The famous quote: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste,” was part of a campaign slogan used by the United Negro College Fund in 1972 to drive home the point of the necessity of education. The intent behind the quote was to encourage a high level of interest in the expansion of knowledge, acquisition of useful life skills and the overall growth of the Black community. This quote is still just as relevant in 2022, and it is important that we take the time to safeguard our brain function; making sure we put it to the best use.

Whether we are 20 or 70 years of age, it’s always a good time to think about ways to keep our mind healthy. People with strong minds live a richer and more fulfilling life. The following suggestions incorporate a range of mental, physical, and nutritional tips to keep our mind sharp throughout our lifetime.

Mental Exercise:

Use your brain. There is a lot of knowledge up there, so put it into action. Doing tasks such as thinking through problems or avoiding the calculator for simple arithmetic is one way to exercise your mind.

Crosswords. If you get the newspaper, work the crossword puzzles each day. They usually get progressively more difficult as the week goes on, culminating in the most challenging puzzle on Sunday. If you don’t get the newspaper, you can find many free crossword puzzles online.

Scrabble. Play Scrabble with friends in person or play online. Scrabble is a great way to get your brain thinking.

News. Keep up with current events. Whether your interest is politics world news or your local small-town gossip, staying current with the news stimulates your mind.

Read. Read anything, books, magazines, the back of cereal boxes. Reading keeps your mind pumping, and you learn new things at the same time. It’s a bonus if your reading material has some depth to it, though.

Puzzles. While working jigsaw puzzles, you must think about how the shapes and colours match up. The problem-solving skills of working puzzles help keep your mind sharp.

Physical Exercise:

Yard work. Mowing the lawn, planting up a kitchen garden, or a flower garden are all great ways to get exercise.

Swim. Going to the beach or the pool for a swim is also a great form of exercise.

Cycling. A leisurely bike ride or a spin class is also a good way to remain physically fit which also aids in brain function.

Challenge your brain:

Learn. Be curious about the world around you. If you hear an unfamiliar word, look it up. See a flower you don’t recognize? Find out what it is.

Music. Learn to play a musical instrument, learn how to read music, or take a music theory class.

Language. Study a foreign language. Maybe you can revive that high school Spanish or choose to travel to Cuba or Mexico.

Art. Learning a new art form doesn’t require that you have talent, just an interest to learn. Study the art of photography or learn to paint.

Switch hands. Try using your less dominant hand for simple tasks like eating or writing. Changing hands really stimulates the brain.

Chess. Learn how to play chess or find a chess partner if you already know how.

Career. Is your career meeting your need for fulfilment or damaging your health? If it’s the latter, think hard about making a switch.

School. Go back to school for that degree you never got. Studying at college is a great brain challenge.

Eat Healthily:

The connection between what goes into your body and how your brain performs is a strong one. All these nutritional tips will provide you with delicious and brain-healthy ways to eat.

Antioxidants. Eating foods that are antioxidants can help improve focus, problem-solving, and memory. Supplements can help, but foods with antioxidant properties work best.

Fish. The ultimate brain food, eat fish a few times a week for a healthy mind.

Avocado. Avocados have mono-saturated fat (the good fat), which increases blood flow. Increased blood flow equals a healthy brain.
Fruits and veggies. Your mother always said to eat your vegetables. She was right, if you haven’t started yet, today is the day to begin.

Whole grains. Two and a half servings of whole grains a day can significantly reduce your chance for a stroke and other chronic diseases.

Olive oil. This miracle elixir has been shown to break up clots in capillaries and generally help with blood flow. Consider replacing your other vegetable oil with a good quality olive oil.

Onions. Onions have antioxidant enzymes that may help block damage to the blood-brain barrier.

Supplement your diet the brain-healthy way. Supplements don’t just have to come in pill form. Find out how each of these supplements to your diet will help promote a healthy brain.

Omega-3. Omega-3 amino acids are one of the best brain supplements you can take, helping stave off Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and depression.

Green tea. Drinking green tea is great for a healthy mind because it is full of antioxidants. Steep a cup and know you are helping your mind stay strong.

B Vitamins. A vitamin B complex will give you your daily requirements of thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, and more that help you metabolize foods, keep you from getting sick, and slow the aging process.

Water. Staying hydrated benefits your body and brain by keeping you detoxified and oxygenated, so drink lots of water.

Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant that is beneficial to brain health. Take it to give your brain a boost.

Vitamin C. Used in conjunction with vitamin E, this supplement may help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.