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http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-a-Sharp-Mind-and-Good-Attitude
Accepting Help
No matter your age, there are times when memory lapses seem to get you
down. Fortunately, there are ways to keep your mind sharp, which can also
help improve your attitude. Keeping a sharp mind also enables you to figure
situations out more effectively and make wiser decisions as you age. There
are numerous ways to keep your mind sharp while keeping a positive attitude.
Ad
Exercise daily. Exercise has a whole host of benefits for your mental and physical
[1]
health, including warding off depression and bolstering the immune system.
But
[2]
physical fitness also has been shown to increase mental sharpness as people age.
Especially past the age of 40, daily exercise helps maintain acuity in the
prefrontal cortex of the brain. In one study, elderly men who were aerobically fit
were able to outperform men who were unfit in decision making tasks.
[3]
Ad
Eat a healthy diet. Brain and heart health may be key to maintaining memory
[4]
Avoid
saturated and trans fats, which damage brain blood vessels, and be sure your diet
includes:
Healthy fats, such as olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish like
salmon.
[5]
[6]
Plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, which can help reduce your risk for a
[7]
stroke.
A moderate amount of alcohol. You heard that right: for adults, a small amount
of alcohol can help fight off dementia by maintaining healthy cholesterol and
[8]
amount: too much alcohol has the opposite effect, and can even lead to a loss
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[9]
Get enough sleep. The fog of exhaustion will cloud your mental ability, but a
well-rested mind is able to perform at its optimal ability.
Our brains store daily memories while we sleep, so you need rest in order to
[10]
You might even consider taking a short nap after learning something new or
important, to help store it in your long-term memory.
[11]
Use your mind instead of a calculator. Math helps strengthen reasoning and
problem solving skills, and you can easily practice, especially simple things that
you can easily total up in your head or on a piece of paper. Many people haven't done
long division since grade school; give it a try sometime.
When you are in the grocery store, try keeping a running total of the items in
your cart. You don't have to add the exact amount; round each price up to the
nearest dollar. When you get to the check-out you'll find out how close you
were!
Don't stop learning. A study out of Harvard found that advanced education is
[12]
college, you can continue your education yourself throughout your life.
Go to your local library to gain more knowledge. It is a great place to relax,
gather thoughts, and focus on studying. If you have any spare time, carry a
book over to the park or stop in at a family restaurant. It all aids in building a
sharper better mind, and improves your attitude.
Take a class at a local community college. The best courses are those that are
both mentally and socially demanding, such as photography or quilting.
[13]
You
will also have the added benefit of meeting new people and forming new
friendships!
Flex your mental muscles. You can improve your mental ability in domains such
as logic, problem solving, mental orientation and corrective thought process by
working puzzles and doing difficult mental tasks. Challenging yourself mentally can help
increase your rational thinking skills, giving you more confidence problem solving in a
given situation.
[14]
hurt to try!
Try computer games. In one study out of Harvard, a game called NeuroRacer
was found to improve elderly participants' ability to multitask, retain working
[16]
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Engage all of your senses. Scientists have found that using all of your senses
activates different parts of your brain, which can help you retain a memory. In one
study, people were shown images presented with or without a smell, and were found to
[17]
be able to recall the images with a smell better than those without.
Try using your opposite hand to do everyday things. This can be a real
challenge, especially if you attempt writing and printing, but it is a great way to
epileptic patients.
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Find a special talent. No matter what your stage in life, everyone can learn
something new and develop a talent or skill. Developing new skills helps to bolster
[20]
your self-confidence.
Try a sport like skiing or golfing, or join a choral group or amateur comedy club.
Relax your expectations and don't strive for perfection; just have fun and meet
[21]
Some skills, such as learning a foreign language or computer coding, are also
great for bolstering your mental sharpness.
[22]
Express yourself creatively. Creativity has more than one advantage when it
comes to keeping your mind sharp and keeping a positive attitude: creativity forces
you to think and flex your mental muscles, and the results of your hard work can
reinforce your self-confidence and help you enjoy your daily life.
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Serve others. Especially as you age, giving back to your community can give you
a sense of purpose and identity that contributes to a positive outlook on life and a
[24]
Reframe your experiences. It is true that as you age, you will not be able to do
everything you could do when you were younger. But instead of seeing those as
failures, reframe them as natural, and refocus on things you can do.
[25]
Ad
#*Reframing involves looking at your current situation with fresh eyes. In many
ways, attitude is everything: you can reframe a negative thought or experience
to make it positive. For example, you may not be able to recall things as well
as you used to, but instead of seeing that as a personal failure or an
embarrassment, recognize it as a natural effect of a life well lived.
[26]
grateful attitude, which include boosting your happiness and life satisfaction.
