Sitting still

When we sit for long periods (more than three hours), our inactivity decreases the blood flow to the brain and the oxygen supply. This decreases brain activity in the part of the brain we use for thinking, organizing and decision-making.

Action: Relax the brain by getting up to stretch and move around every 30 minutes.

Staying curious

Learning new skills leads to better understanding - the brain's ability to form new connections between existing neurons（神经元）.

Action: Why not take up a musical instrument or an evening class?

Fast food

The quickest way to jam our brains is to fill our bodies with fast food. Too much salt leads to more brain illnesses.

Action: Eat fresh and green food as much as you can.

High-quality sleep

Studies have shown being deprived（剥夺）of sleep for 24 hour decreases memory and concentration. But regular, restful sleep improves memory.

Action: Try and go to bed before midnight and aim for 7-8 hours' sleep.

Being overweight

Obesity does great harm to the brain and is also a risk factor for cognitive（认知的）decline.

Action; Try to lose some weight if you are too fat

Drinking alcohol regularly

Regular drinking lowers the levels of serotonin (血清素) in your brain and can make you depressed.

Action: Many medical experts recommend taking regular days off from drinking to ensure you don't feel sad and don't become addicted.