“Any activity that engages your cognitive skills can be called a brain exercise. These activities stimulate the brain and help develop memory skills,” explains Dr. Rashmi Byakodi. 

Just like our body, the mind needs exercise in order to be healthy and serve us longer. "As we exercise the brain, whether doing brain puzzles, crosswords, sudoku or learning new things, it continues to encourage the neuroplasticity of the brain, which keeps it generating new connections," tells brain trainer Holly Stokes to Bored Panda.

Meanwhile, certified brain health coach and author Patty Tashiro adds, "Your brain controls every aspect of your life, from your health, wealth, and happiness to the quality of your relationships. Do you want that organ that runs your life to operate at its best? Or do you want it to struggle to function, lost in a fog, not sure how to make the most of your life? Exercising your brain, just like a muscle, helps your brain be at its best!"

Everyone can benefit from incorporating a couple of brain exercises into their routine, all it takes is a few minutes a day. In fact, studies have shown that it’s most effective to do these activities little by little each day instead of dedicating a few hours every week. 

Since our brain is at the core of everything we do, keeping it healthy can improve a lot. Mental workouts help older adults have a more positive outlook on life and be more mindful and aware of their surroundings. It also can make daily tasks quicker and easier to do, which saves time and brings much satisfaction.

The trick is that these activities have to be varied and difficult enough to challenge us. If something becomes too easy, it’s a sign that we need to change it. “The more something is second nature, the less our brain has to work to do it,” notes Dr. James R. Bavis. If you solved the mini New York crossword puzzle in record time, it might be time to move on to something more difficult to get the most out of your brain. 

Aside from learning something new, one brain exercise that is approved by cognitive scientists is various Sudoku, board, and crossword puzzles, and other games that rely on logic, math, words, and visuospatial skills. Such activities engage multiple cognitive abilities, which get our brains working and improve information processing speed and memory. So this means that it's okay even for adults to set aside some time in the day to play some games!

Practicing meditation has also been proven to improve memory and processing power. Achieving a calm mental state engages our brain in different and interesting ways. “It helps stimulate the neural paths in your brain and thereby improves your observational skills, mental flexibility, focus, and concentration,” adds Dr. Rashmi Byakodi.

In addition, research shows that one of the best ways to exercise our brains is to use our non-dominant hand. As we’re used to doing everything with either the right or left hand, changing it up can make your brain work harder.

"Don't always read the same things or do the same puzzles. Mix it up. Try doing things with your non-dominant hand. It's challenging, but it's making new neural pathways!" notes Tashiro.

Socializing, reading books, expanding vocabulary, picking up a new language, playing an instrument, or listening to music are also great ways to improve our cognitive skills and be overall happier.

"Learning a new language is highly effective in developing new neural connections, which also creates new brain growth and enhances continued neuroplasticity and growth.

Also, learning to play a musical instrument does several things as well to generate continued brain flexibility and growth, including activating the whole brain, engaging in skill and flow activities, activating centers of creativity and focus, and also engaging the alpha brain wave states when we are focused on playing music," explains Stokes.

However, mentally challenging the brain isn’t enough to keep it in tip-top shape. It’s important to exercise your body too, as our anatomy is interconnected. “The most important exercise you can do for your brain is physical exercise for your body. Your brain is 2% of your body weight but uses 20% of your oxygen! Your brain needs blood flow to get the oxygen it craves! So get moving! Get out and walk in nature. Go dancing. Find a way to move that you enjoy," urges Tashiro.

Nutrition is also crucial for our brain health. "Habits that support brain health are eating a low-glycemic and anti-inflammatory diet. Research is finding links between alzheimer's and inflammatory states of the body, which can be aggravated with inflammatory-causing foods," says Stokes.

"We need to eat real food," mentions Tashiro. "We can't do that if we don't make time for it. Your body hasn't evolved to understand what highly processed food is and how to deal with it. Our brain is much happier when we give it good fuel." 

Giving your brain the rest it deserves additionally contributes to it being happy. "Sleep is essential to brain health and living a happy, healthy life for as long as possible. Don't accept ongoing disrupted sleep. You deserve better. (And your family, colleagues, and roommates deserve the best you too!) We can't be at our best if we don't sleep well. So many terrible outcomes are associated with poor sleep, including memory loss later in life," explains Tashiro.

Lastly, she encourages people to reach out to others and connect if we want to keep our noggins healthy. "We're not meant to be isolated or alone. In fact, the US Surgeon General equated the health impact of loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day! Put out that loneliness cigarette and phone a friend. Volunteer somewhere you want to make a difference."

"The good news is that you can give your brain what it wants and needs. You just have to know the little lifestyle changes you need to make, that could make a big difference in your life," concludes Tashiro.