by Simone E., Editor-in-Chief By now, finals are over and you’re on your way home, if you’re not already there. You may head back to campus for summer school or graduation, but otherwise, you’re done for the summer! I’m sure you can’t wait to start working at whatever summer job or internship that you have, but what about all of the hard work that your brain managed to do during the school year?
Here’s some tips to keep your brain sharp over the summer. Who knows, maybe you’ll have better memorization or retention when you get back to chemistry class: Take a daily brain break. Often, when we’re working hard day to day, it’s easy to neglect mental stimulation. Being creatures of habit, it’s easy to get used to the same activities and behaviors. Challenge yourself with brain games that are designed to give your brain a workout. There are plenty of apps and logic game books that you can utilize in order to make sure that your brain is stimulated and stays active. Increase your workouts. Besides eating healthy, which is very important, exercise also helps in preserving brain health. According to Thomas Crook, PhD, an expert on cognitive development and memory disorders, "Cardiovascular activity pumps more oxygen-rich blood to the brain, which is like giving a car a shot of gasoline.” A few choices of cardiovascular activity for beginners include: walking, running, biking, jumping rope, swimming, step aerobics, kickboxing, and rowing. Pick one of these options and add it to your daily routine to keep your brain pumping! Take a nap. Now, this may not be foreign to many college students, but napping as little as six minutes can improve your memory. According to research, it’s not necessary to nap more than that for memory recall; however, your brain needs rest just as much as your body does, so nap away this summer! Or, at least, get enough sleep in between classes or work. Think happy thoughts. As cliche as this sounds, happy thoughts equal a happy brain: positive thoughts are linked to better, long-term brain health. If you’re having a bad day, it’s best to try to think of a happy memory in order to sort of “eject” the negative. Now, this isn’t an easy process: it’s very easy to be consumed with the negative. But, it’s summer time! Have fun this summer and think happy thoughts, or maybe, start erasing the negative from your life to make it easier on you, if you can. Don’t let this summer be a summer that sets you backwards. Keep your brain healthy and come back to school (or work or internship), with a fresh start. Tips inspired from: https://www.prevention.com/health/brain-health/prevent-dementia-and-memory-loss
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December 2018
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