A funny thing happened on the way to my next birthday. I was standing in the kitchen with a spatula in hand and forgot what I was cooking. Aside from the comedy of forgetting where I put X, Y or Z, I also felt a little fearful, thinking: Will I forget more and more until I don’t even recall who I am?
I found out that there’s a science behind forgetfulness related to the aging process. Stress, anxiety, loneliness, isolation and depression are some of the culprits, in addition to neurological changes in the brain. When I was much younger, back when I could still find my keys, cell phone, and glasses, I witnessed the very old experiencing confusion, difficulty concentrating, their inability to remember the simplest things– and worse, remembering their loved ones.
The older I get, the more concerned I am about memory loss. So, I’ve explored ways to combat it. I discovered that starting slow and building up to a memory level that I desire is best. On the other hand, I must be realistic and accept the fact that my brain isn’t twenty years old anymore!
Here are 20 tips for how to keep the brain well-exercised:
- Take care of yourself: Get enough sleep, eat well, breathe deeply, keep moving about during the day, and work on your posture—stand tall, don’t slump. It sounds parental but it works.
- Get a pet; taking responsibility for an animal will be good for your brain.
- Learn the names of all your house plants and the care requirements for each.
- Memorize a poem or quote regularly.
- Change your view occasionally by purposefully walking or driving a new route.
- Enjoy an hour’s outing to observe and appreciate your environs
- Sing in the shower – and also out of the shower!
- Play music –take up or practice an instrument or enjoy favorite tunes
- Organize your house. Begin with a shelf or drawer, and keep going
- Visit a local zoo, museum, library, etc.
- Take advantage of your community
- Enroll in a class to learn something new to you, what appeals to you at this stage.
- Grow a flower, vegetable or herb garden
- Collect greeting cards and send them regularly to friends/family on special occasions.
- Start a birthday/dates-to-remember book and keep it current.
- Read all kinds of material, including a challenging text such as a global concern.
- Rekindle an interest or hobby from your youth.
- Learn a new language; which one appeals to you?
- Improve your vocabulary by subscribing to word-of-the-day websites.
- Practice being creative—write a poem or song lyrics or a word cloud to commemorate something or someone.
- Add puzzles/brain games to your repertoire; work up to hard/challenging level.
While a certain amount of memory loss is inevitable in older age, we can mitigate the condition by making certain adjustments in our lifestyle. All of these adaptations are good for everyone’s general health. How have you recalibrated your lifestyle to aid your memory? Remember to reply to this inquiry and let us know how YOU keep your brain well-oiled.