![\"\"](\"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/blog\/files\/2016\/03\/tablet-690032_1280.jpg\")
<\/p>\nwe hear it all the time \u2013 that exercising your brain helps keep it sharp and fend off cognitive decline. since you can\u2019t just give your brain a pair of running shoes and tell it to lace up, though, what are some simple things you can do to keep your brain active?<\/p>\n
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we\u2019re not talking shakespeare or philosophy journals, here. you don\u2019t need to analyze academic literature to give your brain the benefits of reading. try any newspaper, magazine, book, or blog to give your brain a workout.<\/p>\n
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try to learn a new word every day. you can download the magoosh vocabulary builder<\/a> app on your cell phone or sign up for a service to have words-of-the-day sent directly to your email inbox.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n sudoku, crossword puzzles, or even real puzzles that come in a box \u2013 all of these are great brain-boosting activities. you can easily add them to your morning coffee or breakfast routine.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n invite a friend or two out for coffee and some lively discussion. talking about things like politics and current events can be a challenging workout for your brain.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n we know that most of you spend enough time in class, but you can always pick up new skills and knowledge from khan academy or ted talks<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n of course, it\u2019s easier to call someone up from your phonebook when a household appliance stops working, but learning how to do simple diy fixes through youtube and other online resources will make you think and get creative.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n finding a hobby that matches your interests is always rewarding, but as an added bonus, many of them (like music and art) also exercise different parts of your brain.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n if you\u2019re doing simple math (like adding up totals at the grocery store), avoid using your cell phone calculator and do some quick mental math. math is something that\u2019s easily forgotten when not used frequently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n tv doesn\u2019t have to turn your brain to mush. choose shows with an educational component, or watch programs with complex characters and plot lines. put your brain to work while you watch tv and anticipate what will happen next in the show.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n a rubik\u2019s cube will require you to exercise your motor skills and put together visual sequences. start out untimed \u2013 after you get familiar with the patterns, you can use a timer to track your progress!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" we hear it all the time: exercising your brain helps keep it sharp and fend off cognitive decline. here are 10 simple things you can do to keep your brain active.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":3779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[431,183,432,139,227,433],"ppma_author":[508],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n3. pick up a puzzle<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/blog\/files\/2016\/03\/newspaper-412452_1280.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. engage in discussions<\/h3>\n
5. take advantage of free online classes or talks<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/blog\/files\/2016\/03\/study-1265859_1280.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6. learn the art of diy<\/h3>\n
7. find a new hobby<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/blog\/files\/2016\/03\/man-984307_1280.jpg\")
<\/p>\n8. ditch the calculator<\/h3>\n
9. watch educational or complex television programs<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/blog\/files\/2016\/03\/4156535452_1abff094c7_o.jpg\")
<\/p>\n10. try a rubik\u2019s cube<\/h3>\n
\nabout the author:<\/h2>\n
![\"catherine](\"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/blog\/files\/2016\/02\/2016-02-02-1.png\")
catherine supports magoosh\u2019s future grad school students by unlocking tricks of the test prep and application trade. catherine spends her free time checking out local farmer\u2019s markets, reading food and lifestyle blogs, and watching bravo. she is forever in search of the best mexican and italian food in any given city.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nphoto attributions:
\n1 – photo of television remote courtesy of flickr user flash.pro<\/a> under creative commons license 2.0<\/a>.<\/i><\/h6>\n