Let’s face it. Our lives seem busier now than ever. Do you feel overwhelmed by your daily routine between work and home? Do you forget things throughout your day? Don’t worry. You’re not alone.

Mental health and wellness are just as important as your physical health. By exercising your mental activity, your brain produces new neurons which sharpen your mind and strengthen your memory.

Let’s take a minute to focus on five simple habits you can start today to keep your mind sharp:

Get a good night’s sleep

May seem like a given, but making sure you get enough sleep each night is crucial to keeping your mind sharp. Not getting enough sleep can leave you feeling lethargic and forgetful. Be sure to get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

Take power naps

You may wonder why power naps are important if you get a good night’s sleep. Taking a power nap can help you feel rejuvenated in a short period of time and boost your energy to carry you through the rest of your day. Naps also have shown to help improve memory, concentration and learning.

Drink plenty of water

Staying hydrated can help boost your energy, keep your mind alert and can curb hunger. Drink a glass of water, and you’ll likely feel instantly more alert.

Start a journal

As advanced as technology is, disconnect from your smartphone or tablet to do this one. Actually take the time to handwrite a journal. It may take some getting used to, but try to focus for at least 10 minutes at a time, on a daily basis. Handwriting has been shown to stimulate parts of our brain that are involved with memory and language.

Break your routine

We’ve talked about daily routines to maintain so far, so now let’s talk about breaking that routine. This is one of the best things you can do for your mind every now and then. Getting too stuck in a routine can be limiting. By changing your routine up a little bit, you’ll stimulate new parts of your brain and encourage it to make new connections.

These are some simple habits you can do daily that won’t interfere with your regular routine, but there are lots of other ways to keep your mind sharp: eating a well-balanced diet, learning to play an instrument, exercising regularly, engaging in a social event, playing games and many more. Find what works best for you. The most important thing to remember is to take some time to yourself each day to recharge. Keeping your mind sharp now will have lifelong impacts on your mental abilities.