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VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2
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Spring 2006
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For more information about
exercise for your mind, log on to My Health eVet
at www.myhealth.va.gov.
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Ways to keep your mind in shape
Staying active past age 50 doesn’t
only mean aerobics or power
walks. Your brain needs its regular
workout to function at tiptop
levels, too. So it’s in your best interest
to keep absorbing new information.
Make these mind-over-matter suggestions
a part of your fitness regimen:
Dare yourself to learn a new skill,
such as taking photographs, playing
a musical instrument or speaking
another language.
Drink like a fish ... water, that is — eight glasses daily. It’s the single
most important element in our
bodies and it’s essential for clear
thinking. Eat more nutritiously,
too. You’ll notice you have more
stamina and a better outlook.
Use routines to keep yourself organized
and productive. Good places
to start: a calendar to keep track of
tasks, a to-do list for getting things
fixed or done around the house, a
diary to record events and ideas.
Learn to focus your thoughts
through techniques such as
meditation and yoga. These
exercises relieve stress to keep
you centered on the task at
hand.
Stay “up” as time goes by. It
may sound trite, but doctors
say people who look on the
bright side are more alert and
aware and live longer than worrywarts.
Music can help improve
blood flow, breathing and stress.
Take advantage of the many ways
you can keep your mind sharp. Do
the daily crossword puzzle or try
the addictive Sudoku game and
other mind acuity puzzles. Take an
adult-education course, join a
bridge club or just observe a daily
ritual like an after-dinner stroll to
keep your brain-power peaking.
Forgive yourself the next time you
need 15 minutes to find your car
keys. As we age, we naturally
become slightly forgetful about mundane items. And though worsening
lapses require a doctor’s evaluation,
so-called short-term
memory loss (of events in the past
few minutes, hours or days) is perfectly
normal. Besides, worrying
about it can make it worse.
Challenge yourself any way you
like, and you’ll stand a better
chance of maintaining mental fitness
well into your golden years.
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Spring 2006
New Acting Network Director |
Good Oral Health |
Pre-diabetes
Fitness in Everyday Chores |
Cholesterol and Food |
Life in the Doldrums
Keep Thinking! |
VA News and Updates |
Wellness Programs
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: July 3, 2006 |
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