[Music] welcome back to another episode of podcast and chill we're so excited to have you here on the learn English podcast Channel last time we talked about ways to improve your memory and it seems like you all loved it yes and we received so many comments from you about how helpful it was memory is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to training your brain that's true keeping your brain sharp is as important as keeping your body fit so that brings us to today's topic how to train your brain we'll discuss some simple
but effective ways to boost your brain power and keep your mind active plus we'll share some fun techniques and tips to make brain training enjoyable don't forget there's a free pdf with key takeaways from today's episode so make sure to download it all right let's dive in and get [Music] started all right Gwen let's get into it why is brain training so important well think of it this way we train our bodies to stay healthy so why not our brains that's a great point a strong brain helps with memory problem solving and staying focused especially
when learning English exactly I read a study from Harvard that showed activities like learning a new skill can improve brain function and even delay aging learning new skills like what it could be anything learning to play the guitar trying out a new recipe or even picking up a language like English I've been trying to learn how to juggle does that count it does juggling improves hand eye coordination and concentration so learning something new keeps the brain active and sharp what about memory exercises memory exercises are great for example try memorizing a list of words or
using the Memory Palace technique Memory Palace sounds like a place I'd love to visit it's not a real palace Leo it's a method where you visualize a place and store pieces of information in different rooms to recall them later that's so cool I'm going to try it with my grocery list another fun exercise is using rhymes or songs to remember things for example think about how kids learn the alphabet with the ABC song that Melody sticks in your mind and you remember it for years you can apply the same idea to learning English words or
phrases for instance you could create a simple tune to help remember irregular verbs like go went gone or see saw seen oh and don't forget about listening to songs in English songs are are a great way to learn because they combine words with rhythm and emotion exactly for example singing along to Let It Be by the Beatles can help you practice simple phrases and pronunciation plus when you sing a song you like you're more likely to remember the words that's true I used to sing We Will Rock You by Queen all the time and now
I'll never forget the phrase you got mud on your face another example is Rhymes you can use rhyming phrases to memorize tricky things like prepositions for instance on the table not in the air under the chair but not over there that's brilliant it's like turning studying into a game and it works for people of all ages not just kids so whether you're creating your own Tunes or borrowing from your favorite songs music and Rhymes make learning more fun and effective and don't forget about learning through Association you mean like connecting a word to an image
or story yes for instance if you're learning the word tree picture a tree in your mind or think of a memory involving a tree that's a powerful way to remember vocabulary speaking of memory I heard exercise can boost brain function too absolutely a quick walk or even yoga can increase blood flow to your brain helping you think more clearly did you know that research from from Harvard Medical School shows that physical activity boosts the production of chemicals in the brain that improve memory yes simple activities like yoga or a brisk walk can increase blood flow
to the brain this improves your focus and helps you think more clearly for instance I read that just 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day can enhance the part of your brain responsible for learning and memory the hippocampus that's amazing I guess exercise isn't just about looking fit it's about feeling sharp too absolutely physical movement helps the brain release endorphins which reduce stress and improve overall mood so the next time you feel stuck or tired while studying try a quick stretch or a short walk not only will you feel refreshed but you'll also remember what
you've learned more effectively wow so training your brain isn't just about puzzles or studying it's about keeping your whole lifestyle active and healthy exactly and with consistent practice you'll see results not only in learning English but in your everyday life let's look at five helpful phrases from today's discussion one brain boost an activity that improves the performance of your brain example meditation is a great brain boost because it helps you focus better two memory hack a trick or method to remember things more easily example using Rhymes is a classic memory hack for learning new words
three keep your mind sharp to stay mentally alert and focused example playing chess is a fun way to keep your mind sharp four neuroplasticity the brain's ability to adapt and change by learning new things example learning a new instrument can enhance neuroplasticity and make your brain more adaptable five daily challenge a small task you do each day to improve your skills or brain power example a daily challenge like solving a crossword puzzle can keep your brain active let's discuss some of these ideas together why do you think physical exercise is often called a brain boost
Gwen I think it's because exercise doesn't just help the body it helps the brain too exactly when we move the blood flow to our brain increases which helps us think more clearly and it also improves memory right right I've noticed after a good walk I can focus better on my work have you ever felt that way absolutely it's like a mental reset button now here's another question how can a daily challenge like learning a new word help improve your memory over time that's an easy one repeat repeating something every day strengthens the brain's neural connections
