Mary couldn’t believe it was happening again. As soon as she entered the kitchen, she forgot why she was there. What was it that she wanted from the kitchen? How could she keep her mind sharp?
She stood there for a few minutes, racking her brain to trigger her memory. She was sure she would remember when she got to the kitchen this time. But it was all forgotten.
As soon as she walked back into the living room, the item popped into her thoughts, and she remembered what she wanted from the kitchen.
Does this ever happen to you? These short lapses in memory can be frustrating and time-consuming. Who wants to keep backtracking to remember what they are looking for? Not me, not anymore.
In this article, I will share eight simple ways to fine-tune your mind to stay sharp.
Let’s start by looking at how the body works. You get better muscle tone, energy, and health when you use your body. Keeping a sharp mind over a lifetime requires finding new ways to use your mind.
When you incorporate these eight simple ways into your life, you will take care of your mind so it can work how you need it to. Keep your mind sharp with these:
#1 – Keep Moving
I met an older man who looked fit and asked him how he did it. He told me the secret to his vitality. “Just keep moving,” he said. He walked daily and was sure it kept his body and mind sharp.
Do you have a daily plan for movement? It could be 30 minutes of walking, biking, swimming, yoga, tennis, or martial arts. One of the most significant mind-dulling moves you can make is to become sedentary.
Your brain’s neural pathways begin to shut down when you do not do something to get your blood flowing daily. Just moving 30 minutes a day can help.
#2 – Read More Often
Did you know that many people stop reading after they finish school?
People are busy taking care of family, paying bills, shopping for necessities, and time for reading slips away.
However, reading at least 20 minutes daily will increase your brain power exponentially. You will keep those neural pathways open and may even create new ones.
#3 – Eat Healthy
The foods you eat are the fuel that feeds your body and your mind. Your body and mind cannot function properly if they do not have the right fuel. How could you improve your food choices to give your body the best fuel possible?
Did you know that if you do not drink enough water, your thinking and memory can be foggy? Even slight dehydration, like not drinking enough water, can make it harder to focus and remember things and make you tired. Drinking enough water helps your brain work better and keeps you feeling clear and alert.
The healthiest diet for a sharp mind includes good quality protein, a variety of vegetables and fruits, nuts, and healthy fats like coconut oil or olive oil. Your brain needs fat to function at its best potential.
Find the best way of eating for your needs and health and stick to it at least 80 percent of the time, and you’ll reap the rewards.
#4 – Focus on Your Posture
It may seem silly, but if you maintain good posture throughout your life, your mind will also stay sharper. Sit up correctly and learn how to walk correctly, and it will help every part of you remain in better focus.
If you spend time at a computer, take breaks every 30 minutes and stretch. Leaning over a desk or a computer causes many posture problems. To help improve your posture, you can try Pilates, yoga, or qi-gong.
#5 – Enough Sleep
Do you get enough sleep regularly? Your brain health depends on it. Adults need to sleep between 7 and 9 hours per night. Sadly, most of us do not get anywhere near that amount.
It is easy to wake up worrying about your health, money, or troublesome relationships. Once that worry cycle kicks in, it can be difficult to get back to sleep.
How do you help yourself sleep through the night or get back to sleep once you wake up worrying? I focus on my breathing, imagining my breath coming in and out of my heart. That calms my body and helps me get back to sleep.
Sleep is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle and a sharp mind.
#6 – Practice Lifelong Learning
Whenever you learn something new, whether it’s painting, how to play an instrument, or something more practical, like how to use a new app on your computer, it engages new areas of your brain and will keep it sharp.
Learning something new opens new pathways in your brain, which improves how your brain and mind function.
#7 – Listen to Music
Music can be soothing, energizing, and uplifting to your health and the health of your mind.
Listening to music can help keep your mind sharp by engaging multiple areas of your brain simultaneously. Here’s how it works:
Music Boosts Mood and Reduces Stress: Music you enjoy can release “feel-good” chemicals like dopamine, which help reduce stress and make you feel happier. A happy and relaxed mind works better!
Improves Focus: Calming or instrumental music can help you concentrate on tasks, especially when studying or working.
Strengthens Memory: Music connects to the part of your brain that processes memory. Listening to familiar tunes can help you recall memories and learn new information more effectively.
Encourages Creativity: Music stimulates the brain, encouraging creative thinking and problem-solving.
Exercise for the Brain: Learning new songs or playing an instrument challenges your brain, keeping it active and healthy.
In short, music is like a workout for your brain, helping it stay sharp, focused, and creative!
Do you ever hear an old tune and find yourself singing along? The words are there for you, no matter how old the song is. Your mind stores memories connected to tunes and music.
Music humans make or find in nature is significant to us and helps keep our brains functioning healthily.
#8 – Get Regular Checkups
When getting regular checkups, let your doctor know about anything you are concerned about when it comes to your mind.
Many issues with the mind can be caught early and corrected. Your doctor is there to help you stay healthy. Your job is to communicate, listen, and follow through for your mind's health and longevity.
A sharp mind well into your eighties and nineties can be accomplished if you make it an essential part of your daily life.
You don’t have to be like Mary and forget why you entered the kitchen.
You can have a razor-sharp mind when you keep moving, read more often, eat healthily, focus on your posture, get enough sleep, practice life-long learning, listen to music, and get regular checkups with your doctor.
Soothe your mind; listen to A Loving Kindness Meditation here https://nancydadami.com/LKM
Nancy Dadami, an Inner Peace Guide | Medicine Painting Mentor | Feng Shui Specialist
I help leaders, writers, artists, and entrepreneurs who are passionate about growth, learning, service, and freedom. Together, we create a life filled with abundance, self-awareness, purpose, and inner peace.
Learn more here Linktr.ee/nancydadami
Great article, Guidance, and suggestions. Thank you Nancy!