Workout Your Brain and Have Fun with These Memory Exercises

Are you wondering how to increase brain power to protect your brain from some of the common problems associated with aging and forgetfulness? Your brain, like the other systems of your body, needs to be properly exercised to stay healthy and strong. Here are some brain and memory exercises you can do at home that are both fun and helpful.

• Do Crossword Puzzles
• Memorize Lists with Peg Words
• Play Memory
• Download an App

Do Crossword Puzzles. Researchers have found a direct link between crossword puzzles and a delayed onset of the forgetfulness of aging. If you love to pick up the Sunday paper and fill out the crossword puzzle, or if you have found a source of crossword puzzles to do online, keep at it. If you find that they’re getting too easy, consider alternating with word-search games of different formats.

Memorize Lists with Peg Words. Do you find that you can’t remember simple lists? People who can often use “peg words.” Peg words are something you associate the list with, typically that rhymes with the number on the list. For example, if you’re going shopping and need bread, juice and eggs, pick three peg words that rhyme with one, two and three, such as fun, shoe and free. Then, make a mental image of having some fun with bread, pouring juice into your shoe and getting some eggs for free. Make a game out of remembering longer and longer lists.

Play Memory. Memory, the classic children’s game that requires you to remember the location of images as you flip over tiles to find matches, is one of the best memory exercises out there. If you’re getting good, change the layout of the play. Instead of a neat rectangle or square, lay out the tiles in a random display and see if you can still remember.

Download an App. The rise of technology means the ability to put effective memory exercises in the palm of your hand on your tablet or smartphone. You can purchase or download apps that help challenge your thinking through mind puzzles. Look for apps that get increasingly more difficult to keep the challenge growing.

Whether you utilize technology to help or go it alone with simpler games, a daily brain workout with these brain and memory exercises will help protect brain health, working to keep you as sharp as possible throughout your life.