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Fitness for Your Brain as Well as Your Body
It is difficult trying to remain a cult icon, a demigod, an Adonis with steely muscles and almost super-human brain powers. Ask Charlie Sheen, any Kardashian–the "real" Reality ones or the ones from Star Trek (those would be "Cardassians")–"The Rock," and John Edwards.
Truly, it is difficult. But we try.
And try.
A few simple tips to keeping your mind as healthy as your body showed up in a nice article in Canada recently. (You can read the full article here: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/fitness+works+your+body+your+brain/4800127/story.html
… and we acknowledge Jenny Lee and the Vancouver Sun for sharing.)
Bottom line is, your brain can be "exercised" so that it remains flexible, supple, vibrant and… well, snappy. Zippy even. (FYI: Zippy is the new Sexy.) Even as we age. Other recent studies have shown that with proper mental exercise, the brain can even heal itself of past, er, indiscretions.
So here are the five areas (in which–that's proper English) you want your brain to remain active as you set up your mental fitness program:
1. Critical Thinking: This is the uniquely human skill that "questions assumptions." You hear an opinion, and rather than automatically thinking the ingrained reaction you were raised with, you say, "Hmm. Now what are the merits of that opinion? And what are the limitations? And how does that opinion compare and contrast with what I have learned in my life's experience." Your brain gets fitter, and you may become a prophet in the process!
2. Memory: Seems self-explanatory… because it is. But to be helpful, here are a few ideas for memory stretching exercises:
a. Write down a random 10-digit number. You know lots of such strings already, like phone numbers with the Area Code. And that's the point: Your brain forms patterns ("Mom = local = my area code") so you don't need to "remember" Mom's 856 Area Code; it's a "gimme" in the 10-digit string. That association with "Mom" and your own Area Code is a clue to how to create "systems" and mnemonic tricks to memorize 10-digit strings of numbers.
b. Learn "pi" to 10 digits: 3.141592653. Then to 20 digits: 3.1415926535897932384. If nothing else, this is an AMAZING party game feat. You can win bar bets with this one!
c. Google "Memory Palace" (a.k.a., the Method of Loci) and read about this ancient memory tool. Wow. (Not saying any more. It's just so cool. Even Hannibal used it, to great effect, in the novel by Thomas Harris. Bad man!)
3. Focus: Focus has to do with "visualization" and attempting to make things "real" in your head, rather than entertaining Obsessive-Compulsive urges on a single object. The idea is, picture a place (a fond memory or location, for example), and let your mind freely fill in all the rich details of the environment: colors, variance in colors, textures, populants (look up that word–it'll exercise your brain), every little detail. It's fun. And it's a great alternative to actually hallucinating… for whatever reason you hallucinate.
4. Coordination: Especially eye-hand coordination. And guess what! You practice eye-hand coordination all the time when you spirit your mouse all around to move that little cursor on your computer screen. That's right, I said it: COMPUTER GAMES. WOOHOO! Neurophysiological science has vindicated you–er, us–geeks! Spending a half-hour per day playing "your stupid little video game" will have excellent repercussions when your brain fires at lightning speed and you get to keep your driver's license past age 75. Can you say, "Wacca-wacca"?
5. Word Skills: We're not just talking crosswords (though they do help!). Here we're thinking of new challenges, things you're not accustomed to, making your noggin think outside the box. The "Vocabulary Word of the Day" fits the bill, if you commit to using that word ten times in writing or conversation during the day. (Just ignore the eyebrows from your coworkers when you say, "Did you see ‘Two and a Half Men' last night? That was a mesmeric episode!" Hey, you'll be the one laughing when you're doing mental gymnastics at age 90.)
But wait! There's more!
Bonus feature! 5 Things to avoid at all costs, so your brain doesn't give up on you and check out for good:
1. Loneliness: One researcher claims that loneliness is the #1 contributor to dementia in later life. Practice your eye-hand coordination navigating your Facebook page, making friends, engaging in "critical thinking" as you reply to your friends' statuses. Go ahead, be controversial, start an argument, then finish it.
2. Stress: According to Penny Wilson, CEO of FitBrains of Vancouver, "Stress actually kills your brain cells." Ouch. Forget "stress tolerance." Become INTOLERANT of stress, and get rid of it wherever you can.
3. Bad Nutrition: We're not saying you need to become Vegan. The idea is that just by thinking about and considering good health choices, you're exercising your brain. Good stuff! And secondly, adding a few things to your weekly diet will do your brain good, especially as it works to undo all the damage from college-era weekends. Things like Green Tea, dark chocolate, nuts. Or reading an occasional article on the latest health-science wonder chemical: Omega-3, Glutamine, what-have-you. The interest, experimentation, along with the actual variation of nutritional chemicals you take into your body, all work to strengthen a healthy noodle.
Word for the day: INCORRUPTIBILITY. Interesting word, with a great etymology and many historic, even theological meanings and usages. Give your brain a half-hour of exercise, and look it up. Your brain will thank you, many years from now.
What's your favorite brain activity (obviously, besides opening and reading your morning unbeatable deal email from DailyDealTime; that's a given)? Tell me, please. I need a couple new ones.
About the Author
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