Just like various body parts benefit from regular exercise and stimulation, the brain too can benefit from various kinds of exercises/activities which are novel and challenging in nature. Our routine lives offer very little scope for stimulation of the brain, as tasks which are monotonous in nature are handled not by the brain, but by our subconscious. Here are some exercises that you can do to keep that brain ticking along sharper than ever.

Get physical exercise

This might not seem like an exercise related to the brain at all, but physical exercises are some of the best ways to keep your brain in excellent shape. They are beneficial in relieving stress and increasing feel good chemicals in the brain, such as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. Exercising improves blood circulation to your brain and protects your brain against mental decline and the risk of dementia.

Start meditating

Who thought meditation could be challenging? But it is. Our brain is a thinking machine which produces up to 70,000 thoughts daily. Keeping your mind calm can be hard work, and that’s where yoga comes in. Meditation brings along benefits such as improved memory, increased focus, and stress reduction.

Take the hard way

Try to do things the hard way. It’s as simple as that. Involve more of your mind in basic mental skills and rely less on technology. Activities such as memorising a phone number, taking a new route to work, solving simple math equations without a calculator are all simple and engaging ways to develop your mind.

Do things differently

Take this literally. Wear a watch upside down, use your phone upside down, even try your hand at mirror writing and see what a workout this gives you.