There is no doubt we are living longer than
ever before, and because of this more and more people are making an effort to
take better care of themselves so that they can be healthier and sharper and
thus maintain a better quality of life. Naturally, with an extended life span,
we all want to maintain our cognitive abilities as long as we can. Brain games
are undoubtedly popular tools for staying sharp, but they are only one of many
in the arsenal of cognitive maintenance.
Mental stimulation is an absolute necessary
for keeping the brain sharp because it helps to generate new brain cells as
well as create new connections between existing nerve cells. Cognitive
activities like math games, word puzzles and reading, and physical activities
that require manual dexterity for motor coordination, can help keep your brain
functioning well for many years to come.
As we're talking about quality of life, we
also need to broach the topic of emotional health. Depression, anxiety and
insomnia all take their toll on our ability to function and can easily lead to
cognitive decline as we age. Getting help with these issues can make all the
difference between enjoying old age and being oblivious of it. Helpful
strategies such as meditation, breathing and relaxation techniques can help you
find peace and comfort, for which your brain will thank you with improved
cognition and focus. Of course, building healthy social networks with friends
and family that you maintain even as you get older is yet another way to stay
sharp and connected.
In the entire gamut of remaining healthy – we rarely
discuss sleep, more so, even if we happen to chance upon it, conversations
usually revolve around lack of good sleep. I feel it is necessary we start
acknowledging the efforts of our physical self for providing us with a night of
good sleep. This will help motivate our emotional self to channelize efforts to
make that happen again. Let’s appreciate it and have a good sleep tonight!
-Abhijith