you're saying it's like building a stronger bridge in your mind exactly and the more you practice the easier it becomes to remember new things that's a great way to put it so what's one small daily challenge you'd recommend to our listeners Leo I'd say start with learning one new word a day and using it in a sentence it's simple but so effective that sounds like a fun and easy challenge [Music] let's dive deeper into some habits that can truly train your brain one fascinating aspect of brain training is how creativity can be a GameChanger creativity
that's interesting tell me more I read about this study from Stanford that shows drawing or journaling helps activate different parts of the brain that makes sense it's like giving your brain a fun challenge right exactly plus it's super relaxing which is great for reducing stress another thing is social interactions did you know talking to others stimulates the brain that's true even casual chats can improve memory and problem solving skills exactly so calling a friend or joining a group activity isn't just fun it's brain training let's also talk about humor laughing is one of the best
ways to keep your brain engaged laughing now you're just trying to promote your jokes aren't you well yes but science backs me up research shows laughter boosts endorphins which help your brain focus and stay positive all right I'll give you that one laughter really is a great tool for brain health here's something fun studies show people who regularly engage in hobbies are more likely to stay mentally sharp as they age that's a great reason to pick up painting or even gardening right absolutely and you don't have to be perfect at it just enjoy the process
so what hobby would you start to train your brain let us know in the comments speaking of hobbies Gwen did you know that playing a musical instrument can actually change the structure of your brain really that sounds fascinating what's the science behind it well I read a study from Harvard that shows musicians have more gray matter in certain parts of their brain gray matter that's the part of the brain respons I for things like memory and muscle control right exactly so even practicing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can strengthen those areas that's such
a simple and effective way to train your brain and not just instruments did you know that learning a new language can delay cognitive decline as you age I've heard about that the University of Edinburgh did a study showing bilingual people have better memory and multitasking skills exactly L it's like giving your brain a workout every time you switch between languages speaking of switching multitasking is another way to keep your brain active but only if done correctly what do you mean by correctly I mean focusing on related tasks for example while listening to a podcast try
summarizing it aloud it's like engaging multiple parts of your brain at once that's smart I might try that with this podcast summarizing it for myself after we finish another important point is rest the brain needs downtime to process and store information absolutely that's why sleep is so crucial for memory and focus did you know a study by the national sleep Foundation found that people who sleep 7 to 9 hours perform better on cognitive tasks I can totally see that whenever I get less than 6 hours of sleep my brain feels like it's running on empty
it's like trying to drive a car with no fuel so for those listening make sure to prioritize rest as part of your brain training routine great advice and remember small steps like picking up a hobby or getting enough sleep can lead to big changes over time let's go over seven helpful phrases we use today one gray matter the part of the brain that handles memory muscle control and decision making example playing chess can increase the gray matter in your brain two cognitive decline the process of losing mental abilities as you age example learning a new
language can help delay cognitive decline three multitasking doing multiple things at the same time but focusing on related tasks for better results example listening to a podcast while summarizing it aloud improves your brain's activity four engage to actively participate or involve yourself in an activity example to keep your brain sharp engage in mind challenging games like Sudoku five bilingual being able to speak two languages fluently example bilingual people tend to have better problem solving skills six alternate to switch between two or more things regularly example alternating between writing with your left and right hand can
train your brain in unique ways seven stimulate to encourage or trigger activity in the brain example solving puzzles stimulates creative [Music] thinking now let's reflect on two questions for today's discussion question question one what are some simple ways to train your brain based on today's discussion hm let's see I think learning a new language is a great start like English absolutely it's not just useful but it also pushes your brain to work in new ways and don't forget about mind games like Sudoku or chess they're like a workout for your brain oh I love Sudoku
it really makes you think differently do you play any of these Le I try but honestly I'm better at summarizing things like a podcast episode that's my go-to brain exercise that's a great idea summarizing helps with memory and organizing thoughts question two how can physical exercise help your brain oh I read that even a simple walk can boost blood flow to your brain yes and yoga is another great option it helps release hormones that improve memory and Focus that's true after a quick walk or stretch I always feel refreshed and ready to tackle new ideas
me too it's a great reminder that taking care of your body really supports your brain what about you listeners do you have a favorite way to train your brain let us know in the comments [Music] below well that's it for today's episode of podcast and chill we hope you found our discussion on brain training helpful and and inspiring remember whether it's learning a new skill playing a mind game or just taking a short walk every little effort counts and don't forget to check out the free pdf we've included in the description it's packed with tips
and vocabulary from today if you have any thoughts or ideas about today's topic leave us a comment we'd love to hear from you thanks for spending your time with us see you next time on podcast and chill [Music]
