The Best Brain Exercises To Boost Mental Focus and Clarity
Like our heart, lungs and other organs, the brain is an integral part of the body. And just like other muscles in the body, it needs exercising, too. Doing brain exercises is a great way to enhance mental sharpness and help your brain stay healthy.
Evidence suggests that the best brain exercises can boost your memory, concentration, and focus, making everyday tasks easier to manage.
As we get older, exercising the brain should become a part of our daily routine. However, anyone of any age is sure to benefit from brain-boosting activities.
Check out a few of the best brain exercises to help you enhance your mental health, focus, and stamina.
1. Solve A Puzzle
Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to sharpen your cognitive abilities. Whether 25 or 2,500 pieces, puzzles have been proven to help challenge and exercise the mind. Other types of puzzles such as crossword puzzles and sudoku can have a similar impact on the brain, forcing it to think and coordinate outside of its normal parameters.
An article from Baylor College of Medicine shares, “Puzzles are also good for the brain. Studies have shown that doing jigsaw puzzles can improve cognition and visual-spatial reasoning. The act of putting the pieces of a puzzle together requires concentration and improves short-term memory and problem-solving.”
Buffalo Games Cinque Terre 1000 Piece Puzzle
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2. Learn To Play An Instrument
Learning a new skill such as playing the guitar or piano can help sharpen your mind in several ways. Brainfacts.org notes that “playing a musical instrument is the brain equivalent of a full-body workout.” They go on to share, “playing an instrument recruits almost every part of the brain, including regions that process vision, sound, movement, and memory.”
Not sure where to start? Give the ukelele a try. This small and nimble stringed instrument is perfect for beginners and even better as a soundtrack for your next camping adventure.
EASTROCK Ukelele Set for Beginners
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3. Try A Brain Exercise App
Download a brain exercise app like Lumosity to boost your memory and cognitive abilities. This app is full of science-backed brain training and mental fitness games, tests, and activities. Available on iOS, Android, and their website, Lumosity is super easy to access and surprisingly fun.
Lumosity
4. Learn a New Language
Learning to speak a new language helps instantly challenge your mind. An article from the University of Potomac shares that bilingualism stimulates your brain and improves your attention span. Download a user-friendly site like Babbel to get started. They offer 14 different languages and allow you to learn at your own pace.
Babbel
5. Build Your Vocabulary
Enhancing your vocabulary is an easy way to stimulate portions of your brain. Give your brain the ultimate workout by learning one new word a day. Research suggests that this type of learning challenges several areas of the brain, helping you process things quickly and more efficiently.
The Vocabulary Builder Workbook
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