Posted on: September 28, 2007
Play Mind Games
Sharpening brainpower and increasing memory can be as simple as singing the wrong words to your favorite song, playing Sudoku or taking a trip
By Apryl Chapman Thomas
CTW Features
Did you realize when make up your own words to your favorite songs that you are actually helping yourself. According to creativity and innovation coach Jen Groover, Philadelphia, this simple technique can boost your brainpower by challenging your brain to think up of new words, and thus helping your improve your memory.
“Your brain is a muscle, and like other muscle, it is important for it to get exercise,” Groover says. “If you do things the same way all the time, your brain will go on autopilot. If you want to stay sharp, you need to ‘work-out’ this muscle.”
Good news is, regardless of your age, it is never too late to sharpen your memory. Nancy D. O’Reilly, clinical psychologist and author of the forthcoming book, “You Can’t Scare Me: Courageous Women Speak About Growing Older in a Youth Oriented Society,” offers some activities on how to improve your memory and keep your brain active.
Be creative
She recommends picking up paintbrushes or visiting an art museum. “With art, you can use all of your senses to help increase and improve your memory,” O’Reilly says.
On the road again
Traveling is also perfect for stimulating your memory. Dr. O’Reilly says the key is to expose yourself to new experiences, which in turn, can be great for your memory.
Attitude
A positive attitude can go a long way, according Dr. O’Reilly. “Make it one of your daily goals to build on and improve your memory,” she says. “Write it down on your ‘to do’ list. Learn to focus, attend, remember and repeat. After all, practice makes perfect.”
Give your brain a workout
Apart from card games, she suggests learning new words and meanings. “Not only will you wow yourself, but you’ll wow friends and family with your vocabulary,” O’Reilly says.
If you enjoy online games, Web sites such as braingym.org or sharpbrains.com can provide “cyber workouts” for the brain.
Another tip is to use right brain/left brain activities.
“If you brush your teeth with your right hand, try switching it to the left,” she says. “You can do other things with your non-dominant hand, such as wearing your watch on the opposite wrist. Doing these strengthens the hippocampus, a major part of the brain for memory.”
Mind your diet
Remember that great, fresh, healthy foods make great, healthy brains.
“Ginkgo has long been used as a supplement for brainpower, and fish oils are wonderful, too,” she says. “Folic acids also have good reports for memory improvement and gaining brainpower.”
