4 Habits That Help Keep Your Mind Sharp

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Our intelligence varies with age as we grow up, but past the age of 21 (on average), the IQ points do not change much in adults. Unfortunately, as we go past our prime and begin to age, human cognition eventually begins to decline. Do note that advanced age alone is not an indicator of significant cognitive decline, but it does make us more vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases that lead to cognitive decline.

However, there are habits that we can adopt at any age to maintain and even boost our cognitive capacity. The earlier you start, the more effective those habits are likely to be, but you are going to see significant benefits even if you start late. Let’s take a look at some of those mind-sharpening activities next.

Play Video Games

It was believed at some point in the past that video games harmed a child’s intelligence, although that claim never had any basis in fact. Over the years, several studies have shown that video games do not have any negative impact on a child’s IQ but actually help in improving their intelligence. For that very reason, educational games are now a part of almost every child’s interactive education program. Just keep them away from the M-rated games to preserve their mental wellbeing!

In fact, there is enough evidence to suggest that playing video games can improve even adult intelligence, albeit to varying degrees. Not all video games are equally beneficial for everyone though. For example, aging adults and seniors with a history of dementia in the family benefit most from video games that challenge their depth perception in 3D platforming and racing games.

Play Word Games

The wonderful thing about modern technology is that you don’t need to separate video games from traditional word games such as scrabble or crossword puzzles anymore. You can start solving crossword puzzles, filling in Sudoku grids, and unscramble words in Scrabble from your phone or laptop at any time. Word games sharpen our minds and enrich our vocabulary, irrespective of one’s age. They are exceptionally effective in keeping older adults sharp and delay symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological disorders.

Learn New Languages

No other activity builds new neuropathways better than learning a new language. Every time you learn a new language, it opens up a new portal to another world full of literature, media, culture, and history that would only make proper sense in that specific language.

If you are wondering how learning a new language can become a habit, then you are not thinking about the big picture. The idea is to learn a new language, every time you are done learning at least the basics of a new language. If learning a single language takes a decade, you are supposed to move on to a different language after that decade. Simply dedicate an hour or so everyday to learning a language that you wish to learn and that will become a mind-sharpening habit. 

Write

Reading is one of those rare activities that engages our entire attention, which in turn, improves focus. However, writing is even more effective as a brain-boosting activity because it also engages our memory, recall, improvisation, and motor functions. Try to write your thoughts daily on a diary when you are only just starting out. Using pen and paper is recommended over using the keyboard for better results. Although it should go without saying, know that sleeping for at least 7 hours a day can also do wonders for your mind. Neglecting sleep will degrade your brain at a faster rate than any neuro-boosting habit can possibly make up for. In fact, getting enough sleep alone is more important for physical, mental, and cognitive health than all these activities combined.

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