5 Best exercises That will keep you sharp

5 Brain Exercises That Will Keep You Sharp

Exercising your brain isn’t just good for your muscles; it’s also important to keep your brain active and learning new things, or you can start to lose some of the skills you’ve built up over time. Luckily, there are plenty of brain exercises that don’t require years of schooling or months spent learning how to program in a foreign language—you can do them right now to keep yourself sharp, focused, and on top of your game at work.

1) Exercise Your Brain Daily

Brain exercises are a great way to train your brain and keep it sharp. Incorporate some form of brain training every day to keep your mind nimble and healthy, even as you age. Here are five brain exercises that will help you do just that. If brain exercise doesn't sound like fun for you, don't worry: Just about anything can be turned into brain training if done consistently. Take these tips and give them a shot—your brain will thank you for it!

2) Practice New Skills

Have you ever heard someone wax poetic about how their current skill set wasn’t quite enough? Many people struggle to make time for brain training because of a fear that they might be learning something new, but if they did they could move mountains. Don’t let your current skill set prevent you from developing your cognitive skills! Instead, make it part of your daily routine. One suggestion: practice new skills as a way to learn something new.

3) Visualize What You Want

Research shows that when we visualize what we want, our brains activate in a way that allows us to make it happen. A study in Neuropsychologia found that students who practiced visualizing themselves succeeding on exams prior to taking them actually improved their test scores. So, whether you’re prepping for an upcoming presentation or plotting your exit strategy from your current job, spend some time visualizing yourself succeeding and crossing each hurdle along the way.

4) Write It Down

In addition to physical exercise, brain training is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. As with exercise, brain training can be simple. Keeping a journal is one example—and it’s not just for high school students! When you write something down, you are strengthening connections in your brain and helping to cement memories. This could include writing out your schedule for the day, or recording notes about something you read in class. Not only will these tactics improve memory and help you study better, but they will also boost personal productivity as you gain better organizational skills. Whether it’s writing, sketching or other ways of communicating visually, try to incorporate some form of brain training into your life every day.

5) Sleep Well

When you’re well rested, your brain is ready to learn—that’s why getting an adequate amount of rest every night (at least eight hours) can help support your education. If you have trouble sleeping or staying asleep, try talking to a doctor about a sleep aid. There are also some more natural solutions you can try at home, such as exercising regularly and making sure your bedroom is quiet and dark when it’s time for bed.

Conclusions

It’s important to know that brain training should not be seen as a replacement for education. Rather, it should be seen as something that supplements what you’re learning in school. These are five examples of specific exercises you can practice on your own—but if you ever want to try out some others, don’t hesitate to ask a teacher or coach! (We shouldn’t have to say it but we will anyway: consult with an adult before doing any new activity.)

Are you a science geek? Love playing around with numbers and ideas? Have experience tutoring other kids in math and science?