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Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, CDCES, MBA
Six activities to get the ball rolling.
By Vivian Nunez
Our Aging Well: A Guide to Growing Older will walk you through why your physical and mental health are the foundations for your brain health, but what exactly does it mean to find ways to exercise your brain?
While everyone’s answer to that question is different and personal, we have a few ideas on where you can start! Your first step to finding brain exercises for seniors is to compile as many ideas as possible and commit to being open-minded. Some exercises may be so fun that they stick around for the long run, while others may not tickle your brain at all. Stick to the ones that make you happiest and leave the rest behind.
Now that we have that sorted, here are a few ways to exercise your brain to help you start your list.
Some people’s favorite pastime is reading, while others could do just fine never picking up a new book again. While it’s true that reading is a great way to exercise your brain, there isn’t only one way to do it. In addition to picking up a new release or joining a book club, you could also volunteer at a local library to read to children, pick up the daily newspaper, or subscribe to a few newsletters.
Puzzles are everywhere these days. Solving puzzles counts as a brain exercise, whether building a puzzle at your kitchen table or playing Sudoku on your phone or in your local paper.
Often, getting older requires being intentional about the ways to exercise your brain or even
socializing more — taking a new class can help you check both items from your to-do list. Follow
your interests when it comes to choosing a new class, whether this means signing up for an art
class or a dance class.
It’s never been easier to stretch your brain and learn a new language. Now may be a good time
to pick up a new language by practicing daily on your phone or hiring a local tutor to become
conversational in a language you’ve always wanted to learn.
Card games are a classic pastime, but did you know they can also be a great brain exercise? Another creative way to incorporate cards into your brain exercises is to turn to cardistry — the art form your favorite magicians have perfected. Learning beginner-level card flourishes or sleight-of-hand tricks can be a puzzle of their own.
While brain teasers and challenges can look like any of the activities above, low-lift changes to your routine also count. Don’t knock how free brain exercises can help challenge your mind. For instance, walking or driving a new route home encourages your brain to focus on the task at hand, plus it may help you find some new pretty scenery.
In addition to challenging yourself to see things differently, like with a new drive home, you can gain a lot by listening to new tunes and learning a musical instrument. Picking up a new musical instrument or relearning one you’ve always loved can benefit your brain as much as learning a new language.
No matter how you exercise your brain, remember that what you’re doing is a form of self-care. If you need other self-care ideas, check out a full list here.
Calm Health is not intended to diagnose or treat depression, anxiety, or any other mental or physical health condition. The use of Calm Health is not a substitute for care by a physician or other health care provider. Any questions that you may have regarding the diagnosis, care, or treatment of a health condition should be directed to your physician or health care provider. Calm Health is a mental wellness product.
We’ve made it easy to take the first step. Just download the Calm Health app, create your account, and answer a few simple questions to help us understand how you’re feeling. You’ll get instant recommendations for the Calm Health programs that will be the most helpful for you.
Our programs are created by licensed psychologists, and you can explore them at your own pace, in any order you like.
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