Keeping Mentally Fit Is Just As Important as Staying Physically Fit – But We Often Forget About It!
All too often, you take care of everyone and everything else, and forget to look after yourself. When it comes to self-care, it’s easy to focus on what you eat and if you’re getting enough exercise – and those are valid concerns. But it’s just as important to stimulate your brain. Staying mentally fit is crucial – yet it’s often overlooked.
Feeling proactive about your health and taking things into your own hands can mean the difference between aging gracefully and withering away.
Staying mentally fit and healthy enables you to stay attentive, efficiently manage your relationships, and deal with challenges and stress.
Here are 4 ways to keep your brain cells healthy and vibrant well into your golden years.
1. Learn and Engage
There are loads of studies that show there is a close relationship between the amount of knowledge you surround yourself with, and staying mentally fit.
You can retrieve tons of information with the touch of a button, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in an ocean of books, podcasts, articles, and even mentally stimulating games such as Sudoku, crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, word games, cards, and a wide range of others.
When you learn something new, or engage in any sort of mental activity, you build new neural pathways in the brain. The more connections each of our neurons has with other neurons, the more perceptive it is.
2. Something New
Make it a point to try something new every month, like a new hobby or new exercise routine.
Challenge yourself to read a different book each week or eat at a new restaurant every now and then.
Even the task of writing down your goals helps keep you mentally alert. It gives you something to plan and look forward to. It also keeps you engaged in something that boosts your brain cells while giving your emotions an outlet.
These tasks keep your mind on alert, mainly because you’re engaging in the process of learning, and, in addition, because you’re stepping out of your comfort zone. All these factors help boost concentration levels, as well as your confidence in your abilities to try new things and meet new people.
3. Exercise, preferably outdoors
Regular exercise releases ‘feel good hormones’ into your bloodstream, boosting your mood, and elevating memory and concentration levels.
Exercising outdoors helps you to get Vitamin D, which is known for its ability to prevent depression. Plus, any type of physical activity helps eliminate brain fog, boost energy levels and alleviate stress.
Mixing up workout styles or trying out a new walking or jogging route helps form new patterns in your brain which means more neural pathways, and less cognitive decline.
To make the most of exercising, try taking your workout to the nearest green space or park where you can connect more with nature, and breathe in some fresh air.
4. Manage Stress to Stay Mentally Fit
We all deal with stress and anxiety on a daily basis. But when cortisol (the stress hormone) levels are left unchecked, they start messing with your overall well-being. That’s why it’s good to invest a few minutes each day in releasing that negative tension regularly built up by stress. You can do this through meditating, practicing mindfulness, therapy, yoga, or prayer.
Whichever medium you prefer, the aim is to improve your state of mind while gaining a sense of serenity and control over your emotions and mental happiness.
If you’re considering Yoga – but don’t know where to begin, or if you’d like to keep it simple and just learn some basic stretches, I’ve got a fabulous video course designed just for you! Check it out here while it’s at a low, low price!
These 4 tips will help you keep your brain engaged and active – and of course, they’re all eco-friendly too and won’t harm the planet.
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Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free green living handbook “Live Well, Live Green” here.
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