How we CAN keep a sharp mind as we age

We all want to keep a sharp mind as we age. Now there’s more good news on how we can do it. In fact you can get a couple of hundred fascinating pages about it in a book called The Mature Mind, by Dr. Gene Cohen, Basic Books, 2006.

This book is nothing short of inspiring. It gives great hope to those of us who are in the second half of life.

I especially liked his 10 tips on how to stay alert through the later years. As he himself says, they are not exactly new, but they work if we use them. And they are backed up by the latest findings in neuroscience.
Here is a summary of his tips for keeping a sharp mind.

• Play games that require you to use your mind and memory, like bridge, word games Scrabble and crossword puzzles
• Participate in discussion groups, over dinner if possible. Enjoyable food for the mind and the body!
• Seek new experiences. Travel across the world or across town to your local museum. Consider recording your impression of your experience, by drawing it, recording it, writing about it, photographing or videoing it.
• Take a course on something you know hardly anything about.
• Investigate hobbies and crafts. Look in the library, the local crafts store, talk to people who have hobbies. Maybe you’ll rekindle an old interest or find a new one.
• Volunteer. You can volunteer in person, and now you can even volunteer online, for example contributing to Wikipedia. (www.wikipedia.org)
• Investigate the possibility of part-time work
• Write to family and friends, either by traditional snail mail or by email.
• Start a dream journal.
• Start your memoirs or a family history

Notice that none of these tips require a lot of money or resources. They do get you using your brain power. Crossword puzzles, Scrabble, bridge, are all examples of brain games we played before we even knew about brain games like the new Nintendo Brain Age game.

You are probably already doing some or even many of them. How nice to see neuroscience telling us that we are on the right track to keep that sharp mind as we age!

Find more details in his book, along with lots of other fascinating information about aging and creativity. He also provides a list of resources that will send you down the path of other inspiring ways to practise your own versions of mental aerobics and stay mentally sharp.

How to Keep a Sharp Mind and Good Attitude

We all want to keep our minds sharp and fresh. By working to keep your mind sharp, you can improve your attitude. Nothing angers a person more than not being able to remember important things or events. By having a sharp mind you can figure situations out better and make wiser decisions. Choose your friends wisely. Having a good sharp mind can improve your life all the way around, so keep that mind active! There are numerous ways to keep your mind sharp while keeping a good, well-rounded attitude.

Step :

1. Heed this next statement: No matter how sharp a mind you may have, no one can remember everything. Therefore, don't beat yourself up trying. Learning to write things down helps.
2. Everyone has some type of special talent, so find out what yours is and use it. Be open to trying different things. You could find a hidden talent that you are not aware of.
3. Maintain a regular exercise program. It will help to relieve tension. Relieving tension alone can improve your thought patterns. The less tension that you have the sharper your mind will become. You will begin to develop a better attitude as time goes on. You should find a program that works for you.
4. Some people find that writing poetry can be relaxing plus it is a great way to express yourself. Not everyone writes poetry so find your own mode of self expression. Try sewing, playing a musical instrument, or gardening.
5. You are never too old to learn. Don't let learning stop just because you're out of school. Go to your local library to gain more knowledge. It is a great place to relax, gather thoughts, and focus on studying. If you have any spare time, carry a book over to the park or stop in at a family restaurant. It all aids in building a sharper better mind, and improves your attitude.
6. You should treat yourself as well as you treat others. It will improve the way you think. You will be a happier individual with a sharper mind and better attitude. Try buying yourself a small gift while out shopping for others. It is always good to give, and being generous is nice, but charity should begin at home. Remember, too, that generosity involves more than just material things and satisfaction is not achieved by consumption.
7. Figure out for yourself the true meaning of what is important in life. In doing so you will build a sharper mind and a better attitude. For where others may have failed and so never know the true meaning, you may succeed. Search deep inside for your inner self.
8. You are truly blessed if you have common sense. There is nothing like good old common sense, for without it how can you possibly achieve having a sharp mind?
9. Use your mind more instead of using a calculator or adding machine. This is to say, especially, on simple things that you can easily total up in your head or on a piece of paper. Many people haven't done long division since grade school; give it a try sometime.
10. Stay focused on making your own decisions. Don't let other people try to make decisions for you. Be firm about speaking for yourself. And don't be afraid of expressing your opinion. Everyone has an opinion and the right to have one. Who knows, your opinion may catch on.
11. You should jog, run, ski, play ball, fish, write, garden, or whatever makes you happy. Doing things that you enjoy will help you to keep your mind fresh and clear and your attitude at its best.
12. Learn some basic memory techniques. To start off with, you could find some books written by Tony Buzan (Mind Maps) or Dominic O'Brien: both of them are top people in the memory world.

