Think you don’t have time for yourself? All you need is 20 minutes each day. Jonathan Schott, professor of neurology at UCL and chief medical officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK recently identified 5 easy ways to boost your brain, and none of them require more than 20 minutes a day! Here’s taking a look at them...
Pick an activity that you enjoy (and not just for the heck of it)
Dr Schott makes it clear that for your brain to boost, you need to do things that simulate it, and not just engage it. For this, it is important to find something that you actually like doing. It could be cooking, reading a book, playing some music, or even gardening. However, Dr Schott advises against doing anything “just for the heck of it”. He says that this can have an adverse effect on your brain. Do things that you have a genuine interest in.
Do something active every day
It does not have to be something drastic like an intense workout session at the gym, rather it can be a brisk walking session, some yoga, dancing or even some cycling. Basically, anything that makes your body work harder is good for you. Not only does exercise keep your weight under check, it is also great for your heart, and naturally brings down BP, and cholesterol. Not only that, exercise betters your mood too, and brings down anxiety and depression.
Go on walks
The good thing about walking is that it can easily fit into your routine without going out of the way. If you are otherwise exercising as well, walking is a great way to tone those muscles, and keeps your heart healthy. You do not have to be a marathon runner, but just small tweaks to your routine can make you healthier. Examples include taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking up to the market, or walking while taking calls.
Cultivate social connections
Human beings are not wired to spend their days in isolation. If you are unmarried, (or even married) you need to have a close social circle of friends and family whom you meet often, and enjoy being together with. There is enough research to show that isolation can increase the risk of dementia, so it is imperative to get out and make some new friends, if needed! Sharing a laugh (or tears) with a friend or family is not only priceless, but also has health benefits.
Keep your BP under check
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called the “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms but can cause serious damage to your heart and brain over time.Dr Schott says that it is imperative that one keeps their BP under check and take all the efforts to bring it down. For this, the neurologist explains that regular moderate exercise relaxes your blood vessels and improves circulation. This natural effect helps lower your blood pressure, sometimes as effectively as medication.Referencehttps://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/health/neurologist-says-you-can-cut-31922767
