Also of note: walking just three times a week thickens the tissue that connects the left and right parts of our brain. This change predicts better memory. “Your attention and concentration improves, as does your reaction times,” says Swart. According to her, whenever you’re short of concentration, it’s better to opt for a short walk rather than a cup of coffee.
2. Dancing
Dance, in all its forms, is one of the few activities that integrates several brain functions at once: “body movement, decision-making, musical awareness, and emotional state,” explains Neuro. “It’s a real workout for the body and brain, requiring rapid decision-making and helping to keep the brain and mind sharp and young.”
When practiced regularly, dancing also has beneficial effects on memory and can even reduce cognitive decline and dementia. And, you do not have to be good—or even know any fancy moves. Just move intuitively and let yourself go. “Dance is for everyone,” Neuro agrees. “It has been found to aid mobility in Parkinson’s disease, is therapeutic for mood disorders, and is revitalizing after menopause.”
Dancing is also easy to do pretty much anywhere—you can do it alone in the privacy of your own living room. “Put on some music and dance alone to quickly improve your mood. Dance with other people to create bonds by synchronizing your brainwaves with those of your loved ones,” advises the Neuro.
Easy ways to add more daily movement to your life
Getting more exercise doesn’t have to be a big ordeal—in fact, it should be fun, easy, and seamlessly fit into your daily life. To that end, Neuro recommend the following:
- Take a daily walk—even a 20 minute stroll is worth it!
- Pick up the pace of your regular walk to reap more benefits.
- Take a daily dance break with your favorite songs.
- Carry shopping bags for an extra “mini” workout.
- Walk or cycle instead of driving whenever possible.
- Do a small workout at home on days when you can’t get to the gym. Even doing ten squats or twenty jumping jacks a couple times a day can make a difference.
- Use alarms to remind yourself that it’s time to get moving.
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