Luckily, there are several daily activities you can do to enhance your brain. If you do them often, you can maintain better cognitive memory and function. Here are seven daily habits that will keep your body and mind healthy!
1. Take Care of Yourself
Taking care of yourself is a simple activity, and yet, it has powerful results. Exercising daily, eating a well-balanced diet, and getting enough rest is essential. To treat your body well, make sure you’re eating from the right food groups. Have a diet that consists of leafy greens, fruit, meat, fish, nuts, and other healthy foods. Also, make sure to maintain healthy relationships. Don’t spend so much time focusing on other people’s needs that you forget your own. If you do this, it can take a toll on you physically and mentally. It’s essential to find a balance so that you don’t get burned out. If you find your batteries are running low, get away from whatever is dragging you down. It’s okay to take time to recharge and focus on yourself. Taking care of your physical and mental needs is the key to happiness.
2. Spend More Time Outdoors
There is so much to do outside. Stop spending all of your time indoors! A few activities include hiking, boating, and going on picnics. There’s an endless number of places to go and activities to experience. As you get outside more, you’ll also reap nature’s positive effects. One of these health benefits is improving your short-term memory. In a study by the University of Michigan, researchers gave a group of students a memory test. After the test, they instructed half the students to walk down an urban street. The other half walked through nature. When both groups returned, the group who walked through nature could remember the test better! That’s not the only benefit that nature provides, though. The Journal of Affective Disorders did a study in 2012 about nature and depression. Their research revealed that spending time in nature helps with major depressive disorder. So, if you or a loved one is battling depression, make time to get outside and soak up some nature. It will do you a world of good!
3. Listen to Music
Whether you’re having a bad day or a fantastic one, treat yourself to some tunes. Music is good for the soul, and it’s known to reduce stress levels and improve your mood. It also enhances your ability to focus and results in happy, positive feelings. And, it takes your worries away and inspires you. There’s no doubt that the incredible effects of music can improve your life. So go ahead and turn on your headphones or have a dance party in your room!
4. Shake Up Your Daily Routine
It’s far too easy to get stuck in a routine and do the same thing day after day. You get up, brush your teeth, go to work, and then go to bed. (Well, that’s probably not all you do, but you get the picture). The problem with keeping the same schedule is that it doesn’t challenge your brain. But if you switch things up, your brain will get more of a workout. To change your routine, try driving a different route. Or, you could run your errands in a different order. After you diversify your schedule, your brain will be ready to tackle more changes. And forming new habits can be a lot of fun!
5. Eat Dark, Leafy Greens
There are tons of healthy vegetables to choose from. Leafy greens, in particular, have excellent health benefits. Veggies like spinach and kale have lots of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and enzymes. There are so many nutritional benefits to eating leafy greens! If you’re not a fan of salad, you should still try to give your body some vegetables every day. Incorporate them into your diet in other ways, such as smoothies. Both your body and mind will feel better.
6. Take Time to Notice the Details
When was the last time you stopped and “smelled the roses,” so to speak? Do you ever give yourself a chance to slow down, or do you just rush mindlessly from one task to the next? Make a point to focus on the little things in your life. Admire the trees on your train ride to work. Take a big breath of fresh air every time you leave the house. Also, consider meditation. It helps to clear your brain, which relieves stress and boosts your mood. Life is too short to be bogged down by anxiety all the time. Slowing down and appreciating the little things will help you feel better.
7. Learn Something New
Learning doesn’t have to be time-consuming. There are little things you can do each day to keep your mind sharp. Read more books. Take an online class that fits your schedule. Listen to podcasts on your way to work. It takes a little bit of effort to make time for learning, but you’ll no doubt experience positive effects. Learning and education can also help prevent dementia, so make it a priority!
In Conclusion
It’s amazing how our mind and body are interconnected. Both affect the other and, with the right daily habits, can benefit one another. For example, doing yoga not only improves your physical health, but it also strengthens your mind. And hiking makes you fit while also calming depression and anxiety. Work on finding a healthy balance between your body and mind. If you nurture your whole self, you’ll achieve overall wellness!
Jill Bowers is the property manager at Industry Columbus, a luxury apartment community.
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