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Keeping Your Brain Sharp As You Age

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You may have preconceived notions about aging and how it will affect your overall health and wellness. At the same time, some of these ideas may not be as likely as you would expect. For instance, you can keep your brain sharp as you age. All it takes is a bit of work as well as some persistence. Keep reading for more information. 

Make Everything a Learning Experience

No matter your age, you should think about taking every opportunity to keep learning. This may be able to allow your brain to remain sharp, and you can be acquiring new skills as often as you want to. Instead of asking your grandson to help you set up your new phone, you may want to read the manual and learn to set it up yourself. This can allow you to be able to use the device properly and you won’t have to count on someone else to explain things to you. 

You have likely heard that wisdom is present with age, but it is still something that takes effort. If you wouldn’t have taken the time to learn things as a young adult, you may not have retained any knowledge as you aged into a mature adult. This is why you should always learn when the opportunity presents itself, since it can keep your brain sharp and help you attain more wisdom

Eat Well

One of the first places to start is with your diet. You should try to eat foods that provide the proper nutrients and vitamins that your body needs. In other words, attempt to incorporate fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and grains onto your plate. If you are unsure of what balanced meals look like, you can do a bit of research for more information. Moreover, you can ask your physician for advice on your diet. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that small changes are able to make a difference. If you don’t cook as often as you want to or eat out often, this is not something that needs to stop overnight. You can incorporate healthy foods into your diet slowly, so you will be able to stick with it longer. If you try to change everything you are eating at one time, this may not be a sustainable method for addressing your diet. 

Exercise

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Staying active may be able to keep your brain working as it should be. In fact, exercise might diminish some of your chance of developing dementia. Shoot for exercising around 30 minutes a day for a few days a week. Then when you feel like you are able to work out more, increase this amount.

Something that you should keep in mind is that you don’t have to do something too strenuous. Low impact exercise can also be advantageous. You may want to think about yoga, swimming, or walking around the neighborhood with a friend. Be sure to stay hydrated as well, so you don’t start to feel sluggish or worn out after your exercise. 

Get the Proper Rest

Sleeping enough each night is something that is vital as well. Of course, you may know that it can be more difficult to get the proper sleep as you get older. One way to attempt to combat this is to ensure that you give yourself enough time to get the amount of sleep that is necessary. An adult requires anywhere from 6-9 hours of sleep each night, so give yourself a bedtime if need be. 

Keep your bedroom cool and dark and be sure that you keep your electronics a few steps away, so they don’t distract you from sleeping.

Relax When You Need To

Consider taking breaks when you must. While there may be plenty that you need to get accomplished each day, you don’t want to get burned out when you are doing chores. This is why it is important to rest for a few minutes when you are feeling stressed or anxious. 

Even a small break can change your perspective and could allow you to be able to get back to work with a bit more energy. 

Talk to a Therapist

If you find that you are concerned about the aging process in general, you might want to reach out to a therapist for more support. There are online apps that you can utilize now, so you won’t have to leave your house to work with a qualified professional. They may be able to identify other ways to help you keep your brain sharp as you get older. Besides that, they should be able to talk to you about any other issue that is affecting you. For instance, they may recommend going through some medical tests and checkups and find out whether you have any vitamin deficiency that can affect your brain health. In this case, the services of a home doctor in San Diego can be quite helpful, as their professional specialists provide health checkups and consultations in the comfort of your home.

Getting older is something that you are unable to stop, and some people may wish they could avoid it. At the same time, there are ways to stay healthy and sharp as you age.

Think about these tips when you are worried about your next birthday or are concerned about your cognition. Also, you can talk to a therapist if you want to find out even more about how to keep your brain and mind healthy.  

About the author

Malika Bowling

Malika is the author of several books including Culinary Atlanta: Guide to the Best Restaurants, Markets, Breweries and More! and the founder of Roamilicious. She is also a Digital Marketing and Social Media Consultant. Follow us @Roamilicious on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for the content not shared on the blog. And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (subscribe box below) and never miss a contest, giveaway or the latest must visit restaurant!