10 Neurobic exercises to keep your brain fit in 2018

Did you know you could sharpen your brain by writing with your non-dominant hand? Find out about other simple and effective Neurobic exercises.

Neurobics require us to exercise our brain by engaging in new, novels tasks. We can use Neurobics in a way that we integrate the activities in our day to day routine. It aims to help us reach a greater potential of our brain. Neurobic tasks and exercises are not aimed at being difficult, but rather focus on involving more senses and being out of the box.

Lawrence Katz and Manning Rubin, who coined the term 'Neurobics', believe that our everyday life is a 'Neurobic brain gym'. They believe that Neurobics aims to help you remember and also helps improve your ability to learn new information.

Neurobics follows three basic concepts:

You must involve one or more than one sense organ in a new context

You must be involved in the activity, giving all your attention

The activity must break you normal routine in some significant way

The science behind Neurobics

Our brain has neural pathways. All the different tasks we do from brushing, to buying groceries to dressing all are established as neural pathways in our brain. This makes the task easier for to do. We can do it without having to be attentive or fully immersed in many of our daily tasks.

With Neurobics, we wilfully disrupt our regular mundane habits in an attempt to shake out of those regularly used, tried and tested neural pathways. When we do some simple tasks in a new way or by involving different senses, neurotrophin is released.

Neurotrophin is a natural growth hormone that enhances the fitness levels of your brain. The release of this hormone leads to the development of new neural pathways. New pathways are new connections. As these neural connections increase, the access to information in our brain also increases.

Here are some Neurobic tasks and exercises you can try to add to your routine:

1) Write with your non-dominant hand - You may take time and you may find it difficult but do it nonetheless. It will be stimulating for new areas of the brain.

2) Take a new route while driving - While driving to work, or to the market, try to take a different route. This will require you to be more alert and you won't be able to drive in the auto-pilot mode that you are used to.

3) Use smell for identifying - With your eyes closed, try to smell jars of spices and identify them with smell alone. Don't open your eyes and don't touch the spices.

4) Tasks without sight - Try engaging in safe and easy tasks with your eyes closed. For example, you can try to unlock the door of your house with your eyes closed. You can walk to your room slowly with your eyes closed. You can also try taking a bath with your eyes closed.

5) Creative dialogues - With your television on, put whatever you are watching on mute and create your own dialogues for the actors.

6) Read something new - Read a new magazine rather than your usual one. Try a different newspaper or a different website or blog.

7) Go against yourself - Think about something you feel strongly about, such as a political party or a social cause. Then, try to read or watch something that goes against your view. As you do that, try to understand their way of thinking.

8) New store or new way - Go to a new grocery store or start your shopping from a different section than the one you usually go through. Try out new brands and new foods.

9) Take up a new activity - Try a new sport or dance or a hobby. Try something new as it is more likely to be most stimulating for you brain

10) Wake up to a different aroma - Try smelling a nice fragrance in the morning, something other than your usual coffee or tea. You can stimulate your sense of smell while also listening to music and engaging another sense.

This article has been contributed by Archita Sobti. Archita is a Consultant Psychologist working with Samvedna Senior Care. She is currently working in the area of mental and emotional health for elderly. She works with patients of depression, dementia, schizophrenia and other psychological disorders. She conducts group and individual cognitive stimulation therapies at the Samvedna Senior Centre in Gurgaon as part of the Cognitive Wellness Program.

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