One Easy Practice To Keep Your Brain Sharp (That Doesn’t Require Extra Time or Money!)

Many of us have heard countless lists of things we need to be doing to keep our brain sharp, and they’ve probably included things like…

• Join a gym and exercise more often
• Prioritize social interactions
• Take a class or pick up a new hobby
• Eat brain-boosting foods (organic, if possible)

And while these things are all important and powerful steps towards staying mentally active and warding off cognitive decline, they all have something in common: they all take time we probably don’t have or they cost extra money we are resistant to spending.

So for the busy people who don’t have time for that new class or to learn a new hobby, what can we do to keep our brain sharp and active as we age? Here’s a simple idea:

An Easy Habit: Change Something in Your Everyday Routine to Keep Your Brain Sharp

As our executive director Maureen Loftus explains, picking up a brand new hobby or taking a class may be great tools for protecting your cognition—but for those of us who don’t have the time or capacity for that, these simple changes can go a long way to force your brain to think differently, which in turn keeps it sharp.

Here are some ideas for what this can look like:

• Intentionally take a wrong turn and (without your phone) get to where you’re going. When we are familiar with our route, we check out and don’t really have to use our visual processing and logic skills to get where we’re going. One simple way to activate these skills is to take a different route to a familiar place, forcing yourself to think through alternate options on the spot!
• Follow a different path in the grocery store. You’re there anyway, why not make a brain activity out of your run for groceries?! Most of us follow a consistent path through the grocery store, but try starting on the opposite end or in a random aisle. You’ll find yourself having to envision the store and keep your list refreshed in your mind as you think through what you need as you get to each section.
• Use your opposite hand. This is a simple one, but try eating all day using your non-dominant hand. It’s a test of coordination and engages your brain during seemingly mindless tasks like eating (or brushing your teeth, or washing dishes, etc.)
• Accessorize, then get dressed. Usually when we’re getting ready for the day, we think through our clothes and then pick our jewelry. Or for men, we choose the clothes and then the tie, watch, etc. Instead, reverse it: pick out your jewelry or accessories first and then select your clothes. It’s just a different way of approaching a simple task that uses your brain slightly differently!

Keeping Your Brain Sharp Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

For those of us who are beginning to worry that we’re losing our edge, it’s important to take steps to protect our focus, memory, and processing abilities as we age. Staying sharp and mentally active can absolutely include some outside support (including one-on-one brain training for targeted memory support or cognitive skill intervention), but for many of us, these daily habits can go a long way!

So here’s to doing things differently in our everyday lives to keep our brains sharp, active, and healthy!