(单词翻译:单击)
In order to stay sharp, it is important that you exercise your brain. The less we use our minds, the duller they become. There is a lot of emphasis these days on staying physically healthy, but we should also be concerned for our mental well-being. Our brains continue to expand and adapt to the stimuli they receive throughout our lives. The more we take care of our brains, the better thinkers we become. Here are twenty ways that you can develop a training regimen for your brain!
想要保持敏锐，最重要的是要锻炼你的大脑。我们思考得越少，它就会变得越迟钝。如今我们越来越注重保持生理健康，但我们也应该关注我们的精神健康。在一生中，我们的大脑都在持续扩张和适应受到的刺激。我们更关心我们的大脑，我们会变得更有智慧。这里有20个训练大脑的方案。
11. Break your routines.
Drive a new way to work. Try writing with your less dominant hand. Mix things up a little. This perks up your brain because it requires you to think more. You aren’t just running on auto-pilot. Challenge your brain by getting out of your routines and it will respond. This is a great way to get your mental juices flowing.
11. 打破常规。
选择一条新路开车去工作。试着用另外一只手去写字。将一点不同的东西掺杂在一起。这将使你的大脑得到锻炼，因为它需要你思考更多。你不能只是自动驾驶。离开你的定式来挑战你的大脑，它将有所反应。这是使你脑浆流动的好方法。
12. Stop watching so much television.
Researchers have found that too much television between the ages of 1 and 3 leads to attention problems later in childhood. Let's face it, TV is mind-numbing. Get up off the couch and away from the television. Sure, there is some good educational stuff for children and adults, but the average American watches way too much TV. If you want peak mental performance, then turn off the boob tube.
12. 不要看太多电视。
研究者发现在1-3岁时看太多电视会导致儿童注意力问题。也就是说，电视使心态麻木。从沙发上起来，离开电视机。当然，也有一些好的教育节目给孩子和大人们，但是整体上美国人看太多电视了。如果你想要高效的精神表现就关掉电视吧。
13. Work with numbers.
Do math problems in your head instead of on a calculator. For many of us, it is use it or lose it. We have become mentally lazy. We rely on our gadgets instead of thinking for ourselves. Working with and memorizing numbers is a great way to get your brain back in shape. This could pay off big dividends down the road!
13. 处理数字问题。
心算而不是用计算器计算。对我们多数人而言，要么使用它，要么失去它。我们已经变得精神懒惰了。我们依赖工具而不是自己思考。处理和记忆数字是使大脑恢复状态的好途径。这一路上能够偿还大量股息。
14. Stop relying on your GPS to tell you where to go.
Remember the cab drivers in the 8th above? Using your brain to figure out how to get from Point A to Point B is good mental exercise. You have to use your brain's ability to determine spatial relationships to effectively read a map and navigate a city. Traveling in an unfamiliar area is even better!
14. 停止依靠GPS走路。
记住第8条里所讲的出租车司机。用你的大脑去指出如何从点A到点B是很好的思维体操。你必须用你大脑的能力来决定空间关系，提高读地图的效率和穿梭城市。在一个陌生的地方旅行就更好了！
15. Recall old memories.
Get out those old picture albums and start thumbing through them. This taps into your brains memory banks. Pictures will help you recall things that you thought you forgot. Dig deep to see just what all you remember. If you have other ways to stimulate your memory, like old letters or home movies, then by all means use those too.
15. 唤起远久的记忆。
找出老照片并且开始翻阅。这将进入你头脑中的记忆银行。图像将帮助你想起你已经忘记的东西。深入挖掘就是所有你记得的东西。如果你有别的方法来唤醒你的记忆，就像以前的信件和家庭电影，那么也尽可能得利用它们。
16. Make beautiful music.
Learning to play a musical instrument is a great way to super-charge your brain. It requires a number of different parts of your brain to work together to make the melodies that you desire. Of course, if you are already a musician, then learn a new piece. Push yourself to learn new techniques. Music is a great workout for the mind.
16. 创造优美的音乐。
学习演奏一件乐器是超级改变你的大脑的方法。它需要你大脑的多个不同部分协调工作来创作出你想要的旋律。当然，如果你已经是一个音乐家了，学习一件新的东西。迫使你自己学习新技术。音乐是思想伟大的锻炼。
17. Speak a new tongue.
Many people agree that learning to speak a new language is a powerful way to give the mind a stretch. If you've ever tried to learn even a few new words, then you know this can be difficult. Of course, the harder something is for the brain, the better! You have so much more mental capacity than you might imagine. Give it a try!
17. 说一种新语言。许多人同意学习一门新语言是使思想延伸的一种有力途径。如果你曾经尝试学习即使是几个新单词，那么你知道这会很难。当然，给大脑越难的东西越好!你有比你想象的要多得多的思维能力。让它试一下吧！
18. Memorize a song.
Many of us have lots of old songs stored in our heads, but why not expand your memory by learning a few new tunes? It may take awhile at first, but if you keep at it, you will find it gets easier. This is your brain getting back in shape.
18. 记忆一首歌。
我们很多人头脑中都储存有许多老歌，但为什么不通过学习一些新的调子来扩充我们的记忆？它将在开始的时候花费一点时间，但如果你坚持怎么做，你将发现会越来越简单。这是你的大脑恢复状态了。
19. Walk around the house blindfolded.
It might seem like a strange activity, but your brain can handle it. Once you try it a few times, you will probably find it fun and challenging. Again, this one draws on your memory, motor skills, and reasoning abilities. What a workout!
19. 遮住你的双眼绕你的屋子走。
这看起来是一种陌生的活动，但你的大脑能够处理它。一旦你试了几次，你就可能发现它很有趣和有挑战性。另外，这会应用你的记忆、运动技能和推理能力。多么好的锻炼！
20. Expand your vocabulary.
Decide to learn one new word a day. There are several websites out there that can help you with this endeavor. You'll not only be expanding your mind, but you'll also be able to impress your friends and co-workers when you work one of your new words into a conversation.
20. 扩大你的词汇量。
决定每天学习一个新单词。有许多能够帮你做这项努力的网站。你将不止扩大你的思想，而且当你在谈话中引入一个新词汇时能够使你的朋友和同事印象深刻。
Get started today and be smarter tomorrow!
今天就开始行动，明天将更聪明！
There you have it! I have just given you 20 very practical ways to sharpen your mind. These suggestions will have your brain back in tip-top shape in no time. Why are you waiting? It is time to start exercising your mental muscles!
你都知道了！我刚刚已经给了你20条非常实用的能使你的思维敏锐的方法。这些建议将马上使你的大脑回到最佳状态。你为什么还在等待？是时候锻炼你的思想神经了。
