We all know our bodies require care and exercise over the course of our life, so do our brains — especially as we age. Lifting weights strengthens our muscles, while strengthening our mental muscles improves our memory, attention, brain speed, people skills, intelligence and navigation.
The key is challenge. When we exercise our body and some of our routine becomes too easy, it’s time to make a change to achieve better results. Brain exercise is the same. The more something is second nature, the less our brain must work to do it.
For example, if you can do a crossword puzzle in record time, it’s time to increase the difficulty level to challenge yourself and get the best work out for your brain.
A quick daily routine is best, say experts. All it takes is a few minutes each day. Studies have found it is most beneficial to work on these exercises a little bit each day, instead of spending a few hours each week.
Here are some, examples of brain exercises:
• Activities like crossword puzzles, Sudoku games, jigsaw puzzles and other games that rely on logic, math, word and visuospatial skills are great ways to increase brainpower. These types of games require multiple cognitive abilities, which challenges your brain and improves processing speed and memory.
• Reading books that conjure interesting characters, interesting information and facts. Challenge your brain by reading a variety of topics, from historical fiction to contemporary classics to romance. Your brain will get a workout imagining different time periods, cultures and people, while learning new things and building vocabulary. Plus, you’ll be developing interesting stories to share with others.
• Meditation is known to calm your body, slow your breathing and reduce stress and anxiety. Meditation can also improve your memory and processing power. By creating a calm mental

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