Chirping birds, sunny skies, and blooming flowers all signify summer is quickly approaching! The welcome shift of seasons brings new and different experiences which can also benefit our brain wellness. Let’s purposefully use this seasonal change to challenge our brains. It’s time for summer brain boosters!
After sharing I help people with memory wellness, I’m often asked how to best help our brains and memory. My answer is always the same: challenge yourself! It doesn’t have to be something new or fancy, it’s simply about continuing to learn and do new and different things that challenge us. This maintains and grows new brain cells and neural connections, a process called brain plasticity. Continued brain plasticity helps our brains stay “in shape” to better withstand physical disease or changes that come with aging. This improved ability of our brain to compensate is referred to as cognitive reserve. Those with more cognitive reserve typically retain better brain function as they age.
So, how does this apply to the change of seasons? Maybe like me, you appreciate the changing seasons and see them as new opportunities. Spring beckons us outside again and summer welcomes us to linger longer or take a break. Each change of season can also be an opportunity to shift how we challenge our brains. As we shift into summer mode soon, let’s review fun options for summer brain boosters:
Summer Brain Boosters Ideas:
- Take your exercise outside! I usually walk in most types of weather, but summer brings me outside even more to golf, bike, or be more adventurous with my walking. What new or different way can you physically exercise outside? It will challenge your brain and help your body!
- Explore summer brain foods! The plethora of summer produce is one of my favorite summer things. Adding, trying, and experimenting with fruit and vegetable brain foods sparks my love of cooking and food in a new way each summer. Go to the farmer’s market and talk to the growers, they love to share ways to use their bounty in your next meal! Your brain and body will benefit from healthy, summer brain foods.
- Gather with friends and family! Socialization is a key component to brain health and ongoing cognitive reserve, and summer is a perfect time to get together. Organize a shared meal with summer brain foods, go for a walk, play a round of golf, or game of tennis with friends. The options are endless, and incorporating brain activities into your gatherings multiplies the brain boost.
- Try a new brain game or type of reading. Many of us love to linger over a book in summer, but this summer, try a different genre of reading. The summer beach read is always an option or try reading about a new or loved hobby. Check out your local library for fresh suggestions. Love brain games? Try a various games at your next gathering of friends or family and boost everyone’s brains!
- Plan and go on an adventure! Summer fun often includes travel, so try somewhere new! It doesn’t have to be costly or lengthy. A simple day trip to a different park, nearby town or city, or even a new shop or restaurant will engage your brain, maintain cognitive reserve, and help you explore the world around you.
Summer is a time to enjoy and savor. As the summer season approaches, plan now for ways to challenge your brain. Let’s make the most of it with these or other summer brain boosters to make all our summer moments memorable!