10-minute phone call brain boost!
You don’t need to do crossword puzzles or play an instrument to get a brain boost. We can strengthen our neural connections with a 10-minute phone call with a friend. That’s long enough to start releasing the brain chemical, serotonin, which improves our mood and awakens our creative thinking. That’s because, during a conversation, we’re thinking about multiple things – what our friend is saying, what we’re going to say next, and predicting how our friend will respond. That involves both brain hemispheres, making our mind more flexible, and slows down brain aging.
To make it even better?
Have that 10-minute conversation while you’re walking. Talking while exercising lights up even more brain areas, making you a better problem solver, while improving overall cognitive health by increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain.