Aging is really a beautiful part of life we humans are bound to experience. It feels nice to get older sometimes, other times, we probably want to remain young forever. Young, vibrant and active. We want to be able to think, act, observe and even communicate at old age like we do in youth, or possibly even better. But as humans, aging comes with the direct opposite of these wishes. Everything slows down, inevitably. And no, it’s not a bad thing. There are some people who don’t mind it at all.
There are however some people who would not like to be slowed down so fast. They would love to be able to remember things like they do in their younger years, and quite honestly, it is very possible. Keeping your brain and creativity sharp while aging is a very huge flex. Imagine having the creativity of a young blood and the wealth of experience that comes with old age. That is one huge advantage that can and will be very beneficial to any music creative and songwriter.
Achieving this state of mind however doesn’t come easy. There are daily challenges and steps that need to be taken and overcomed. They are mild and easily achievable, but for this same reason, they can be ignored and overlooked, and now they are being discussed as the secrets to keeping a sharp creative brain as you age. Here are 5 of such secrets, outlined over the next few paragraphs.
Continuously learning has been proven by experts to keep the mental abilities of humans working actively and their memory intact. Anything that involves learning is encouraged. It challenges your brain's mental capabilities and maintains the individual brain cells and the communication between them. Reading books have been said to decrease the rate of memory decline in old age by 32%. As a creative, keeping up to date with new techniques of songwriting, recording and so on helps as well. Writing frequently, getting a new hobby, playing games that stimulate your thinking like chess, sudoku, crossword puzzles etc, and even learning a new language can help to keep your brain active. Staying addicted to learning is going to keep you as sharp as you can get. So getting used to it now will pay wholesomely huge dividends to your creativity in future. Keep learning.
Keeping a simple healthy and balanced diet is a sure way to keep all bodily functions in the right working conditions and this is inclusive of the brain and it’s activities. However some specific food items have been linked to adding to healthy brain functionalities and could be added to our diet. Salmon for instance is filled with Omega-3 fatty acids which is said to provide more oxygen to the brain and also allows for retention of new information and remembrance of new ones. Green tea, eggs, blueberries, nuts, red wine (just to mention a few) are also said to have one or two useful benefits to the brain and are worth researching about and considering into your diets.
Exercising can also not be overemphasized. What benefits the body also benefits the brain. Regular exercise can go a long way in improving your memory and cognitive abilities. Navigating around complex physical environments is also a good way to maintain the sharpness of the brain. Walking in natural environments like the park or a wilderness involves a lot of mental processes and signal sending aimed at protecting you and helping you make the right motion decisions. This keeps your brain in constant activity, and a lot of these will certainly keep your mental capabilities in good shape.
When you're sleep deprived, you could be getting yourself into problems with memory retention, keeping concentration, brain stress and fatigue and a whole lot of other cognitive functions. This is heavily backed by the National Institute on Aging, who also believe that lack of sleep can lead to depression. Memories and newly learned skills move to more permanent regions of the brain when you sleep, thereby making them easier to recall. As an adult, you should aim to sleep between seven to nine hours every night. The more consistent you are with a good sleep routine, the better your chances of keeping a very healthy brain as you age.
A good body posture is highly important. Having a bad posture at a young age will make you look worse as an elderly person. It’s important to always keep the body in the right balance. An upright posture improves the circulation and blood flow to the brain, which keeps its activities flowing smoothly. Avoiding being overweight can help in keeping your posture and improving your body balance. It is also important to sleep with your spine aligned, either by sleeping on your back or on your sides.
Researches have shown consistently that most older adults with very good cognitive abilities in old age are very sociable, and are reported to have warm, satisfying and trusting relationships. They have linked these positive relationship findings with a reduced risk of cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. And these aren’t exactly traits that were picked at old age, they were said to have existed in these kinds of people right from time. Social engagement maintains brain function and safeguard against cognitive decline as one ages. Older individuals who keep working in the ages or engage in volunteering activities are less likely to have dementia than those who retire early. Social interactions and conversations are basically a brain workout routine. They keep your sense of curiosity and allow you to learn new things, which as we’ve earlier stated, helps you keep your brain active.
