How to Keep Your Brain Young
By Sara Butler
You can’t stay young forever, but you can keep your brain spry! Don’t listen to people who tell you that old dogs can’t learn new tricks because it’s not entirely true. Sure, it seems like kids can retain more information than adults, but in all fairness, they don’t have jobs to go to or mortgages to pay. Research out of the University of California Riverside has found that adults can conquer new challenges just as well as kids – and here’s how to do it.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
If you don’t challenge yourself, then you won’t grow – or keep your brain sharp. Adults tend to use similar skills on a daily basis, making it easy to fall into routines. You have to deviate from your routine in order to keep your mind sharp.
Learn a new skill or challenge yourself in ways you aren’t challenged in daily. Do something that is difficult for you that you may have never tried before. If you try something new and find that you take to it like a fish to water, then you’re not pushing yourself far enough out of your comfort zone. A real challenge will have more cognitive benefits in the long run.
Get a Tutor
It can be difficult for an adult to learn new skills on their own, so it makes sense to find a teacher or mentor to show you the way. Take a class or hire an instructor to help you learn and hold you accountable on your progress. It doesn’t even have to be formal – many times a friend or an acquaintance is proficient in something you’re not. Maybe you can trade lessons!
You Have to Believe (In Yourself!)
This one is tough. Not because you’re not great (you are), but because society often has unrealistic expectations for people that don’t allow many people to develop in adulthood. For example, many people believe that an adult has to have a natural talent in an area in order to succeed – that hard work isn’t enough. That’s not true! Ignore people who don’t believe that learning is a lifelong process and you’ll be happier and keep your brain sharper!
You can learn more as you get older and it’s a great way to keep your mind sharp and fight off cognitive decline. So, find ways to challenge yourself every day and learn something new in the process!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.