Challenging your brain is an important part of everyday life. Learning a language, drawing, writing, or having a conversation all change the way we think and perceive. Critical or creative thinking, short-term memory, and decision-making come into play with these types of activities. Actively challenging your brain has many benefits, including longevity and mental wellness. There are effective ways to practice and improve core skills so that your brain is thinking at top notch.
The brain can change. It has ‘neuroplasticity’, which means it can adapt to different habits or environments. As we grow up, the brain goes through phases when it is more sensitive to learning. When we are little, we need to absorb a huge amount of information. Once we get older, we often do not put as much effort into learning new things, and it becomes more difficult over the years. The brain adapts to our behaviour and environment, so not putting effort into learning means our brains struggle with new information. Constantly challenging the brain helps it become open to new activities and skills.
There are a lot of ways to challenge and support your brain, and you are probably already doing most of them. Social interaction reduces stress, as well as feelings of isolation. Talking to people engages your brain, and helps you understand different perspectives. Getting regular exercise is important too, and pairing physical movement with brain exercises improves the benefits of both activities. Sleeping for 7-8 hours is vital to having enough energy and awareness to think clearly. But the best strategy of all is to stay curious! Learning new things gets easier the more you do it, so keep that in mind if you get discouraged easily. When you challenge yourself, you are stimulating your neurons and forming more pathways for information to travel through your brain. Learning anything, from how to paint to how to use sign language, improves your ability to absorb information.
I recently learned how to knit. When I cast on my first round of stitches, I was optimistic and expected to have a finished toque by the end of the week. Then, I fumbled and had to rip out my work. Five tries later, I finally had something I could work with. Throughout my attempts I became increasingly frustrated, and almost gave up. But I had to remind myself that I was a beginner, and expecting my brain to know how to knit right away was physically impossible. Now, I have been knitting for a few weeks, and I still get confused and frustrated occasionally. But something wonderful has happened: my fingers know how to knit without me watching them. My brain adapted to this new activity, and through loads of practice and failure, I am getting better.
Your brain is a meticulous organ, and like many things it needs practice and consistency to change positively. The brain is constantly active and responsive. Challenging it through learning new things and working on skills like short-term memory and decision-making helps the brain improve the way it processes information. Try puzzles, books, languages, sports, and hobbies: be curious and let your brain engage!
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Resources
TEDxTalks. (2015, December 15). After watching this, your brain will not be the same - Lara Boyd - TEDxVancouver [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNHBMFCzznE&list=RDQMgMsn_IK-NTM&start_radio=1
Sandoiu, A. (2018, August 1). Do brain-training games really work? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322648
Lindberg, S. (2019, August 7). 13 Brain Exercises to Help Keep You Mentally Sharp. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/brain-exercises#try-puzzles
Wong, B. (2021, January 5). How Learning a New Skill Helps Your Mind Grow Stronger. Inc.Com. https://www.inc.com/brian-wong/how-learning-a-new-skill-helps-your-mind-grow-stronger.html