Brain Fitness for Seniors

Neurobics.is one of those brilliantly funny words that practically giggles off the tongue, but there’s a serious meaning behind it. Coined by neurobiologist Lawrence Katz and Manning Rubin, it’s a pop-neurology term that refers to stimulating exercises for the brain, exercises that (at least in theory) encourage neural growth and help keep the brain sharp and functional.

Rather than being a formal brain training system, like Dakim’s, it’s a more casual sort of way to wake up the brain, by shaking up your habits and forcing your mind to work in unexpected, unaccustomed ways, using different senses, muscles and actions than you ordinarily do.

In other words, the goal is to get your mind out of it’s usual rut, and stimulate new neural pathways even while doing seemingly every day activities.

To qualify as Neurobic,

An activity needs to do one or more of the following:

* Break your routine and shake up your habits, in a significant way
* Use one or more of your senses in a new or unusual way
* Require your full attention for at least a few moments

Examples? Sure thing!

1. Spend an hour blindfolded. You’ll find that you suddenly notice more sounds, scents, and are more aware of the space around you.
2. Go grocery shopping in an unfamiliar store, so that you have to think about where the items will be located. And while you’re at it…. work through your list from the bottom up!
3. Get into the car, and close your eyes… use only your sense of touch to identify the key, put it in the ignition and turn it.
4. Find new routes to work. Explore new roads. Go jogging in a new park. Walk the dog down unfamiliar paths.
5. Try brushing your teeth with your left hand, instead of your right (or vice versa, if you’re left handed)
6. Experiment with different scents — use a variety of essential oils or scented candles. Why limit mornings to coffee and eggs, or movies to popcorn, when you can smell the ocean or fresh jasmine?
7. Turn all of your photographs upside down, or sideways for a few days. Notice how it catches your attention, and how differently you see the images!
8. Intentionally put some of your clothes on backwards, or inside out. Notice how different you may feel.

As you can see, just coming up with neurobic activities is an exercise in creativity, good for the brain in and of itself. So go on.. have fun with it, stimulate your brain and keep it healthy. Doing Neurobics is a great addition to your brain fitness plans!