TRAINING YOUR BRAIN

EvEry day this week, we’ll be giving you fun brain games to keep you sharp...

Mental maths

You can build focus by doing calculations in your head. It’s not about the complexity of the maths but your ability to stay focused. Try subtracting 3s from 100 down to single digits, for example 97, 94, 91 etc. Then try subtracting 7s. When this becomes easy, start with 1,000 instead.

Counting the ‘ands’

Read a long passage in a novel while trying to recall the number of ‘ands’. This exercise challenges concentration because you’re forced to pay attention while keeping track of another element. You should still be able to understand the content. Now try the same passage, but counting the ‘its’.

The dark room

eNTeR a quiet room (preferably one you’ve never been in, or one you’re not familiar with), sit down, close your eyes and try to recall as many features of the room as possible. use the dictation feature on a phone or tablet to record your thoughts. See if you can remember more visual features with practice.