The brain is involved in everything we do and, like any other part of the body, it needs to be cared for too. Research has shown that there are many ways you can hone your mental sharpness and help your brain stay healthy, no matter what age you are. Doing certain brain exercises to help boost your memory, concentration, and focus can make daily tasks quicker and easier to do, and keep your brain sharp as you get older. So, below are some brain exercises that you should possibly be doing.

1) Jigsaw Puzzle

Research has shown that doing jigsaw puzzles recruits multiple cognitive abilities and is a protective factor for visuospatial cognitive aging. In other words, when putting together a jigsaw puzzle, you have to look at different pieces and figure out where they fit within the larger picture. This can be a great way to challenge and exercise your brain. Working on a jigsaw puzzle is an excellent way to strengthen your brain.

2) Cards

Researchers who conducted a study in 2015 on mentally stimulating activities for adults, say a quick card game can lead to greater brain volume in several regions of the brain. The same study also found that a game of cards could improve memory and thinking skills. These games include solitaire, bridge, gin rummy, poker, hearts and crazy eights.

3) Building Vocabulary

Research shows that many more regions of the brain are involved in vocabulary tasks, particularly in areas that are important for visual and auditory processing. To test this theory, you can try this cognitive-boosting activity: #Keep a notebook with you when you read.
#Write down one unfamiliar word, then look up the definition.
#Try to use that word five times the next day.

4) Dance

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control notes that learning new dance moves can increase your brain’s processing speed and memory.
You can give one of these dance activities a try:
#Take a salsa, tap, hip-hop, or contemporary dance class.
#Try a Zumba or jazz exercise class.
#Watch an online video with fun dance moves you’ve always wanted to learn.
#Grab a partner and learn to ballroom dance.
#Gather your friends and go line dancing

5) Using all your Senses

A 2015 research report suggests that using all your senses may help strengthen your brain. To give your senses and your brain a workout, try doing activities that simultaneously engage all five of your senses. You could try baking a batch of cookies, visiting a farmer’s market, or trying a new restaurant while you focus on smelling, touching, tasting, seeing, and hearing all at the same time.

6) Learning a New Skill

Learning a new skill is not only fun and interesting, but it may also help strengthen the connections in your brain. Research from 2014 also shows that learning a new skill can help improve memory function in older adults. Perhaps you’d like to know how to repair your car, use a particular software program, or ride a horse. You now have one more good reason to learn that new skill.

7) Teaching a new skill to someone else

One of the best ways to expand your learning is to teach a skill to another person. After you learn a new skill, you need to practice it. Teaching it to someone else requires you to explain the concept and correct any mistakes you make.

8) Listening to or playing Music

According to a 2017 study, listening to happy tunes helps generate more innovative solutions compared to being in silence. Which means, cranking up some good music can help boost your creative thinking and brain power. And if you want to learn how to play music, now is a great time to start because your brain is capable of learning new skills at any point in your life. That’s why you’re never too old to start playing an instrument like the piano, guitar, or even the drums.

9) Take a New Route

Don’t get stuck in a rut when it comes to your daily tasks. Instead, be willing to try new ways to do the same things.
Choose a different route to get to work each week or try a different mode of transport, like biking or using public transport instead of driving. Your brain can benefit from this simple change, and you might be surprised by how easy it is to change your thinking.

10) Meditation

Daily meditation can calm your body, slow your breathing, and reduce stress and anxiety. But did you know that it may also help tune your memory and increase your brain’s ability to process information? Yes, so find a quiet spot, close your eyes, and spend five minutes meditating each day.

In conclusion, focusing on your brain health is one of the best things you can do to improve your concentration, focus, memory, and mental agility, no matter what age you are. By incorporating brain exercises into your everyday life, you will be able to challenge your mind, sharpen your cognitive skills, and possibly learn something new and enriching along the way, too.