Ways to exercise more

What are some easy ways to keep the mind sharp as we get older?

I feel like I have forgotten everything that I ever learned. I am 24, out of school and have a toddler. Ever since I had her, I have felt like I have to search for the answers to what most people would call easy questions. Does anyone know of any good mind exercises or games that I can do to feel "smart" again? Thanks.

Public Comments

1. read books, ecspecialy the ones that introduce complex ideas, and sudoku
2. 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. "It has to be vigorous. It doesn't mean you have to run, but you should fast-walk. You should at least begin to have a little bit of perspiration, something that shows you're really doing something that's reasonably vigorous and oxygenating your body." Butler also advocates that you nourish your brain: "Our grandparents often said, 'Fish are brain food.' We now know that Omega-3 fatty acids are in fish. So, they were right. And we know that keeping the brain active, just as the whole body has to be actively metabolizing good nutrients, is very important for brain function." Asked about junk food, Butler answered: "Unfortunately, if you fill yourself up with junk food, you're not eating fruits and vegetables and, therefore, not eating the fish. It's a replacement phenomenon where, by and large, all you're eating is empty calories."
3. Aw... you're just suffering from motherhood absentmindedness. Don't worry; you're actually using your brain more than you think. You don't start to slow down cognitively til after the age of 30 (not that it's even really noticeable then; that's just when the slow decline starts. :) Studies have shown, though, that you need to "use it or lose it." Doing logic puzzles, sudoku, crossword, playing card games, etc., are all helpful for keeping your mind sharp as you age. (You're not "aging" yet, so don't worry about it.) You've got a million more things to think about now that you have a little one, so drawing a blank from time to time is perfectly understandable. :)
4. I think you're just tired from chasing a toddler around! =;o) But seriously, the things you learned in school aren't what's important to you right now, which is why you can't remember them. Get some sleep, do some mind games, and try to find some friends with similarly aged children so you can have some adult conversations.
5. read Shakespeare,its worth to try.
6. Read as many books as possible, watch TV as less as possible, play strategy games. The human mind is like a muscle, needs to be exercised on a regular basis. The more new ideas introduced to the mind the more synapses it creates. New synapses tend to open-up uncharted mind territories.
7. You haven't lost it, it's just been temporarily reorganized til you get those kids raised to the best of your ability, God has given you this job, take it. There will be plenty of time to show the world you genius later.