Here at Loving Assisted Living, we are always bringing you information on senior health and senior lifestyles, today we are talking about mind-stimulating exercises for seniors, and how important it is to keep the mind working.
Exercising your brain or stimulating your brain is just as important as doing physical exercise, for seniors doing brain workouts will help to boost memory skills and thinking skills.
1. Exercise routine
When you exercise physically, you are also helping your mind too, as your body and mind are connected, so when your exercise physically it will benefit your brain as well as your body.
Having a regular exercise routine will help your brain, even being consistent with a daily walking routine will help. Keeping your body fit with a consistent workout routine, will keep your cognitive skills and it will help improve your memory.
Going for a hike, taking your dog for a walk, playing tennis, swimming, or taking a yoga class, are all great examples of activities that are good for the body and the mind, by boosting the blood flow to the brain.
2. Read More
Reading more for seniors has a big impact on memory, with regular reading and writing, studies have shown that it can reduce the rate of memory decline by over 30%.
Setting aside some time each day, will help to build a routine to do more reading, joining a book club is a good way to also read more. Building better reading habits helps to read more.
3. Writing
Writing helps to boost your brain activity, writing will also improve your working memory and your communication skills. It is not important what you write, but it is important to write as much as you can.
You can write about your dreams, what you ate, some fond memories, or some favorite foods. It is important to have fun when you write.
Give your brain the workout it wants, you could create a book of poetry, short stories, a cookbook, or songs, start a blog, find what you are interested in, and start writing.
4. Feed The Brain Eat Healthy
Eating right for your body and your mind is important, but the brain needs healthy fatty foods such as fish and nuts will keep your brain healthy.
With a healthy diet of salmon, which is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, which are vital for your brain, dark leafy greens, and blueberries have antioxidants and flavonoids that help to reduce memory decline.
Walnuts are high in protein and healthy fats, they help to clear the arteries, and lower blood pressure.
Coffee and tea can help with alertness and your focus, as they are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, caffeine also helps your memory.
You may know that nuts, fish, and red wine have been linked to a healthy brain, but reducing sugar intake can help stimulate your mind, too.
5. Good Posture For Good Circulation
Having good posture, by sitting up straight will improve the circulation of your blood to your brain. When you sleep, if you sleep on your back or your side these are the best ways to sleep as it is less stressful on your spine.
While sleeping on your back, gravity will keep your body centered over your spine. When your head is in a natural position, the blood can flow easier to your brain.
When you have good posture, it can also improve your balance, and your spine, which will reduce the likelihood of falling, Taking a stretching class or a yoga class can help with your posture.
Watching your weight is important for your overall health, but also carrying the extra weight adds stress to your muscles and makes it harder to maintain good posture.
Maintaining a tight core can help you with your posture, so when you exercise always remember to do some core work, it will help with your overall posture.
6. Sleep
Not getting enough sleep can increase the chances of long-term physical and mental health problems, sleep deprivation can reduce attention span, worsen one’s memory, and it can affect your moods.
While you sleep regions of the brain help to remember newly learned skills and memories, this helps to recall things. Sleeping an average of at least 8 hours a night is recommended by the National Sleep Federation.
Having a good night’s sleep is important, so it is important to have a bedtime routine, go to bed at the same time every night, choose your bedtime and stick to it.
Eating a heavy meal before bedtime is not recommended, as large servings can irritate your stomach, making it difficult to sleep. if you are hungry before bedtime, eating some nuts, oatmeal, or a cup of herbal tea can help you.
Eliminating alcohol or stimulants such as caffeine, soft drinks with sugar, cigarettes, or chocolate before bedtime will help you to fall asleep much easier.
If you are active and you exercise, this will also help you to have a good night’s sleep, healthy seniors fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
7. Intellectual Workout
Panting and drawing can be an intellectual workout, drawing on a piece of paper, using an adult coloring book, or even just doodling on a piece of paper can help your brain.
Playing games is another good way to have an intellectual workout, they can stimulate and sharpen your mind. Seniors who play chess, backgammon, cards, and scrabble are consistently working their brains.
8. Music
Listening to music or playing music can help with memory function, so not only is it enjoyable to listen to or play music it also has positive effects on your brain.
Taking music lessons is great for your brain, but if you are not musical, listening to music can also help you remember moments in your life, or take you back to a time in your life, this is also known as music therapy.
Also discovering new music is fun and listening to different types of must from other countries, in different languages can also be very interesting and stimulating.
9. Learn a New Language
Learning a new language is very beneficial, it will improve your cognitive function, there are plenty of apps or causes that you can take online.
Learning a new language online virtually has never been so easy and convenient, and is a great way to stimulate your brain.
10. Hobbies
Stimulating your brain by learning a new craft or finding a new hobby will eliminate boredom, and change up your daily routine. Learning new recipes, learning new computer skills, or learning to do new things, will keep your brain sharp.
Learning such things as carpentry, sewing, cooking, photography, swimming, golf or gardening are great ways to do mind-stimulating activities.
We hope that this article will help you to stimulate your brain and help you to keep your brain functioning. If you need memory care, we have options for you or your loved one.
All of these activities can be done at our partner-assisted living memory care facilities. These ideas and activities cannot reverse dementia or Alheziemers, but they will help you to give your brain the workout that it needs.
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