Brain Games to Keep Your Mind Healthy

Your brain is a muscle, and like all muscles, it needs exercise to remain strong.

According to Vince Andrich, Executive Vice President at Xact, a new dietary supplement designed to help you gain a mental edge, the best way to keep your brain healthy is to keep it challenged and focused.

Fortunately, there are many simple ways to give your brain a good workout.

Although we’re not talking about physical exercise, several of the activities that will keep your brain active start with your hand. Pick up a pen or pencil, then work on balancing your checkbook, writing a blog, tackling math problems or undertaking a crossword puzzle. Video learning and online games also help your brain.

Once an activity becomes too easy, progress to something more complex.

Similar to physical exercise, you need to build resistance, which for your brain, means focus. Your goal is to continue to increase the difficulty and level of concentration required. Learning to play an instrument or a new sport are examples of recommended challenges that will require more cognitive ability and provide the best benefits for your brain. And, unlike video games, learning an instrument or a sport has advantages for your lifestyle, as well as for your brain.

According to Andrich, it’s never too early to start helping kids develop good brain health and improve their mental focus. While there are many video games designed specifically for brain health, young children can also use building blocks and more traditional toys and games; anything that requires them to concentrate will help. Video games also lack the social interaction that is important for brain development.

Basically, any activity that requires problem solving or some level of difficulty or discomfort provides exercise for your brain. Even taking a different route on your drive home can provide an opportunity to increase your focus (especially if you get lost!). But, if an activity allows you to multi-task, it probably doesn’t provide the necessary focus to build your brain.

When you challenge yourself consistently, it’s like endurance training for your brain.

For more information on brain health, visit xactmind.com.