Get Smarter with These Weird Exercises

Humans are creatures of habit which means that we tend to live our lives day to day with a set routine. You wake up, get ready for work, talk to a friend or two during breaks at work, eat the same meal for lunch, go home, prepare dinner, watch your favorite shows, go to bed, then wake up and repeat.

We can’t help it; it’s in our nature to stick to what we’re familiar with and remain in a bubble of comfort to avoid any major disruption in our lives. While that may sound like a pretty good idea, sticking to a routine can ultimately cause more harm than good.

Somewhere in between the gym workouts and healthy meals in an effort to remain fit, and the ton of skincare products, makeup, and fancy outfits we love to buy in order to look good on the outside, we’ve neglected one very important thing: our brain.

When our brain is passive, it begins to deteriorate. It’s our responsibility to ensure that we switch up our daily routine because our brain constantly desires to learn new things. By allowing our brain to experience new things through the senses which include smelling, tasting, hearing, touching, and seeing, we stimulate more connections in the different regions of the brain.

Include these exercises in your weekly routine and you’ll be sure to notice a difference.

1) Challenge your taste buds

This one is definitely a challenge for me. I’m the person who doesn’t need to see the menu because I order the same thing everywhere I go. However, it’s important to broaden your horizon and try different cuisines. Also, try to figure out the different ingredients you’re eating including the spices and herbs.

2) Do math in your head

How many times have you caught yourself scrambling for a pen and paper or trying to hide the fact that you still use your fingers to count? Try solving math problems in your head without relying on either of these options. It’s a great way to give your brain a workout especially if you walk while doing so.

3) Use your non-dominant hand

Whether you’re brushing your teeth, washing your hair, or doing laundry, try using your none-dominant hand to do these activities. Using the opposite side of your brain can result in a rapid and substantial expansion in the parts of the cortex that control and process information.

4) Switch around your morning routine

Activity in the brain declines when sticking to the same routine. Therefore, in the mornings try and do things in reverse. How about getting dressed after breakfast or watching a few videos before leaving the house? Whatever you can do to change your schedule, do it! Your brain will thank you for it.

5) Close your eyes

Close your eyes while taking a shower, washing your hair, and even doing laundry. This will force your brain to use new pathways. Feel for the tap with your hands and grab the shampoo bottle without looking. It may sound crazy, but it works.

Who knew getting smarter was this easy? Which exercise will you try first?