A Brain-Training Routine to Improve Your Focus and Retention

Five practices to build your own mental gym.

Created by Eva Keiffenheim via Adobe Firefly

I remember my first time stepping into the gym. The moment I walked in, I felt like an outsider. The machines looked intimidating, and the people around me moved with a sense of purpose and confidence I lacked. My sense of unfitness hit me hard, and I felt lost.

But something inside me pushed me to keep going. I showed up the week after, even though I wasn’t sure what I was doing. It wasn’t until years later that I began to understand the exercises that would help me grow muscles — thanks to conversations with people who had already walked the path.

Fast forward to today, I just finished a session with my personal trainer, perfecting my form on deadlifts and Brazilian split squats. Even after a year of consistent training, I realize there’s still so much to learn.

We all know physical exercise is key to health. Weight training, cardio, and mobility exercises strengthen our bodies — but our brains need workouts too. Just as weights build muscle, new experiences, and knowledge strengthen our minds.

The good news is that mental training doesn’t need pricey software or complex routines. The best brain exercises are often free (hint: studies show “brain training apps”…