Your brain is involved in almost everything you do every day
So it makes sense to take good care of it. One way to look after your brain and improve your mental health is to exercise it regularly. Regular brain training can improve your concentration and memory. It can also help you cope better with your daily work. To get you started on the benefits of brain training, here are just a few that have been proven to be good for your mental health.
Mathematics
That’s right, for most of us, maths at school probably didn’t leave many positive memories. But if you regularly solve puzzles or maths problems in your head, it will stimulate your thinking. But you don’t need to solve long and complex equations like Albert Einstein or Steven Hawkins. Simple puzzles and basic mental arithmetic (subtraction and addition) are enough to keep your brain active.
Visualization
This exercise will stimulate your creativity and give you a sense of calm. For example, visualise your personal or professional goals. As you visualise these goals, use your imagination to decorate them. How do you feel when you achieve this goal? How will those around you react to your success?
Another benefit of this mental exercise is that it stimulates your subconscious and enables you to make informed decisions that will lead you to your goal. Visualisation trains your ability to find creative solutions to problems.
Games that encourage logical thinking
You can also train your brain by playing games. Classic games include crossword puzzles and Sudoku. There are now so many brain-teasing apps and games that you are sure to find a logic game to suit your taste. It does not always have to be colourful, expensive and digital. How about a game of chess or another board/parlour game? Social games are much more fun!
Improvement of your vocabulary
Another way to train your brain is to build up a large vocabulary in another language. A vocabulary lesson can actually be a stimulating challenge for your brain. Several parts of the brain are simultaneously involved in tasks related to vocabulary storage. These include areas that are particularly important for auditory and visual processing.
A popular method for learning new words is to engage several areas of the brain at once. Visualise the meaning of a word you do not know. Read it several times, pronounce it and write it down several times. Look up the definition and use the word at least five times the next day. This should help you to remember the word.
An exciting way to learn vocabulary is to use ‘visual dictionaries’, which also appeal to the visual memory by illustrating the words. In this way, you can immediately visualise the word for the exercise just mentioned.
Meditation
Even when you are at rest, you can exercise your power, because another effective brain exercise that benefits your mental health is meditation. With regular practice, meditation can help you reduce mental and physical stress, reduce anxiety and improve concentration. Just find a quiet place, close your eyes and focus on your breathing for 5 minutes. Even 5 minutes of daily meditation can have a wonderful relaxing effect on your body and mind. Find here a short instruction how to meditate easily.
Card games
You can also play cards to keep your mind sharp. In fact, some card games, such as Skat, are very demanding on the brain. It doesn’t matter whether you play online or offline. Different card games, such as Solitaire, Crazy Eights and Poker, activate different areas of the brain and are a fun way to exercise.
Puzzle games
Solving a puzzle stimulates the brain. This type of game challenges not only your logical thinking, but also your imagination and problem-solving skills. Jigsaw puzzles are fun to play alone or in a group. Why not solve a game with the whole family? Nowadays there are jigsaw puzzles on many themes, even 3-dimensional ones, so you are sure to find something suitable.
Conclusion
Mind and body are equally important for your health. Today, there is a wide range of exciting and entertaining games and applications that allow you to train your mental skills in a playful way. These “brain exercises” are not particularly time-consuming, so they can be easily integrated into your daily life. The results you can achieve in such a simple way are amazing. You can improve your memory, concentration, reasoning and general mental health in a fun and lasting way.