Make Duolingo your friend. Just 15 minutes a day and you can learn the basics of a new language in a matter of a few weeks. If you are traveling somewhere, make it a point to learn some phrases—to say hello, order food, and ask for directions—before you go.

You should never stop working on yourself. And if you think you are too old to learn something new, you couldn’t be more wrong. Studies show that learning new things actually keeps your brain functioning at its best and it could slow down the signs of aging as well. But with a million of things to do every single day, who has the time to enroll in classes anymore? Here are three simple things you can do—that take just a few minutes—that can keep you at the top of your game. 

Stay updated on current events
You might not want to start your day with news because, admit it, there’s hardly anything positive there. It’s mostly all sad and gruesome. But that doesn’t mean you should be ignorant of what’s happening around you. After all, information is power and it would be a sin not to exercise that. Also, being updated on current events can help you be a part of any conversation. So download an app on your phone and find out what’s happening in the world before you begin your work day. Just skim through the headlines if you don’t have time to go into the details. 

Learn a new language
Make Duolingo your friend. Just 15 minutes a day and you can learn the basics of a new language in a matter of a few weeks. If you are traveling somewhere, make it a point to learn some phrases—to say hello, order food, and ask for directions—before you go. If not, you could pick a language that you have always been fascinated with—for us, it’s Bengali and French—and start learning. 

Take up a challenge
There is perhaps no better way to train your brain and feel mentally fit than by taking up a challenge. Whether it is completing a 1000-piece puzzle, doing the crosswords, or solving the Rubik’s cube, find an activity that gets your neurons all fired up. All you have to do is spend 15 to 20 minutes on it every day as you are indulging in your morning cup of tea to get that motivational boost.

 
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