Many people in their middle age tend to give up on expanding their horizons because they think: what is the purpose of doing something for a stable and fully developed brain? That is a wrong angle of thinking. The truth is that education is not something measurable based on age; even if you are a fully developed adult, your mind still needs to function properly and, to become brilliant and wise when you are older, your brain still needs training. So, it’s essential to understand that you spend most of your life learning to become the best version of yourself no matter the age, and your mind is the most valuable treasure you possess. In this article, you can find 8 efficient and proven ways to train your brain:
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1. Read to improve your vocabulary
Reading books can help you expand your horizons and boost your knowledge, it reduces stress and helps you develop a consistent vocabulary. Even for middle-aged people, it is possible to find new words and sentences you have never heard before, enabling you to stimulate multiple parts of your brain related to cognitive skills. Moreover, studies say that regular reading can sharpen your brain, boosting your memory and attention span and increasing concentration, which are vital factors in preventing a cognitive decline once you get older.
2. Write to test your creativity
One of the best techniques to calm your mind and get through your emotions when you were a kid most probably was writing your ideas and experiences in your secret diary that you treated as a beloved friend of yours. Writing can be considered a form of therapy for many people because it’s a way of self-expression that can minimise stressful and anxious thoughts. Creative writing doesn’t require specific skills, as it fosters your creativity and imagination, which are essential aspects of mind equilibrium. So, grab a piece of paper and let your emotions speak freely; you can either write heartfelt poems or just express yourself with no hindrance.
3. Take classes
“I am still learning”, as 87 years old Michelangelo said. There is no “too late” when it comes to education because it is the only thing that can give you a purpose in life despite age. So, do the things you’ve always wanted to do and consider taking classes for the school subjects that were once your favourite. Science, for instance, is a great way to know more about the world we live in from an objective perspective. For example, you can find a chemistry tutor who understands your learning needs to boost your cognitive, problem-solving and critical thinking skills and train your brain processes.
4. Use all your senses
Your 5 senses are crucial aspects in your educational process. For instance, listening to music while working and studying can lower stress levels and improve concentration. Taste plays a crucial role in picking healthy study snacks because some foods like chocolate, nuts and fish can boost your memory and focus. When it comes to the olfactory sense, experts consider that scents like sage, lavender and lemon can increase your productivity by boosting focus. Sight is related to visual memory, because your brain captures a picture of what you are focusing on when reading which is essential to recall facts, key sentences and images. Also, touch is a sense you might use even unconsciously when ripping a piece of paper when you feel agitated, so, to improve relaxation when you concentrate on what you are doing, consider using stress toys like fidget spinners or stress balls.
5. Get enough sleep
Having a good sleeping schedule is essential to boost your learning processes, because when you’re well rested you find it easier to restore brain connectivity to increase your memory and facilitate the assimilation of new information. You might observe that getting through the day with a few hours of sleep can decrease your performance, your attention span can be deficient, and you might even have a sense of confusion and dizziness. With plentiful sleep, you can achieve an overall strong mental performance for the daily tasks that require extra attention and, of course, improve your learning skills.
6. Play mind games
Games that require a plus of concentration can be great ways to challenge your brain’s functioning systems. Chess, for instance, can improve your concentration, test your patience and encourage decision-making skills and strategic thinking. The Crosswords game is also a great way to boost your cognitive skills and combat memory loss, as it enables the brain to recall vocabulary and facts.
7. Research anything you don’t know
The best thing about technology is that we have a virtual encyclopaedia of information a few clicks away. So, consider conducting research on the subjects you don’t know much about or look deeper into topics in your interest field. Of course, you can always find all the information you need in the library if you prefer the classic paper-like way of learning.
8. Use your opposite hand
Training yourself to use your non-dominant hand can stimulate your non-dominant brain hemisphere, which can unlock new abilities. For instance, experts say that using your opposite hand can improve your creativity thanks to the activation of the part of your brain that is not exercised often. So, exercising both right and left hemispheres of your brain can lead to a different way of thinking, increasing your adaptability and promoting creativity.
The bottom line
We hope this article helps you understand that education has no age. You spend most of your life learning, from the first steps you take, the first word you speak, until your last breath, meaning you have the chance to become a better version of yourself. If you want to learn, you have to make steps towards achieving your goal and avoid excuses for the fear of being too late, because it’s not. Remember that you can still develop new skills and discover new things that keep you excited every day and embrace a new perspective on life.
