Your Brain Needs to Work Out, Too

Becoming the best version of yourself involves more than being physically in shape, it should include mental acuity and mental health, as well. This week, The Huffington Post began a new series focused on brain health. While it is fairly obvious and widely reported why physical fitness is important throughout our lives, the brain is not often mentioned. However, upkeep of cognitive abilities is just as important. In other words, your brain needs to work out too. If you are not sure where to start in order to exercise your mind, we are here to help.

1. Have an exercise routine.
It’s no secret that exercising is beneficial in several ways. Engaging in regular physical activity, is proven to have a positive impact on psychological well being, along with the obvious physical benefits. Establishing an exercise routine is a great way to keep mind and body in use, thus avoiding decline as much as possible.

2. Manage stress.
Since everyone experiences anxiety differently, there is no surefire way to manage stress. Take the time to learn what your stressors are and how you can best tackle them. Meditation is a great way to allow yourself the proper time to reflect and ensure some moments of calmness. Whether you meditate regularly or you’d like to try it for the first time, consider using our free meditation app GojiTate. Besides guiding your meditation, the app allows you to keep track of your sessions. This feature gives you the opportunity to then categorize different situations, such as Post-Workout, Content, Happy, Work Stress, Family Stress, etc. By conquering your stress, you will be free to focus on other tasks that are good for your brain.

3. Eat a balanced, nutritious diet.
From the day you are born, food is essential for growing and developing properly. This concept does not change depending on your age. Diets that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats help you to have good blood flow and a steady form of energy, which are crucial for brain function. Furthermore, antioxidants are key in battling free radicals, which can greatly damage the brain.

4. Get a good night’s sleep.
When your phone is low on battery, you plug it in to recharge. The same idea applies to humans: after a full day, your body and brain need to recharge for several hours to reach full functionality again. Although it is disputed exactly what length of hours indicates a good night’s sleep, there is no denying that sleep is necessary for the brain.

5. Be mentally active.
Puzzles of different kinds are commonly referred to as “brain games.” The monicker is accurate: puzzles keep you sharp by actively engaging all parts of your brain. If you’re looking for a new puzzle game, check out Kreature Krunch from Goji Play. Add a physical component to the game by playing it with Goji Play controllers. Other ways to be mentally active include socializing, learning new skills, and staying up to date with current events.

Aging is inevitable. Therefore, natural changes in cognitive ability are also unavoidable. You can, though, take control of these shifts to make sure that change does not equal decline. As The Huffington Post points out: “Neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to change with new learning/experiences) persists throughout the lifespan making it possible for people of all ages to strengthen their cognitive abilities.” No matter what age you are, it is important to take charge of your future by maintaining a healthy brain.

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