Cognitive fitness is as much a part of a healthy lifestyle as physical fitness. No matter how old you are, taking steps to shore up your cognitive reserves can help forestall the mental decline common in aging.
A recent review in Harvard Health suggests a few key practices to keep your mind sharp.
Building blocks to cognitive health
- Eat a plant-based diet. “This doesn’t mean that you have to cut out carbohydrates or condemn sugars, but it does mean you should be conscious about what you eat, as it does affect your overall health,” says Jay Woody, MD, FACEP, chief medical officer at Intuitive Health.
- Exercise regularly. “A healthy mix of cardiac and strength-based exercise supports all systems of our body,” says Brian Cornblatt, PhD, medical director at Nutramax Laboratories. “The key word is balance,” he says, “with a focus on low-impact days in between workouts, including stretching and proper recovery.”
- Prioritize sleep. “[Individuals should ideally get] at least seven hours per night,” says Cornblatt. “Sleep is vital for the production of key cytokines that help regulate our immune system as well as important components of our adaptive immunity involved with antibody production.”
- Manage stress levels. Studies from as far back as the early 1980s show the links between higher stress and lower immunity. Lowered immunity invites the development of illness, which puts strain on both body and mind. Woody urges individuals to carve out time for whatever type of hobbies or leisure activities help you fend off stress. “Whether you read a book, take a trip, socialize with friends or do some yoga, reducing stress is vital.”
- Continue to challenge your brain. Mental exercises can help improve mood, hone thinking, memory, reasoning, and processing skills.
The value of word games
As with physical exercise, it’s important to find mental activities that will hold your interest. Few exercises are as simple, effective, or popular as word games. (For proof of the latter, look no further than the explosive success of Wordle.)
Embracing the creativity required by word games like crosswords, word searches, Scrabble, etc., can help stave off cognitive decline. Not only are they good for exercising your mind, many word games incorporate a social aspect that builds valuable interpersonal connections.
A nursing word search designed just for you
Ready for a challenge? Here’s a quick, downloadable nursing word search we designed specifically for healthcare workers like you.
Looking for other helpful tools? Visit the Printables section in the Elite Learning Resource Center and find useful CE checklists, crosswords, and other downloads to help you make the most of your valuable time.