[28]
Spend time writing. Every day for a week (or more), write down at least three
things that you experienced that you're grateful for. They can be big or small.
Write how it made you feel. Making this a daily practice, perhaps writing every
[29]
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Write things down. Since you can't (and don't need to) remember everything, you
should prioritize your mental space and use shortcuts to help you remember things
[30]
you don't miss appointments, forget medications, or other important things that you can't
risk forgetting.
Try keeping Post-it notes or a white board in the office with daily tasks and
[31]
reminders.
Repeat important details. Repeating things you are told can help to fire pathways
in your brain to ensure that you can remember it better later.
[32]
When you meet someone new and they introduce themselves, repeat their
name right then, and again at the end of the conversation. You can do it
casually: in the beginning of the conversation, say, "It's so nice to meet you,
John." Repeat again at the end of your conversation, "It was great talking to
you, John."
Repeat important instructions from your doctor, and if needed, write them down
to ensure you remember accurately.
Meditate or practice yoga. By learning to calm your mind and focus your
attention, you can improve your mental clarity which has positive effects on your
[33]
In one study, participants who practiced mindfulness for 20-30 minutes daily
scored better on standardized memory tests than those who took a nutrition
class.
Mindfulness is a meditative practice that involves sitting and breathing slowly
while focusing on physical sensations such as your breath moving in and out.
[34]
Recognize that you may need help at some point. As we age, our mental
abilities will decline whether or not we try to maintain a sharp mind: it's just a fact of
life. It is important to surround yourself with people you trust so that as you age, you can
trust them to make important decisions for you should the need arise.
As people age, they are more likely to remember events that did not actually
occur. Having a younger person that you have known for a long time, like a
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grown child, can help you supplement your memory if you need to recall an
[35]
Assign a guardian. Before you need one, decide who will serve as your guardian
when and if your mental abilities decline. You should hire a lawyer to file
[36]
If you do not assign a guardian, the courts will usually appoint your nearest
relative, which could be a brother, sister, spouse, or child. If you have troubled
relationships with anyone near you (which is very common), it makes sense to
appoint your own so that this important decision is not left up to the court.
Write a will indicating your final wishes for your property and end of life care. If
you should lose mental functioning, your will ensures that no one makes
decisions that go against what you hoped for your future and keeps you in
[37]
control.
Make health decisions now. You can make big decisions about your future health
and care now and put them in writing so that youre your guardian will have to keep
[38]
Your lawyer will help you navigate the process, but will most likely recommend
an Advance Directive, which includes a Living Will, Power of Attorney or Proxy
(generally, but not necessarily, your guardian), and your preferences for
resuscitation and intubation (such as a Do Not Resuscitate order).
[39]
Ask for help. If you think you might be experiencing a neurological condition such
as Alzheimer's or dementia, reach out to those you love and ask for help. There
are treatment plans and healthcare options for you to help you if you are battling these
conditions.
Symptoms of Alzheimer's can start at any time, but before age 65 it is known as
[40]
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Submit
Ballet shoes?
Wedding
cakes?
Fake
eyelashes?
Google
AdSense?
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Tips
Read books and newspapers to gain knowledge.
Share your views and ideas with others. Help others solve their
problems and you will experience different situations.
Concentrate on the things you need to remember by making an image
of that in your mind.
Join a new club. Trying something new and different will allow your
mind to work in different ways, so in effect you will become a sharper
minded person.
Learning a new language is considered by many as a good workout for
your brain. Furthermore, learning a new language could help with your
future employability prospects.
It's important that you keep focusing on new things daily and take
proper sleep. Meditation, yoga and nutritious diet make you feel
relaxed, healthy and positive.
Read often. This will help you improve your comprehension skills.
Warnings
Watch out for people that try to do your thinking for you. However, keep
your mind open for good advice. When you have a sharp mind, you'll
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26. http://changingminds.org/techniques/general/reframing.htm
27. http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/gratitude
28. http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/gratitude
/definition#how_to_cultivate
29. http://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/three-good-things#data-tab-how
30. http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/6-simple-steps-to-keepyour-mind-sharp-at-any-age
31. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/11/for-agings-effectsmore-solutions-than-proof-of-success/?_r=0
32. http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/6-simple-steps-to-keepyour-mind-sharp-at-any-age
33. www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/05/study-meditationimproves-memory-attention/275564
34. www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/05/study-meditationimproves-memory-attention/275564
35. http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct03/aging.aspx
36. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/caringforyourparents/handbook/legalissues
/importantlegal.html
37. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/caringforyourparents/handbook/legalissues
/importantlegal.html
38. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/caringforyourparents/handbook/legalissues
/importantlegal.html
39. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/caringforyourparents/handbook/legalissues
/importantlegal.html
40. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise
/art-20048389
41. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise
/art-20048389
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