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Brain Fitness Tip of the Week: Increasing Daily Activity

August 10, 2009 Brain Fitness No Comments

More and more research shows the importance of increasing your activity for your health. A number of studies have also shown that exercise improves older persons’ performance on cognitive tests. A study I recently presented at the meeting of the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology meeting even showed that daily activity was related to older adults’ mood.

When I talk about brain fitness, though, members of the audience almost always point out two obstacles to becoming more active:

  • Time
  • Physical problems that interfere with exercise

In this post, I’ll talk a little bit about how to incorporate more activity into your life. Dealing with exercise and physical problems is a little more complicated, but almost everyone can find ways to increase their levels of activity, even if they suffer from arthritis.

One of the simplest ways to deal with the time problem is to build more activity into your daily routine. Studies have suggested that several intervals of activity during the day may be just as beneficial as one longer period of exercise. This means that two 15-minute walks may be about as good as one 30-minute walk. Building more activity into your life may be one way to improve your brain fitness as well as your overall health.

The American Heart Association website has an article with tips on building physical activity into your daily life. You can find it by clicking here.

Here are a few tips:

  • At home, you can take several brief walks during the day; maybe a few minutes after breakfast or dinner, or both. Work up to 30 minutes a day.
  • At work, take the stairs instead of the elevator; walk down the hall to talk to someone instead of calling or e-mailing.
  • Play your favorite music when exercising; it can increase your motivation.

Exercise improves mood, cognitive abilities, and heart health. More exercise undertaken safely can help you improve your health. Remember to discuss your exercise plan with your doctor before you get started.

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