Have a Brainy New Year

Why not start the New Year by resolving to keep your brain healthy? Here are a few tips to keep your brain in tip-top shape.

Start by pledging to wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a car. And don’t forget to wear a helmet each time you ride a bike, snowboard or ski. Brain injuries are hard (or impossible) to fix once they happen, so prevention is your best option. Seat belts and helmets reduce the chance of a serious brain injury should you get an accident or fall.

Next, plan to eat a well-balanced diet. Your diet should include whole grains, vegetables, fruits, milk products or other calcium rich foods, and meat/beans. Your brain needs a variety of vitamins, minerals and energy to function properly. In general, if foods are good for your heart, they are good for your brain too.

Get up and moving in 2018. Make physical exercise part of your schedule. A total of 150 minutes of moderate exercise is thought to reduce the risk of cognitive decline later in life. New research (Samani and Heath, 2018) suggests that 10 minutes of aerobic exercise may have cognitive benefits. Most of us were already planning to include exercise in our list of resolutions, so here's another reason to make it happen this year. Of course, speak with your doctor before you start any new exercise plan.

Finally, resolve to get an adequate amount of sleep every night. Good sleep hygiene is essential to keep you at your best during the day. Sleep is imperative for memory, problem-solving, creativity, and emotional regulation. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Teenagers and school-aged children, respectively, should get 8-10 hours and 9-11 hours of sleep each night.

With these simple resolutions, you'll be on your way to a happy, healthy and brainy New Year.