Keep Your Brain Engaged to Stay Healthy
By Genevieve Cunningham
Keeping your brain engaged and active is a big and important task. It's our brains that make us who we are. It's our brains that keep us learning and growing and moving forward in life. And when the health of the brain suffers, everything else about our health suffers as well. We just aren't able to take advantage of life's opportunities. But how do we keep our brains engaged? And does it really affect our physical well-being? If you want to live your healthiest life, take a look at these ways to stay mentally active for a healthier life overall.
The Mental-Physical Connection
The mind and body are intricately connected. Poor mental health can cause physical symptoms in the body -- insomnia, aches and pains, headaches, lack of focus, and more. And the same thing happens in reverse as well. Poor physical health can result in poor mental health -- depression, anxiety, or irritability. In order to keep one as healthy as possible, we have to pay attention to the other. It's a balance that takes purposeful action to achieve and maintain.
How to Stay Engaged
If you really want to keep the brain engaged and working, there are plenty of ways to do it. A few good ways to keep an active mind include:
Continue learning - One of the best ways to keep the mind engaged is to keep learning. Learn a new skill, a new language, a musical instrument. It's never too late to learn new things. Find something interesting to learn, and keep yourself challenged.
Play - Games are good for the brain. Keep your home stocked with puzzles, memory games, crossword puzzles, word searches -- anything that keeps your brain working! With this approach, you get to keep the brain healthy and have fun at the same time.
Use it or lose it - The most important way to keep a healthy brain is to use it. While a night of Netflix is nice every once in a while, it shouldn't be the everyday norm. Use your brain, challenge it regularly, and you'll be able to keep it so much healthier long-term.
The brain is so important for your overall health. We need our brains for thinking, working, problem solving -- we need them for life! Use these tips to engage the brain on a regular basis. With a healthier brain, you're more likely to enjoy a healthier body and a more productive and happier life moving forward.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Livermore, Calif.