Tips :

• Sit down and think it out, what can you do to keep a sharper mind and a better attitude? You'll be amazed at what that you figure out for yourself.
• Don't let others rule your life, for that will make you sad and dull your mind.
• You can simplify arithmetic to do calculations quickly and easily in your head. Let us say that you need to add 433 and 433, well 33+33=66 and 4+4=8. So you'll come up with a total of 866.
• Learn to round off numbers while grocery shopping. Try not using a calculator. Although, one may shop on a budget. If something is .69 cents, simply round it off to .70 cents in your head. I always come close to the exact amount (dollar-wise) at the check out register. This works unless you totally avoid looking at your grocery list, which is not recommended.
• Drink plenty of water. Drinking little water every 30-40 minutes works well.
• Have a great time with wikiHow. It will aid in keeping a good sharp mind and a good positive attitude. Writing is like food for the brain.
• Make yourself a special mental note that being sharp is smart.
• Thinking positive is not only healthy, but it builds a stronger mind with that well adjusted attitude.
• Negative thinking never gets anything done; it is just setting yourself up to fail.
• Sleep is very important to keep a sharp mind and good attitude. But laying in bed tossing and tumbling isn't any fun. So do something to assure that you are tired enough to sleep well. A few good hours of sleep are better than those broken up hours of slumber.
• Try to keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum, and stay away from drugs because they suppress your mental clarity
• Try using your opposite hand to do everyday things, especially writing and printing. Sit down and start writing on a piece of paper using your off hand. It will probably start out like scrawl, but you will gain better control, become more aware of your tense shoulders and body, and able to use both sides of your brain. This exercise is also used for epileptic patients.

Warning :

• Watch out for people that try to do your thinking for you. However, keep your mind open for good advice. When you have a sharp mind, you'll recognize good advice.
• Don't be a people pleaser, for the wrong kind of people will take advantage of you. If you stay sharp, chances are that won't happen to you.
• Practicing different strategies to keep your mind sharper is good, but such strategies should be used in a relaxed way. One should enjoy while doing it but should not do under any compulsion.

How to keep your mind sharp

From : Mayoclinic.com

Keeping memory loss at bay as you age isn't just about keeping your mind in shape, though that's a major component. You can maintain your sharp mind as you get older by making healthy choices that keep the rest of your body in top form. Follow these tips now to prevent memory loss later.

Exercise your mind

Just as physical activity keeps your body strong, mental activity keeps your mind sharp and agile. One way to do this is to continually challenge yourself by learning new skills. If you continue to learn and challenge yourself, your brain continues to grow, literally. An active brain produces new connections between nerve cells that allow cells to communicate with one another. This helps your brain store and retrieve information more easily, no matter what your age.

How can you challenge yourself? Try:

• Learning to play a musical instrument
• Playing Scrabble or doing crossword puzzles
• Interacting with others
• Switching careers or starting a new one
• Starting a new hobby, such as crafts, painting, biking or bird-watching
• Learning a foreign language
• Volunteering
• Staying informed about what's going on in the world
• Reading

A mentally stimulating job, taking classes that interest you or even just reading more can help you maintain your memory longer as you age.

Stay physically active

Research links physical activity with slower mental decline. Exercise increases blood flow to all parts of your body, including your brain, and might promote cell growth there. Exercise also makes you feel more energetic and alert. The best part is that you can make it fun. Pick an activity you enjoy, whether it's doing yardwork or walking your dog. Exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.

Start by simply increasing your physical activity level. Park your car farther away and walk the extra distance. Take the stairs instead of an elevator. When watching TV, ride a stationary bike. Just get moving. Regular physical activity can help you think clearer, feel better and lower your risk of many diseases.

Develop healthy eating habits

Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Many of these contain antioxidants — substances that protect and nourish brain cells. And antioxidants may help prevent cholesterol from damaging the lining of your arteries and slowing blood flow to your brain. Foods high in antioxidants include colorful fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, berries, broccoli, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes and tomatoes. In most cases, you're far more likely to gain health benefits from eating whole foods than by taking supplements, in pill, capsule or other forms.

Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all

People who drink heavily for years can experience permanent brain damage due to poor nutrition, and they're at higher risk of developing memory problems and dementia. Drink alcohol moderately, if at all. For women and anyone 65 or older, that means no more than one drink daily. For men under 65, drink no more than two drinks daily.

Evidence shows that moderate alcohol consumption may prevent memory loss, though it isn't clear how. But don't use this as a reason to start drinking if you don't already drink.

Manage your stress

Keep your stress to a minimum. When you're stressed, your brain releases hormones that can damage your brain if you're exposed to them for days at a time. And chronic stress can make you feel depressed or anxious — feelings that can interfere with the way your brain processes memories.

Take a break. Even if you have only a few minutes to yourself, use it to breathe deeply and relax. Then look for long-term stress solutions, such as simplifying your life, getting some exercise or cutting out some activities.

Protect your head when exercising

Head trauma can increase your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. People who participate in sports such as running and swimming, which have a reduced risk of head trauma, have lower rates of memory loss. Take precautions to protect your head; for example, wear a helmet when riding your bike.

Stop smoking

You can add memory loss to the long list of health problems that come from smoking. Smokers may have twice the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease as do people who have never smoked. Stop now — it's never too late. If you quit smoking now, you can still reduce your risk of memory loss later in life.

Talk to your doctor

Discuss your concerns about memory loss with your doctor. He or she can look at your overall health and come up with other strategies for preventing memory loss as you age. For instance, if you have a family history of Alzheimer's disease, other strategies for preventing that disease might prove helpful to you.

Seeing your doctor regularly also means you'll have routine medical exams to monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol level and blood sugar level. Also make sure your thyroid gland is functioning normally. These are relatively easy to check and are good indicators of what's going on inside your body.