It’s never too early or late to think about improving your cognitive skillsets via various brain exercises. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” If you want to remain sharp as often as possible, then you need to keep your brain fresh by exercising it on a regular basis, much like you would exercise your physical body. For those who don’t know where to start, here are seven key exercises known for improving cognitive skillsets.
1. Strategy Games
The good thing about most brain exercises is that many of them are fun. For example, strategy games, such as board games or video games, can help you become a better problem solver and improve your logic and reasoning skills. If you don’t have any games around the house, then you can take a problem in your own life or someone else’s and try to figure out a solution to it.
2. Memorization Games
In addition to strategy games, you should also make sure that you can keep your memory in solid working condition. If you’re a reader, then you can practice recalling the things that you read online or in a book with your friends and family. If reading isn’t your thing, then you can simply try to memorize parts of your favorite movie.
3. Give Your Mind a Break
When you do physical exercise, it’s usually a good idea to go through the warm up and cool down phases in addition to your regular workout. It also makes sense to avoid overworking your brain throughout the day, as you may end up burning yourself out. If your mind is feeling foggy, don’t hesitate to give your mind a break by simply sitting down on your own without your phone, friends, or any other distractions.
4. Learn About Many Different Topics
One of the key functions of the brain is to recognize patterns. By learning about a variety of different topics, you can find similarities between different subjects that are not as obvious to those who focus on one discipline. The best way to come across similarities between different topics is to discuss them with your friends and colleagues.
5. Expand Your Vocabulary
Learning new words is a great way to practice better memory retention while also improving your language skills. The simplest way to complete this exercise is to read about topics you would normally ignore because the material will include words you usually don’t come across.
6. The Room Game
Another exercise to improve your cognitive function is to go into a room and pick out three objects to memorize. Once you’ve left the room, wait a few minutes and then try to remember what the three objects were and where they were located. For an added challenge, increase the amount of time you wait before recalling the objects.
7. Stop Being a Zombie
One final exercise to keep in mind while you’re walking around during the day is to take different routes as often as possible. By taking a different route while you’re driving or walking, you’re forcing your mind to stay awake.
