You might know that the brain is an important organ in our body, but you might not know just how crucial it is. It’s responsible for sending messages to and from the rest of your organs, hormones, and muscles.

The health of your brain can have a huge impact on other parts of your life, so it’s essential to take care of it! But what can you do to take care of this oh-so-important organ? To help you with this, here are 12 ways you can keep your brain mentally sharp.

• Remain physically active: Exercise releases endorphins, which have been shown to improve cognitive function. Also, exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of diseases that are associated with cognitive decline. Find a form of exercise you enjoy and make it a lifelong habit.
• Eat a healthy diet: Maintaining a healthy diet is crucial for your brain because it helps you control stress levels and prevent chronic disease. Also, foods high in antioxidants have been linked to better memory function. Foods such as blueberries or cranberries are high in antioxidants – and St. John’s Health shares several others that you should consider including in your diet.
• Manage any medical conditions you may have: It might not be possible to avoid certain health issues altogether, but if you can manage them, then there’s no reason why they should affect your mental cognition. Regular checkups with your physician can help you manage any conditions – and detect any new health issues that may arise so they can be managed, also.
• Stay social: Social interaction is key for brain health! Being around friends and loved ones stimulates the brain and helps keep it healthy. Seek out ways to stay social as you age to keep your brain engaged.
• Challenge yourself mentally: Puzzles, crosswords, and Sudoku are all great ways to keep your brain active. Learning a new language or playing an instrument can also help improve cognitive function. Anything you can do to challenge your brain will help! Remember: You’re never too old to stop learning!
• Get enough sleep: A good night’s sleep is crucial for overall health and well-being, including mental cognition. Most adults need around eight hours of sleep per night.
• Take breaks during work: It’s vital to give your brain a chance to rest! When you’re working, take short breaks every hour or so to walk around and get some fresh air. This will help refresh your mind and make you more productive when you go back to work.
• Minimize stress levels: Stress can have a major negative impact on the brain. It’s important for your brain to be relaxed and happy. If you’re feeling stressed, try doing some deep breathing exercises, yoga, or meditation.
• Limit screen time: Technology is great, but too much screen time can affect mental cognition in a negative way. Try limiting yourself on how often you use devices like phones and tablets so that they don’t interfere with sleep quality or negatively impact your cognitive function.
• Meditate: Meditation has been shown to improve focus and concentration levels, as well as lower stress levels. Daily meditation will help keep your mind sharp.
• Limit alcohol: Drinking alcohol can be harmful to your brain. It’s important to limit yourself on how much you drink, if you choose to drink at all.

Just like you exercise for your physical health, you need to do things to keep your brain healthy, too. Try incorporating some of these ideas into your daily activity – and your brain will thank you for it!