Protect your brain by exercising it
Last January I mentioned that I had watched a story on CBS Sunday Morning with five tips for protecting the brain from dementia. I promised a separate post on each of the five tips. Today is part 3 of that series. If you are interested in past tips, you’ll find Tip #1 here and Tip #2 here.
This is the part where I remind you that I am not a doctor or medical expert of any type. I am simply relaying information from those who are.
5 tips for protecting your brain
As a reminder, according to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, there are five basic things we can all do to fight off dementia, even if we are genetically predisposed to it.
- Move more
- Eat better
- Try new things
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Interact socially
Did you join me in February’s challenge to eat better? If so, what specific change did you make? How did it go? Please let us know in the comments.
Now on to tip 3…
Try new things
When it comes to your brain, use it or lose it is true. But you can’t just do the same exercises over and over. Doing crossword puzzles or playing video games is great, but after a while your brain gets too good at it and no longer has to work so hard. Brain resiliency requires change.
Dr. Gupta suggests that you do something that scares you a little every day. He says, “If you can get outside your comfort zone in some way every day, you’re probably harnessing other real estate in the brain that you don’t otherwise use very often.” This can be something as simple as eating with your non-dominant hand or as complex as learning a new language.
Why it works
Learning a new skill wards off dementia by strengthening the connections between parts of your brain. Neuroscientist Denise Park likens it to an orchestra.
Players come in and players go out. Sometimes when something is really demanding, the whole orchestra is playing, but they’re not playing harmoniously. The goal is to keep each individual player in best form and make sure there’s coordination. And improving your own coordination, through quilting or learning to play bridge, may be a way to maintain your memory, and have a bit of fun, too.
Denise Park
So what do you think? Will you join me in committing to doing something that takes you out of your comfort zone each day in March? That could be choosing a new skill and working on it for at least a few minutes each day or doing one thing that is unusual, like eating with your non-dominant hand or taking a new route to a familiar destination, each day.
For me, I think I’ll try crocheting. I’m not a crafty person, so this will definitely take me outside of my comfort zone. Wish me luck!
Your turn
- Is there a new skill that you would like to learn in March?
- What was the last thing you tried that took you out of your comfort zone?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
Image by Esi Grünhagen from Pixabay
Hi, Christie – I greatly appreciate your follow-ups in this series. I agree that it is important to continually challenge ourselves to learn new things. I am currently taking an on-line smartphone photography class. Who knew that there were so many cool tricks available at the tips of our figures.
I look forward to your continued posts in this series.
Thank you Donna. A smartphone photography challenge sounds like a great idea. I have a larger camera, and I spent some time playing with the settings. However, in reality, more than 90 percent of my photos are taken with my phone. I need to learn some of those cool tricks!
Hi Christie – I think trying new things is a great way to keep our brains active and it also gives us a confidence boost when we conquer a new skill. What I’ve come to learn is that it’s okay to be bad at something – either in the beginning and then you improve, or just awful at it and eventually you try something else. Trying is what’s important, improving is a bonus, conquering it is the icing on the cake. Learning to ride my new scooter with confidence has been such a blast – I still smile every time I go a bit further – especially with traffic around me!
Yes, Leanne, I couldn’t agree more on the importance of allowing ourselves to be beginners…to look foolish…to find out we don’t want to pursue something in order to make room for the possibility that we will find something we love to do. I am impressed that you are learning to ride a scooter with confidence. That takes real courage. I purchased some basic crocheting supplies and an A to Z book. Last night I crocheted my first 12 inches of chain stitch. ?
I used to do a series about stepping outside my comfort zone. Challenged myself to do one thing each month that was a stretch. Hmm, now to think of something each day of March that would be a stretch for me. Wow, that really will exercise my brain!! Let me see what I can come up with.
Can’t wait to see your crocheting. I have often thought I would like to learn to do that. But I have so many other irons in the fire…the unfinished mosaic, scrapbooking, painting, and several cross stitch pictures in various stages of completion. Do you know what you are going to make? Or are you just going to learn how first and then concentrate on making ‘something’?
