If you’re not one of those people who loves the gym or looks forward to going on your evening run every night after work, we’ve got some encouraging news. New research shows that even a little light and easy physical activity is still good for your health, especially the memory.
According to a recent studyfrom the University of California, even as little as 10 minutes of a simple physical activity – like walking, yoga, or tai chi - can boost brain connectivity and help the brain tell the difference between similar memories. Researchers found the volunteers who had exercised were better at remembering during a memory task than those who didn’t exercise. And the group who exercised got a mood boost, too. So it was a win-win.
So if you’re not already getting the 150 minutes a week of physical activity the CDC recommends, try to squeeze more short walks in. They’re advising 30 minutes of activity over five days, and if you break that down into a few 10-minute walks or stretching yoga breaks, you’re almost there and you won’t just be improving your health, but your memory and your mood, too.