2. Seek mental challenges

Your brain, like your muscles, needs constant exercise, so always keep it busy: read a lot, attend seminars and organize discussion groups with friends and family members. 10 Muslim. 11 Restak, 1997. Prophet Muhammad (~ ) said: «The angels lay down their wings for the student (knowledge seekers), pleased with what he is doing; and all creatures in the heavens and on earth, even the whales in the water, ask forgiveness for the scholar.» 12 Seeking new knowledge especially in challenging fields and unfamiliar subjects encourages the brain to increase in mental capacity and reach higher performance levels, and creates incentives, attention and perseverance. 13 In Western societies, it is not strange to find a college student in his or her seventies or even eighties, while in contemporary Muslim countries, it is sad to say, at that age, we tend to just take it easy and give our brains a nap. Studies show that too much spare time is one of the main factors associated with dementia. 14 The brain needs constant challenges, fresh experience and novelty in order to keep healthy, and this is totally independent of your age. Think of all the time people waste in front of the television or chit-chatting about useless subjects. Prophet Muhammad (~ ) said: «There are two blessings whose reward many people lose: good health and free time.» 15 You need to receive and absorb a constant supply of useful knowledge to give your brain connections a continuous boost and activation. Never underestimate your intellectual and cognitive abilities. Try to engage in new learning experiences, and remember the Prophet's(~) hadith: «Whenever people gather in one of Allah's 12 A)Jmed, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah (its chain of narration is good). 13 Winston, 2004. 14 Dementia is the deterioration in mental activity that occurs mainly in the elderly. 15 Al-Bukhari, Tirmidhi, lbn Majah and A)Jmed. houses, memorizing Allah's Book and studying it, the angels surround them, mercy envelops them and Allah mentions them among the ones who are with Him.» 16 He(~) also said: «The best among you are those who learn the Quran and then teach it.» 17 Another important advice for mental challenge is the habit of thinking. When I was young, I attended a school run by nuns; one very important thing I was taught there was to reserve ten minutes every night to reflect on my day, to consider all my actions and assess them. I acquired the habit of thinking, of trying to determine my positive and negative behaviours and then making the intention to take serious steps towards self-improvement.