How to Stay Sharp Throughout Life

As we age, it's natural for our cognitive abilities to decline. But there are things we can do to stay sharp and maximize our brainpower. Here are ten tips to help you keep your mind active and healthy as you age.

Follow these simple tips and you'll be on your way to a sharper mind. You'll be able to think more clearly, remember things better, and stay focused longer. So what are you waiting for? Start improving your cognitive health today!

The importance of staying sharp

The benefits of staying sharp throughout your life are immense. By keeping your mind active and engaged, you can improve your memory, your thinking skills, and your overall quality of life. Studies have shown that people who stay mentally active throughout their lives have a decreased risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. They also tend to suffer from less depression and anxiety, and have a higher overall satisfaction with life.

Ways to avoid cognitive decline

There are many things that you can do to avoid cognitive decline as you age. Some of the most effective strategies include:

• Staying mentally active and engaged. This can include doing puzzles, playing games, learning new things, and participating in other mentally stimulating activities.

• Exercising regularly. Exercise is not only good for your body, but it’s also great for your brain. It helps keep your mind healthy and sharp by increasing blood flow to the brain and promoting new brain cell growth.

• Eating a healthy diet. A balanced diet is crucial for overall health, including mental health. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats to keep your mind functioning at its best.

• Preventing stress. Stress is a major contributor to anxiety and depression, which in turn can affect memory and other cognitive functions. Try relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation to keep stress levels in check.

• Getting enough sleep. You’ve probably heard that you need to get eight hours of sleep a night for good health, and this is especially true when it comes to brain health. Studies have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep experience significant decreases in memory, attention, and other cognitive functions.

Brain exercises

There are many different types of brain exercises you can do to stay sharp. Some of the most popular include:

• Learning a new language or musical instrument. Studies show that learning a new language is great for your brain and can actually increase memory and attention span. Reading and memorizing information in a foreign language is also beneficial because it forces you to focus on vocabulary and distinct pronunciation, both of which require more mental energy than reading familiar words. Learning how to play an instrument requires not only coordination but also concentration, visualization, and pattern recognition—all important components of cognition. It has been shown that older adults who engage in activities such as these have improved cognitive function compared to those who don’t make time for them.

• Doing crossword puzzles and other word games. These sorts of activities increase concentration and memory by forcing you to focus on minute details. The more detailed and complicated the puzzle, the greater mental challenge it presents and therefore the greater cognitive benefits it will have for your brain.

• Exercising your mind with logic problems. Puzzles such as Sudoku can help improve problem-solving abilities which in turn reduce stress levels and anxiety. Your working memory, or short-term memory that you use to process new information, also benefits from playing these types of games. Try challenging yourself to a weekly mathematics or logic game to keep your brain sharp over time.

Tips on how to stay focused

Some people find that they suffer from decreased attention span or focus as they age. This can make simple tasks like reading the newspaper or paying bills extremely difficult, not to mention dangerous (you may miss important information). There are several things you can do to improve your ability to stay focused on the task at hand, including:

• Reminding yourself of why you’re doing it in the first place. Oftentimes distractions happen when we lose sight of our bigger goals and forget what we’re trying to accomplish. Reminding ourselves of these “why”s keeps us motivated towards achieving them.

• Taking breaks every once in a while. Your brain needs time to process all the new information you are exposing it to, so give yourself some time to relax every once in a while. A short walk or conversation with a coworker can help you recharge and refocus when you need it most, so take advantage of these opportunities when they come up.

• Not multi-tasking. Multi-tasking is actually one of the biggest culprits in decreased mental focus and productivity. Most people think they are capable of doing two things at once, but studies show that this isn’t the case at all—in fact, simultaneous tasking means we spend more time trying to do both jobs adequately rather than giving each our full attention. So make a point to avoid distractions and stay solely focused on one job until it is done before moving on to your next task.

• Getting enough sleep. Sleep is essential for your physical and mental health, but when you don’t get the recommended amount of sleep at night there are some serious consequences. One of these consequences is reduced attention span and productivity, so make sure you prioritize enough time in bed to let your body recover from the day.

Tips on improving mental clarity

Mental clarity is another aspect of cognition that many people struggle to maintain as they age. You may find yourself forgetting where you left things, having trouble finding the right words during conversations, or struggling to absorb new information. The following tips can help you improve mental clarity and reduce stress levels:

• Practice relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing. Just five minutes of slow breathing in a location can be extremely relaxing for many people. Find a quiet place where you are alone and sit or lie down in a comfortable position, then close your eyes and focus on your inhales and exhale for five minutes.

• Try cooking! Cooking not only gives you an opportunity to vent frustration or stress, but it can also be an enriching experience for the mind if done properly. Challenge yourself to follow recipes as closely as possible—if you’re feeling really adventurous, try making some dishes from other countries.

• Spend time outside enjoying nature. Nature has been shown to increase cognitive function such as memory recall. It can be extremely relaxing and help improve mental clarity if done at the right time.

• Practice mindfulness to stop mind-wandering. If you find yourself feeling scatterbrained or having trouble staying on task, take a few moments throughout your day to practice mindfulness and remind yourself of what you should be focusing on. Sit down in a quiet place, close your eyes, and focus exclusively on your breathing for 5 minutes. The more you practice this technique, the easier it will become to bring this level of awareness into other parts of your life as well.

Tips on avoiding distractions and multitasking

Distractions and multitasking can cause your productivity to drop significantly, but there are some things you can do to help reduce these occurrences:

• Get organized. This means keeping a clean work area. Make sure your desk is free of clutter, and organize project folders or notes so important details are easy to find. Keeping a clean work area will lower the risk that you’ll become distracted by misplaced documents and materials.

• Turn off notifications on electronic devices. Social media updates, text messages, emails—these things all want our attention very badly. But if you allow them to interrupt your work, you’ll find it extremely difficult to stay focused.

• Stop multitasking. Similar to distractions, trying to do multiple jobs at once will actually prevent you from doing either job properly. Instead of trying to complete four things in one hour, dedicate an hour and a half (or more) exclusively to each task and allow yourself time later in the day for everything else.

Tips on brain supplements

There are many brain supplements on the market that promise to improve cognitive function, but not all of them are effective. In order to find a supplement that works for you, it is important to do your research and talk to your doctor.

The following are some tips on how to choose a brain supplement:

• Look for a supplement that has been backed by scientific evidence. There are many supplements on the market that make unsubstantiated claims about their ability to improve cognitive function. Make sure the supplement you choose has been tested in clinical trials and shown to be effective.

• Avoid supplements with synthetic ingredients. Many brain supplements contain synthetic ingredients, which can be harmful to your health. Look for a supplement made with natural ingredients instead.

• Choose supplements made in the United States. Many supplements are manufactured outside of the US, so it is important to know exactly where your supplement is coming from.

• Look for a supplement that will not cause side effects. At best, side effects will debilitate you; at worst, they can be life-threatening. Avoid any supplements that list common side effects like nausea or vomiting on their label (or even worse—a disclaimer that says “all supplements carry risk”).

Supplements we recommend are:

Memo Surge

Memo Max Pro

Claritox Pro

Conclusion

Improving your mental clarity can help you stay sharp through life. If these tips are too hard for you to remember, don’t worry! That is why we created this article. Read it again and take notes on how you should improve your cognition skills in order to be sharper throughout the day or week. You may also want to try some of our other articles about memory recall techniques or cognitive neuroscience principles that will help with focus and attention span. We hope that by reading this information, you were able to find ways to keep yourself mentally healthy while improving productivity at work, school, home-life… wherever!