Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and this is perhaps even more so true for people in their later years.
While remaining physically active is not such a simple task as you get older, keeping your brain active and healthy doesn’t need to be difficult as well.
There are many simple tips and tricks you can incorporate into your daily lifestyle that will help keep your brain healthy and active. Here are just a few.
Keeping the balance
An important part of brain health is ensuring your brain has the right chemical balance. Conditions such as depression can alter this balance, and it can sometimes prove difficult to get the balance back.
Fortunately, a healthy brain can help prevent depression in the first place. Mood swings associated with depression are closely linked with one’s blood sugar levels.
Limiting your intake of sugar and refined starches can help keep your blood sugar low, which can be useful in preventing depression and its associated mood swings.
And while physical activity may sometimes prove difficult, there is a large amount of evidence to suggest even a short walk can help the body produce anti-depressants to fight off depression, as well as provide the body with a greater flow of oxygen and nutrients to the brain.
Active minds
A healthy mind is an active mind. As such, engaging in creative activities that encourage you to actively use your brain can greatly help keep your brain in good shape.
Crosswords and puzzles are some examples of easy yet creative activities, but for an even greater effect, why not take up a new hobby or activity?
Trying out something new can cause your brain to work harder, which can help keep it engaged for longer, resulting in a far greater overall positive effect on the brain.
Avoid consuming too much of what is known as ‘passive entertainment’, such as watching television. While ok in short increments, it does little to stimulate the brain, and making a habit of it can greatly hinder your brain’s overall health.
Social brains
Creative activities are all well and good, but perhaps the simplest yet most effective way to keep the brain active is through socialising with others.
All manner of social relationships; our friends, family, even our work colleagues, all play a role in maintaining a healthy mind.
As we get older though, we retire and tend to lose contact with work colleagues, and it may also prove more difficult to see friends and family on a regular basis.
However, it is still vital to keep maintain these relationships. Loneliness can contribute greatly to depression, especially for people living alone at home. Having a close social circle you can contact from time to time can help combat any feelings of isolation.
And if it isn’t possible to maintain these relationships in person all the time, weekly telephone calls or organised video calls can still do wonders in helping to keep you within a social circle.
Incorporate these mental health tips into your daily life, and you can keep your brain healthy and active for many more years to come.
Offering home care in the Sydney area, we here at Home Caring are here to help you as you continue to live in the comfort of your own home. Contact us today for more information.
