Exercise Your Mind

When we hear the word wellness an array of images flash through our minds. For most of us there are yoga instructors and calming waters all followed by the physically perfect lululemon models. But really, wellness is so much more than being physically fit.

Wellness means overall health. That includes OUR MINDS!

This is now more important than ever as we spend our days draining our brains. It seems like our smart phones are becoming the smartest part of us. Don’t get me wrong; it is great to be able to whip out your phone and google anything you could ever think of. However, with this increasing focus on speedy results, multitasking, and mobility, we cannot forget that WE are key to making it all happen. 

Okay, so are you now officially freaking out that you’ve fried your brain? Do not fret my friend.

Here are my favorite tips for keeping our minds QUICK, CALM, and FOCUSED!

• Play with a Pet. I know that’s hard for most college students. But finding a nearby pet shop or even just venturing outdoors often leads to some animal interaction! And if all else fails there’s always http://www.reddit.com/r/aww/

• Puzzles- It may seem like a grandma thing to do, but really it works! Things like crosswords and Sudoku can be a good way to sit down, shut out all of the distractions, and completely engage your brain. Plus most schools pay for subscriptions to the New York Times or another large publication with huge puzzles to keep you going throughout the week.

• Walk Around- I don’t care if it’s your room, your hall, or the entire town. Taking a lap wakes up the heart and gets the blood pumping to all parts of the body including the brain!

• STOP MULTITASKING- The last, but certainly the most difficult—stop multitasking! It takes much longer to complete menial tasks because our brains are becoming overwhelmed. Even when we’ve stopped multitasking our brains are working too fast to concentrate on the task at hand. Stop multitasking just for 20 minutes a day and you’ll see a difference.
  It seems like in today's world, it’s nearly impossible to make time once a day to do any sort of brain exercise. Once time frees up, we’re so mentally drained that it’s harder than ever before.
  
   I won’t lie. Even I don’t do these things every day. But the important thing to remember is to try! It doesn’t have to be once a day, or even once a week. Just trying one of these tips means you’re better off than you were before!