strong and fit. Our brains are in charge of keeping us content throughout our lives, and as we age, maintaining our mental health is often essential to our ability to live independently.

While frequent memory loss can be a sign of Alzheimer’s disease, a certain level of forgetfulness as we age is normal. It’s not entirely preventable, but there are things you can do to slow down the process. The mind must be stimulated daily to maintain optimal brain function and thankfully, there are brief daily brain training games and activities that make mental exercise enjoyable and simple.

Tips for keeping your mind sharp as you age

1) Learn something new every day: one of the easiest ways to improve cognitive functions is to learn, and it’s never too late to start. Learning a new language, playing a musical instrument, or getting involved in a new hobby are all great ways to build the mind and keep it active.

2) Challenge yourself: a good way to keep your mind active and sharp is to force yourself to do the harder thing. It’s a great exercise, and you can choose what makes you feel confident.

3) Stay connected to others: according to a growing body of research, strong social bonds are essential for your mental health. Social interaction can improve brain networks and boost attention and memory. Even when all you are doing is laughing and talking, your brain is working really hard. Over time, this increase in mental activity will pay off.

Daily brain training activities you can do to keep your mind active

1) Crosswords and Sudoku puzzles

These types of puzzles are the most popular brain games, and for good reason. According to research, solving crossword puzzles on a daily basis can enhance a person’s working memory and executive function, as well as their capacity for sustained attention on a particular task. These skills successfully enhance one’s ability to navigate the challenges of everyday life and remain independent for as long as possible. Completing crosswords in a group is also a great way to decrease isolation and strengthen social bonds.

2) Trivia

Trivia games ask you to recall details about people, places, and events, which helps with memory functions. When you play trivia, the frontal cortex of your brain is engaged, which is an area that plays a major role in processing memories. As the game progresses, the mind is also challenged over a broad range of material. Because trivia is often done in a social environment, it’s a great way to connect with others and stimulate conversation while engaging yourself mentally.

3) Reading 

Reading is one of the most important activities for your brain and can help slow down the effects of aging in your mind. As we age, our minds may become less flexible and susceptible to memory loss due to a shrinking brain. Reading encourages your brain cells to continue growing, which can aid in keeping your mind fit as you age. As it’s an immersive activity, it also helps reduce feelings of isolation.

4) Arts and crafts 

Arts and crafts stimulate creativity and imagination while also engaging both sides of the brain. As you engage your hands, the right side of your brain is activated while the left side is engaged as you ponder the artistic process.

Your brain has to be stimulated every day in order to remain fit, which is why doing these daily brain training activities is so important, especially as you age. Playing brain games can extend one’s healthy brain years by considerably reducing and delaying the detrimental effects of ageing on the mind.