Brawny and brainy

We spend hours upon hours each year working out our bodies, yet we frequently forget to give our brain a good workout. Just like your biceps and your quads, challenging the brain helps keep it in proper shape.

To keep your mind sharp, try some of these brain-boosting techniques, which were sourced from MedicineNet.com and the Cleveland Clinic:

• Go over in your head what it is you want to remember, and be habitual in your tasks. Put things in the same place, for example.
• Get plenty of social interaction, sleep and regular physical exercise.
• Reduce stress whenever possible.
• Challenge yourself with activities. Try a crossword puzzle, take a class, or build something.
• Try to avoid distraction when learning something new. Give it your full attention, and use all of your senses to become familiar with it.
• Break an activity into multiple steps, and stretch it out over several days. For example, take a few days to learn how to program a new electronic device.