How to Exercise Your Brain

Whether you're trying to get your brain back into shape or you just want to keep it as strong
as it is now, there are some things you can do to exercise your brain. You can use different
strategies to enhance your thinking and word skills, play games, socialize, engage in life-
long learning, and taking care of yourself. You probably won’t see results overnight, but after
a few months of using these strategies you may notice a big difference in your memory
skills.

Part 1 Enhancing Your Thinking and Word Skills

1
Read as much as you can. Reading is great brain exercise. You can read
newspapers, magazines or books but just keep in mind that the more challenging the
text is, the more of a workout your brain will get. Like any exercise, start small and
work your way up.
 Try reading books that will teach you something new, such as books about
history or another subject that interests you.

2
Increase your vocabulary. You can also learn new words from a word-a-day
calendar or dictionary. This exercises the language portion of your brain.
 Try writing a new word someplace where you will see it often, such as on a
whiteboard in your kitchen or on a sticky note on your desk. Choose a word that is
challenging to spell and use to get the most out of this daily exercise.

3
Write something. Writing requires loads of thinking! You can write made-up stories,
write down the things that have happened to you, or write articles for wikiHow on the
topics you know about and love!

4
Learn a new language. Learning a language is like a hack for your brain, opening
up all sorts of pathways. This exercises the part of your brain that stores language
information, even making you better at speaking your own language.
 Languages are a great way to keep learning new things and challenging your
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brain. Even if you only learn a few new words or phrases in a language, this will
exercise your brain.

5
Post-problem solve. Consider the different possibilities of how something in your
day could have gone, and explore the consequences. This improves creativity and
makes you a better problem solver.

6
Turn off the television. Television tells you what to think and how to think it,
basically putting your brain on autopilot. That's why it's so relaxing! If you want to
keep your brain from stagnating, the first thing you have to do is turn off the TV. If
you really want to watch, use your brain while you watch. Choose to watch
educational programs and if you watch popular programs, choose ones with complex
plot lines or character interactions. Think about these while you watch and try to
analyze them or guess what happens next.
 You may even consider cancelling your cable or satellite service and only
watching things online that are educational. You can find many educational videos
online and through subscription services.

7
Use your non-dominant hand. Use your left hand if you are right handed or your
right hand if you are left handed. This will help to stimulate the parts of your brain
that control your muscles.

8
Learn to play a musical instrument. Learning how to play a musical instrument or
learning how to sing is a great way to challenge your brain because this will engage
you in a long-term learning experience.[2] You can take lessons, use videos to teach
yourself, or join a group such as choir to engage with music.
 Try learning to play the ukulele. This is an easy instrument to learn and there
are even clubs for people who play.
 Part 2 Playing Games to Exercise Your Brain

1
Do daily crosswords and puzzles. Simple puzzles like crosswords can help your
brain do some basic work. These are easy to fit into your day. You can even find
some for free online.

2
Progress to more involved puzzles. Large, complex puzzles give your brain a
stronger workout. These can sometimes take several days to a week to finish but
they're worth the effort. This doesn't just mean a puzzle in the traditional sense
either. Check out Japanese pocket puzzles for a serious brain teaser that you can do
while you're killing time.

3
Consider playing chess. Chess is an incredibly strategic and tactical game. Few
puzzles surpass chess in working out your brain. Chess is simple to learn and easy
to play.
 Look into joining a chess club in your area to get more opportunities to play
and learn from more experienced players.

 4
 Play video games in moderation. Did you know that playing video
games in moderation may actually make you smarter? Puzzle solving
games like Mario, Zelda, Scribblenauts, and Myst are like a good cardio
workout for your brain, helping you to become a better, more creative
problem solver, and a faster thinker.[3]

Part 3 Socializing More

1
Talk with people. Talk with people about things you or they know about. Talking
about politics, religion, and other challenging topics (having real discussions, not just
arguments), can be a great basic brain workout.
 You might even consider joining a group like Toastmasters since they cover a
wide range of interests.
  2
 Join an interest group. Join a group or club for people with the same
interests as you. This can be a hobby club, a political group, a
discussion group, or anything like that. Talking with people with similar
interests will get you using your brain and your skills.

 3
 Put away your phone when talking with people. Phones can be a
distraction when you are having a conversation with someone, so get
into the habit of putting it away when you are socializing. Try putting
your phone in another room, or shutting it off when you are socializing
with friends. This will force you to focus on the conversation and work on
improving your face-to-face communication skills.

 4
 Volunteer. Doing volunteer work will not only improve your social
connections, it will also provide you with opportunities to build new
neurological pathways.[4] Try volunteering at your local food bank,
animal shelter, hospital, or nursing home.

Part 4 Making Learning Lifelong

1
Go back to school. Going back to school is a great way to get that brain working
again and more education has obvious benefits. You don't even need to get a whole
degree. Your employer may be willing to help you finance classes that further your
job skills, or you can just take a single class in a subject that interests you.

2
Take free classes. If you just don't have the money or time, there are also a number
of free classes available online. Some are even from top universities, like Harvard.
Try Coursera, Khan Academy, or even just Ted Talks to get the university
experience, without the price.
 You may even be eligible to take a free course at a local college or university.
Some colleges and universities offer free courses for mature learners.

3
Use skills you have already gained frequently. With your brain, much like your
muscles, it's kind of a "use it or lose it" situation. The longer you go without using
information and skills, the rustier they get. Frequently use basic skills, like doing
math, in order to keep those skills fresh and ready to use.
 Try using skills that you have not used in a while, such as woodworking,
knitting, sewing, or doing home repairs.

 4
 Pick up a new hobby. Learning a new skill is also a great way to give
your brain a workout. Creative skills especially, like music, dance, and
visual art, will exercise different parts of your brain and all have
incredible benefits.

5
Build things. Whether you're building robots or a new bench for your hallway, using
your brain to figure out how to make something (especially from scratch with no
instructions) is a great workout. Get some basic building skills and then get your
brain limber with some practical creativity.
 Try doing a do-it-yourself project to learn new skills and make something in
the process.

Part 5 Staying Healthy

1
Eat well and exercise. Diet and exercise actually play a role in the health of your
brain as well. If you want to keep your brain in peak condition, eat a healthy diet rich
in protein and omega 3 fatty acids to keep your brain physically fed. Drink water as
much as you can. Physical exercise can also keep your body healthy, reducing the
chance of stroke and increasing oxygen saturation levels.

2
Play sports. Learn exercises or how to play new games to increase your hand-eye
and body coordination. Tai-chi and pinball are both examples of this.

3
Sleep well. Scientists are actually discovering that sleep plays an absolutely vital
role in keeping your brain healthy. While you sleep, your body cleans toxins out of
your brain (in addition to making repairs). [5] If you want to protect your brain, make
sure you get a full night's sleep as regularly as possible.

4
Change up your routine. Try commuting with varied routes, to prevent the brain
from feeling too neglected as the result of a monotonous day. You can also change
how you work, by introducing an exercise ball or other factor into how you work.