Keeping fit has many benefits, but the ones that are mostly commonly associated with exercise and fitness revolve around mobility and the cardiovascular system.
Did you know however, that by keeping fit, you can also keep your mind sharp?
Although you can maintain a level of mental capability via continued learning, a healthy diet, a good social life and a passion for stimulating activity, you can also keep your mind going with a regular dose of exercise!
In collaboration with Active Brokers, here are a few tips for keeping your brain healthy via exercise!
Firstly you need to understand why it is important.
Physical exercise is essential for maintaining a good blood flow to vital areas of the body, including the brain. Not only that, but exercise also promotes the generation of new cells, which also protects against Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
The good news however, is that studies have shown that you do not even have to partake in strenuous or time consuming activities to maintain a good level of health. This is because exercise is most effective when done regularly and combined with a brain-healthy diet alongside mental activity and social interaction.
But when you’re a young professional, with a more than hectic schedule, how do you fit exercise in? And more to the point, what exercise is best for the brain?
For those who don’t enjoy vigorous exercise.
It’s a well-known fact that aerobic exercise improves oxygen consumption, which as already stated, benefits brain function. Here are a few types of exercise that you might want to try:
- Walking
- Cycling
- Gardening
- Tai Chi
- Qigong meditation
- Yoga
If you have time, you should enjoy these exercises for around 150 minutes a week, as recommended by the NHS.
For those who do enjoy vigorous exercise.
If you think you’re up for vigorous activities (which involve heavy breathing and a fast heart rate), the good news is that you don’t have to do it for as long, as you can achieve the same benefits from only 75 minutes of activity a week.
Forms of vigorous activity include:
- Jogging
- Running
- Fast swimming
- Tennis
- Football
- Rugby
- Skipping
- Gymnastics
- Martial arts
But where to start?
It is quite common for some to have never exercised outside of school, but the good news is that there are a few ways of easing yourself into it:
Start off slow.
No one likes being dumped in the deep end when it comes to exercise, so it is important that you ease into it, doing a little more each time. What’s more, it’s far less likely to put you off this way.
Slip it into your routine.
Doing just a little bit more each time will make a huge difference when it comes to the end result, so introducing it into your schedule a little bit more each day will help you get along.
See if you can get fit with friends.
There’s nothing that will persuade you to exercise more than exercising with your friends, which is especially handy if you both have gym memberships.
Stick to an activity you enjoy.
It’s pointless trying to endure an activity or exercise that you simply do not enjoy. With that in mind, try and vary your activities until you do eventually find a small handful that you can stick to.
Set yourself goals.
You will be far more likely to stick to your exercise if you set yourself specific goals. These need to be both realistic and encompass both short and long term plans. If you have the time, try and keep a diary of the things you do each day and the achievements that you surpass.
