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With age our body and our mind grow older and do not function as well as in youth. Of course there are many techniques and exercises that promise to keep the mind in good condition, but the mind can also be rejuvenated to some extent. Mental exercises not only help improve memory, but also protect a person from diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Color words
A great mental exercise is a game called „Color words“. It involves names of different colors written on paper. To make it not so simple, each word is written in a completely different color than the one it represents. A person must read aloud the color in which the word is written. You will find out right away with the first few words that this is not easy.
It is good to vary the sheet with words so that the sequence does not become memorized. If you cannot read the colors at first, do not give up. The human brain works in a complicated way; while its left hemisphere focuses on pronouncing the word, the right hemisphere recognizes the color first. With regular practice, concentration and the cooperation of both hemispheres improve.
Schulteho tabulka
Another exercise that improves mental fitness is the Schulte table. Hold the table with numbers about 30–35 cm from your face. Fix your gaze on the numbers in the center of the table and do not move your head or eyes. Using peripheral vision, try to find all the numbers from 1 to 25 in the table. This exercise develops peripheral vision and effectively improves attention and reading speed.
Finger exercises
You can also train the mind with your fingers. It improves the cooperation of both hemispheres. Form the fingers of one hand into a „V“ sign (the index and middle fingers are spread and pointing up, the thumb covers the bent ring finger and little finger). Form the other hand into an „OK“ sign (touch the thumb and index finger together, the other fingers are upright). Then simultaneously swap the signs on both hands. Practice until the exchange becomes completely smooth.
In another exercise, take two sheets of paper and two pencils – one in each hand. With one hand draw a circle and at the same time draw a square or triangle with the other. If you want, you can choose other shapes or words with the same number of letters.
Try to train your mind every day, whether with these exercises or by, for example, changing your route to work or to the store. By keeping your mind in good condition you prevent the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, or at least significantly delay their onset.
