10 Ways to Stay Mentally Sharp
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10 ways to stay mentally sharp
As we age, our mental sharpness ages right along with our physical bodies. Therefore, it’s important we exercise both our bodies and our brains. For some people, their bodies and minds see a gradual decline after retirement. This is because they aren’t using both in the same way. To keep healthy physically and mentally, we must keep active. Below I’ve included 10 ways to help keep mentally sharp as we age.
10 ways to stay mentally sharp:Â
- Stimulate your brain – Learn new skills, play puzzle games, complete word searches, engage your mind by challenging yourself in some way.
- Manage stress – Stress is one of the leading causes of memory loss. Be aware of what triggers your stress and find ways to manage it or avoid it.
- Exercise – Be involved in physical activity on a regular basis.
- Sleep – Recharge your brain through sleep. Research has found that when we don’t get enough sleep proteins build up on synapses – which can make it hard to think and learn new things.
- Take vitamins – Get the recommended doses of magnesium, folate, and Vitamins B-12, B-6, and D-3.
- Use your hands – Use your hands to keep your brain active. Hand/eye coordination is both visual and tactile.
- Be with friends – Find friends that enrich your life. Friends keep you active, motivated, engaged, and they help you cope with problems.
- Eat a healthy diet – Eat lots of fruits and veggies and avoid foods high in cholesterol. Research as shown that those who eat healthy may reduce their risk of declining cognitively.
- Stay away from bad habits – If it doesn’t add value to your life, then don’t let it steal your time. Avoid things such as smoking, excessive drinking, watching television too much, etc.
- Seek help – Don’t be afraid to seek professional help if you or a loved one notices your sharpness declining.
How about you? Have you witnessed someone decline in mental sharpness with age? What would you add to this list?
Exercise keeps me sane! And sleep. I try to get at least 7 hours a night.
Both of those keep me sane too. Unfortunately I have an ankle issue so I haven’t been able to work out much since April.
Stress is a big one I think -it can lead to so many illnesses. It’s very hard though to relax sometimes. Exercise would be a big help! Need to do more!
Stress definitely wears down your body, physically and mentally.
I am a firm believer in exercise, sleep, and diet. During the school year (I’m a teacher), I have to stick to a strict schedule and plan with that kind of stuff. It definitely helps my mood and body.
Exercising was a stress reducer for me too when I was teaching. Some days I was just too exhausted though.
Thanks for this tips. I feel weaker and a bit under the weather the fast few days. This is why I might need for now.
I hope you feel better quick!
Great tips!!! If you don’t lose it, you lose it! Stress and sleep deprivation are big ones for me. My sons first year is in incredibly blurry to me due to stress and no sleep.
I bet that would be true for parents, especially first time parents.
I LOVE playing puzzles. I play Bejeweled Stars, and Bejeweled Blitz. It’s so relaxing for me. More so than coloring (coloring with kids sets my OCD off) LOL.
I need to try both those games.
I suffer from insomnia and tend to get anxious when too many things are on my plate too. I found that helping my daughter with her Legos when she was young was a lot of fun and it’s become a good way for me to detox now too. Just starting to run out of room 🙂
Creative things like Legos can be relaxing. I’m into crafting and coloring.
My grandma is 99 and she will tell you her key is to READ. She always has a book to read! It helps her sleep too. I hope I’m like her at that age 🙂
That’s so awesome that she’s 99 and still reading. It must keep her young!
Yes to all 10, but exercise and eating healthier have both helped me immensely! Thanks for sharing.
I just started taking vitamins daily and I feel like it’s really helping me! I’m hoping to get back on track with exercise once school starts–our summer has been jam packed, so at least I’m still somewhat active. Great tips!
Vitamins are a great idea. You reminded me that I need mine!