The brain is constantly absorbing and processing information from the external world. The Franklin Institute, one of the oldest centers for science and education in the United States, explains that throughout life, the brain forms internal neural networks that reorganize, reinforce and respond to new and learned experiences. Productive brain exercises stimulate and challenge the brain to process information, reason, and maintain regular mental activity, while also allowing ongoing learning to occur.
Auditory and Visual Stimulation
The right hemisphere of the brain is visual and creative. Productive exercise to challenge this hemisphere involves engaging in activity that is abstract and appeals to the auditory and visual senses. Try combining sensory activities such as listening to music while painting a canvas or molding clay. Do not worry about whether you have artistic ability as you create the artwork; rather, focus on the structure of the creation, the color schemes and finishing the product. Take up a craft such as knitting, drawing or pottery to stimulate the right hemisphere. Engaging this side of the brain increases creativity and emotional intuitiveness.
Logic and Reasoning
The left hemisphere is the portion of the brain responsible for analysis of logical situations, calculations and mental sharpness. Exercise your cognitive capacity through memory challenges. Try learning number sequences forward and backwards. Attempt to calculate mathematical problems without use of paper and pen or calculator, or try sentence completions with more than one meaning. The Mayo Clinic suggests that daily reading from book chapters, magazines or newspapers challenges you to learn new material and retain memorable information. This increases your brain's capacity to process concrete or abstract information from the external world for later use in daily decision making at work, at home or in relationships.
Cognitive Problem Solving
The more thinking on a subject matter that you do, the more your brain has to make neuronal connections to improve thought processes, notes the Franklin Institute. Learning a new language stimulates thinking and taps into memory and learning. Working on crossword puzzles or playing word games challenges the thought processes. Puzzles such as sudoku, word search and paragraph construction are also productive exercises for improving your cognitive functions such as critical thinking skills.
Challenging Normal Routines
Changing your daily routine stimulates brain activity by challenging automatic behaviors. Automatic behaviors develop after you repeatedly engage in the same pattern over time. Doing this leads to less brain stimulation because less active thinking is involved than in activities that require new thought and reasoning. Increase Brain Power Online notes that engaging in non-routine activities can stimulate neuronal signals in your brain, which facilitates thinking and creativity. For instance, walking through the house with closed eyes forces the brain to activate the senses and changing hands when writing requires more attention and concentration than using the dominant hand. Active thinking abilities are important for solving the dilemmas of life in a creative fashion; this is also referred to as thinking outside of the box.
Physical Activity
Exercising the body is also a productive means for exercising the brain. Walking increases blood circulation, oxygen and glucose that reaches the brain. Brain oxygenation is important for maintaining mental clarity and problem solving. The Mayo Clinic suggests engaging in meditation paired with yoga to increase your concentration while also exercising your body's muscles.
