Sharpen your brain

Learning is said to be stored in our brain. To my understanding learning never ends as long as we live. Tuning of our brain at regular intervals is must to keep your mind agile and to sustain or enhance good memory power. Keeping and tuning your brain and mind to be young, lies in your constant effort to pamper and massage it in the right direction. Different kind of reading, thinking, understanding and innovative thoughts can be a good workout for your brain to maintain its health for long. Take a new hobby by your side along with your hectic schedule at home and work. It will work wonders for you. Patients who come to me do vouch such initiatives made them feel younger, boost energy and also they were able to play a pivotal role at work even under extended stressful pattern.

1. Read your way
Develop a habit of constant reading if you don’t have one. Read different kind of articles and try to analyse what you have read. This would help you to understand what you have read more effectively. This is a way to challenge your brain and think for yourself. This is a long-term solution to keep your brain healthy and young.

2. Learn your way
Good way to keep your brain young is to start learning something new at every stage of your life. I was surprised to know about Dr. John Samuel, who at almost age 80 tries to learn something new, unlearn, refine and design his own life at this stage of his life. His look at his life is to be both physically and mentally active at all times. To me, he is an evergreen person. The charm of a person increases the way a person learns, unlearns and sharpens his/ her brain and adapts to positive change. Such individuals are a blessing to their family and to the nation at large. The lesson we can learn from him is learning in the ways we can and challenge our brain to keep it healthy.

3. Teach your way
Each individual is good at something and have the ability or creative approach to understand or improvise that particular task he/she is good at. While teaching he/she develops an attitude to learn more systematically and in detail to master that subject as he/she have to describe it and also answers all questions raised by the learner. The learner’s question sometimes helps him/her to find out more details and refining knowledge of that particular subject.

4. Workout your way
Physical exertion is also essential to detox not only your body but brain. It is wise to work out for at least 20-30 minutes a day with some kind of activity to suit your interests like jogging, swimming, walking, aerobics, dance etc. The point to be kept in mind is that you should be enjoying what you do. This will help you in improvising your concentration and would spring you with a feel-good factor. One of my patients who is a Ph.D student and her loving husband would vouch for the same. Most important, learn to relax after your work out. Sleep for not more and not less than 7 hours. Meditate to keep your mind at rest for some time each day.

5. Play your way
Did you think games are for kids alone? Play games that challenge your brain to think like crossword puzzle, jigsaw etc. The idea here is to put your brain to task with fun. In playschool, kids are taught with fun games. This would ease burden of learning, would help brain to relax even while on work and also de-stress evenly while being stressed. Games can be very innovative when it comes to learning.

Dr.Kurien S Thomas is a writer, columnist, corporate trainer, psychotherapist, yoga therapist & counsellor; founder & executive director of Effective Living Inc., a global counseling& stress management clinic, which has an unique approach to psychotherapy, counseling, yoga therapy & wellness therapy. He also conducts seminars and workshops for corporate, schools, colleges and various organisations. His personal / online counseling on family issues, teenagers, parenting, health issues, obesity, slimming and other issues has been a boon to many.