Do you know that your brain never stops growing? While it doesn’t change in size per se, it can carry on making new connections and building new knowledge throughout your entire life. The more the brain learns, the more it reshapes itself. It’s called neuroplasticity. While you’ve probably heard in the past that kids are better at learning new things than adults, the truth is that you develop a habit for learning during your young age because it’s a period of discoveries and first times. From taking your first step to saying your first word, a child’s brain has a high neuroplasticity rate. But that doesn’t mean adults can’t learn and reshape their brains in later years! Here are some tricks to rejuvenate your neurons!
Learn something new
It’s never too late to learn something new. If you’ve always been a passionate music lover, why not take on lessons to play an instrument? Not only can it be a fantastic way of tapping into your creative strengths, but it’s also a fun exercise for your brain. Too many people assume that you can’t have fun when you put your brain’s needs first. But in reality, an artistic hobby is the best thing you can do for your soul and your mind.
Play thinking games
Are you a crossword addict? A scrabble fan? An enthusiastic cryptic crossword artist? Or maybe you prefer the relaxing 1 to 9 digits of a Sudoku grid? Most often than not, when we have some spare time, we tend to open our favorite social media app on the phone and idly scroll through the feeds. However, you can turn your commuting time on the train or your wait at the dentist into a fun brainy exercise. Word games are great fun because they can remind you of words you don’t use often enough. You can use a tool such as the scrabble word finder to refresh your vocabulary and enjoy the game, for instance. If you prefer something more involving, try riddles where every word is carefully chosen.
Take the time to think
Our brains are constantly under stress. In a world where everything needs to happen fast, most people don’t have time to think. But don’t rush to a decision just now. Taking some time to think during the day can help you to ascertain your needs and understand what you want. More importantly, it helps your brain build new connections and access forgotten knowledge. Next time you need to make a decision, give yourself plenty of time to consider your option and let your thoughts wander freely.
Be kind to yourself
Everybody knows to rest after working out. The same principle applies to your brain. Take the time to enjoy your hobby rather than focusing on success. The truth is that when you learn something new, you can’t get things right overnight. Learning to be patient with yourself also allows your brain to make mistakes and, therefore, to learn better. Did you know that forgetting things and getting them wrong is part of your learning process?
Your brain is a powerful tool you can reshape all the time. It’s never too late to learn something new. Don’t listen to those who claim that only children have the brain to learn new things. Everybody does unless they stop trying.
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