I bought chop sticks and told myself we – love to include PC in all of my hairbrained ideas – would start eating with them. Maybe I need to break them back out. Thanks for the inspo!!
You do have a lot of irons in the fire, Leslie, and so many creative pursuits in progress. Maybe just break out the chopsticks and use them for one meal each day. That definitely counts. I’m focusing on learning one new skill: crocheting. I bought some basis supplies and a how-to book. We’ll see how it goes! I haven’t chosen a project yet. My first goal is to just master the basic stitches. I might have one long chain or a big square by the end of March. ?
I knew “try new things” was coming (from your first blog about memory health) and I’ve been giving this one some thought. Originally I thought I’d like to learn Spanish, now that the time has come it seems a bit overwhelming. Maybe if I learn a word a day…? On a much easier scale, I haven’t done a puzzle since a was a kid. Maybe I’ll give that a try and take a break from cross word puzzles.
I know how to crochet a big, uneven square or rectangle!? But it’s so fun and relaxing.
Hello Cindy. I love that you were planning ahead for this one. I definitely think you should try a jigsaw puzzle. It took me a little while to get into mine, but once I did, I loved it. I’ve passed all mine on or I’d give you one to try. As for Spanish, check out the Duolingo app. You can go at your own pace. I think you would like it. I’m having fun with the crocheting. So far it’s one long uneven chain, but as you said it’s relaxing and kind of rewarding.
Hi Christie, I am always curious to learn more about keeping my brain healthy. #4 on your list is always a challenge for me all of my life. I believe our sleep patterns are partially how we are wired. And, we can adopt habits to help. I will think about “out of my comfort zone” and something new to try. Always a great post, Christie.
Sleep is a tough one. I’ve been watching a Master Class by a sleep scientist. It’s quite interesting. He covers the science of sleep, how it works, why it’s important, and of course, how to improve it. It is very enlightening. I’ll share the highlights next month, but you may find the entire course worthwhile. I look forward to hearing what new thing you decide to try. I’m actually really enjoying learning how to crochet…and by that I mean learning the stitches, so I can make an uneven blob with some really unique self-made stitches. ?
Christie, I love your focus. Taking care of our brains is absolutely key to living along and fulfilled life. In the month of March I am looking to finish up a few classes so that should keep me moving.
Thank you Elise. Good luck with your classes this month!
Thanks Christie, our Elise wants your post to be featured in the next Blogger’s Pit Stop. Well done.
Thank you Kathleen. It is always an honor to be featured in Blogger’s Pit Stop. I look forward to it!
I like your challenge to do something outside your comfort zone daily in March. I wonder if I have naturally done that or if I’m fooling myself. Regardless, I’ll keep this idea in mind each day as I look for something to do, as I wait, wait, wait for my opportunity to be vaccinated.
Hello Ally! Thanks for stopping by. I’ve signed up for my first dose later this month. If I can find the single-shot vaccine before then, I will do it. I’m looking forward to a time when I can try some new things further from home. Good luck with stretching your comfort zone during March.
I really believe in doing things to keep my brain as active as possible. Besides things I do daily, the last thing I do in bed before closing my eyes is to play two crossword puzzles on my phone. One medium difficulty level, the other hard. It greatly disappoints me when my husband doesn’t see the benefit in doing such for his brain. He’s next to me playing poker or scrolling TikTok.
I haven’t done a crossword puzzle in a while. I’ll have to give that a try. I’ve been doing Sudoko and jigsaw puzzles. As I mentioned, I am also learning to crochet. That definitely works my brain! ?
I love jigsaws, got a couple apps for them on my phone. Crochet is so much fun but I’m not very fast. Still trying to finish some large afghans I’m doing for my grandbabies.
I haven’t tried electronic jigsaws. I’m not fast on crochet either, and not very good yet. I’m just learning the basic stitches, so haven’t actually made anything yet. That’s so sweet of you to make afghans for the grandbabies. I bet they’ll treasure them.
The first thing I made was a dishcloth. Wasn’t very pretty. Just wanted to make something, just anything to try out the stitches.
That’s a great idea Dee. I think I’ll try that for my first project too.