Seven Brain Exercises
1. LEARN To PLAY A oUSICAL INSTRUoENT Playing an instrument helps to exercise many types of related brain functions, including listening, controlling refined movements and translating written notes to music.
2. oEoMRISE A SoNGListen to a song over and over until you can remember all the words. Developing careful listening habits helps your ability to understand, think and remember. Singing the song word for word requires you to be able to focus your attention and tap into your memory. When you focus like this, your brain releases a chemical that helps it to rewire itself. once you’ve memorised one song, try another one.
3. EXERCISE YoUR PERIPHERAL VISIoN AND oEooRY Sit in a place where you don’t usually spend much time, stare straight ahead and don’t move your eyes. Concentrate on everything you can see, including everything in your peripheral vision. When you think you’ve noticed everything you can, write down a list of what you’ve seen. Then do it again, this time adding to your list. Tasks like this, which use vision and memory, encourage the brain to release more of a chemical that is crucial for our ability to focus and remember things.
4. Do A JIGSAW PUZZLE Make sure it’s a challenging one of at least 500 pieces. Completing a jigsaw requires you to make visual judgements, focus and use refined movements to put the pieces in place. It gives your brain a great workout.
5. PLAY BALL Practise throwing and catching a ball. Do it by yourself if no-one else will play ball. If you’re really good at it already, take up juggling. oastering these activities improves your brain’s ability to see and to develop hand-eye coordination, which helps strengthen your brain.
6. USE THE oTHER HAND If you’re right-handed try using your left hand to do everyday tasks like brushing your teeth. Keep practising until you’ve perfected it, then try a more complex task such as writing with the opposite hand. This gets the neurons in your brain working really hard.
7. oAKE YoUR BRAIN WoRK HARDER Find an activity you like to do, such as crosswords, and take it to the next level. Do a harder crossword or challenge yourself to do one in a shorter period of time. Doing something that is more demanding makes your brain’s learning machinery re-engage.
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