The best way to keep our brain flexible and growing is to constantly challenge ourselves. How do we do this? By regularly facing new challenges and tasks.
Try puzzles
For example, working through puzzles like Sudoku, or remember the Rubiks Cube, can help stimulate the brain. If we take this one step further by trying something else new once we’ve mastered Sudoku, we’ll be building new roadways and bridges in our brain to keep our minds sharp for years to come.
Contrast this with people who sit on the couch night after night watching television. They aren’t expanding the programs that run in the brain and, thus, the brain diminishes, and cognitive deficits become more pronounced.
Stay connected
Having an active social life is another way we can challenge our brain. It turns out, the most difficult thing our brain deals with is other people. Because we don’t know what they are going to say, it keeps us on our toes. However, socializing in-person can be challenging during a pandemic. Add to that, mask-wearing which makes lip reading more difficult, or straining to hear over the phone if you are experiencing hearing loss.
This is where a video call over Zoom comes in; no mask-wearing or social distancing required! Staying connected to our loved ones is vital to our overall and brain health. Turn up the volume on the computer, make a tea or coffee, and let’s enjoy sharing stories with friends and family. Keeping our brain flexible and growing will pay off in the long run.
Keep nerves stimulated
If you’re experiencing hearing loss, it’s important to keep the nerves in your ears stimulated. These nerves are responsible for sending signals to the brain. Hearing aids change the way sound is sent into the ear and onward to the brain, reactivating the hearing centres in our brain and reducing brain tissue shrinkage. We offer a FREE hearing test. Call to book an appointment.
Source: David Eagleman, Neuroscientist and author of: Livewired. The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain.