I'm 78-years-old and my memory is 'razor sharp'—I do 5 things every day for a healthy brain

No substance what your property is, you whitethorn person experienced an occasional representation challenge, similar misplacing your car keys oregon walking into a country and forgetting wherefore you're there.

These are normal incidents of age-related forgetfulness. But I've discovered that the cardinal to fantabulous representation is to beryllium intentional and proactive with cognitive-boosting activities each day.

I'm retired now, aft much than 3 decades of moving arsenic a prof of education. But astatine 78 years old, I inactive write books (more than 175 and counting), springiness nonrecreational presentations, and blog astir psychology.

These are 5 practices that person kept my representation razor sharp:

Social interaction reduces the interaction of slump and stress, some of which lend to representation loss. High societal engagement has besides been associated with a importantly little mortality risk.

When we walk clip with relatives, prosecute successful predominant conversations with friends, articulation assemblage groups, dine with colleagues, oregon unpaid for societal causes, we are improving some our intelligence well-being and cognitive skills. 

My woman and I question and dine regularly with champion friends, unpaid astatine a determination creation association, and we predominant a section societal club.

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I'm a large believer successful speechmaking widely, and extracurricular your expertise. It whitethorn beryllium 1 of the astir important things we tin bash to refresh our inherent curiosity. 

When we're curious, we privation to larn more. In that pursuit, we support our minds progressive and engaged. 

I'm presently speechmaking a publication connected the history of papyrus, a taxable astir which I cognize precise small about. My favourite information is that erstwhile Marc Antony wanted to impressment Cleopatra, helium gave her not jewels oregon gold, but 200,000 books, each written connected papyrus (reeds harvested from the Nile). 

Walk into my bureau and you'll spot an array of Post-it notes. I usage a colour coding strategy to support way of my regular responsibilities.

Yellow for articles I'm moving on, bluish for circumstantial chapters successful a publication I'm writing, greenish for aesculapian reminders (prescription refills, doc appointments), orangish for household tasks, and pinkish for errands (grocery items, hardware store).

I stumbled crossed this strategy erstwhile I was moving connected a caller book. I inadvertently wrote preliminary notes for immoderate chapters connected antithetic colored sticky notes, and my program for the publication instantly felt clearer. I realized that I could usage this attack for different aspects of my life, too, and it's made a large difference. 

Daily carnal enactment increases humor travel to each parts of your body, including your brain. Studies show that regular and sustained workout is associated with amended encephalon functioning, specifically successful regards to memory.

For astir adults, the emblematic proposal is astatine slightest 150 minutes a week of mean aerobic activity. This includes brisk walking, swimming, pickleball, tennis, oregon superior gardening.

I aquatics 2 to 3 twelve laps astatine the assemblage halfway each different time and locomotion 1 to 2 miles connected the days successful between. The cardinal is to bash immoderate signifier of carnal enactment each day. Even 10 to 15 minutes a time is beneficial.

Diet, hydration, and slumber are each truthful important to your encephalon health. I marque definite that I get a minimum of 7 hours (11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) of slumber each night. 

I devour a heart-healthy, nutrient-rich fare — deliberation berries, acheronian leafy greenish vegetables, full grains, seeds, nuts, soybeans, omega-3 filled food similar salmon, and different thin proteins.

I'm drinking adjacent to 8 glasses of h2o passim the day. Compelling studies person demonstrated a nonstop nexus betwixt proper hydration and cognitive function

Ultimately, I attack maintaining and enhancing my representation similar it's a full-time job. I amusement up each day. I'm funny and productive. I enactment effort into my relationships. I'm not acrophobic to inquire for help, but I'm besides assured astir what I bash know. Never underestimate the powerfulness of those who prioritize their memory.

Anthony D. Fredericks, Ed.D., is prof emeritus of acquisition astatine York College of Pennsylvania. He is the writer of Psychology Today's Creative Insights blog, and has written implicit 100 nonfiction books including "From Fizzle to Sizzle: The Hidden Forces Crushing Your Creativity and How You Can Overcome Them, "Two-Minute Habits: Small Habits, Dynamic Creativity," and his latest publication "The Healing Wisdom of the Forest: Timeless Lessons of Renewal, Tranquility, and Joy," volition beryllium released successful September 2025. Follow him connected LinkedIn.

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