What is cognitive resilience?

Stories of resilience like overcoming an injury, climbing a mountain, or breaking social barriers never fail to capture an audience. But have you ever wondered why some people seem to emerge from challenges stronger than ever before, while others find it hard to stay sharp? 

This difference is what we call cognitive resilience. Keep reading to explore what cognitive resilience is, why it matters, and practical ways to build it into your everyday life.

The biology of cognitive resilience

Different brain areas interact with each other by sending signals, creating networks that help you think and solve problems. Cognitively resilient brains can maintain or even strengthen these connections despite stressful events. 

And the good news is that cognitive resilience is something you can build throughout your life, not something anyone is born with. So taking proper care of yourself and maintaining the right mindset is especially important when facing challenges. 

Strategies that work for building cognitive resilience

If you ever feel like information and stress can be constant, cognitive resilience can be the difference between thriving and just getting by. Try these strategies to help you build cognitive resilience: 

Mental workouts using learning games for adults

You wouldn't expect to build muscle without hitting the gym, and you can't expect to strengthen your brain without mental workouts.

Activities that challenge your brain—like puzzles, reading, learning a new skill, or playing strategic games—can enhance cognitive resilience. The Elevate app is a great place to start, offering 40+ brain training games designed to target specific cognitive skills.

Physical workouts

Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which supports the formation and maintenance of the networks in your brain. Regular exercise doesn't have to mean running marathons; even daily walks or yoga can boost your brainpower.

Manage stress and emotions

Stress can leave you feeling less sharp, even when practicing cognitive resilience. That’s why learning to manage stress can help protect your brain.

Keeping your stress levels in check can look different for different people. Still, mindfulness, deep breathing, or even spending time in nature are all proven strategies to help lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone in your brain). 

Build social connections

Engaging in conversations, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying community activities can all contribute to cognitive resilience. These interactions provide emotional support, help you feel less alone, and stimulate intellectual engagement.

Keep learning

Cognitive resilience is all about building and maintaining the networks in your brain, and new experiences exercise your brain in this way. 

Whether learning a new language, picking up a musical instrument, or trying a new hobby, learning new skills can help create new neural pathways and strengthen cognitive resilience.

Reaching a resilient mind

On days when things don’t go as planned, cognitive resilience helps you make the most of the situation. It’s also one of the things that sets the heroes we see in documentaries apart from the rest. 

By incorporating mental workouts, physical activity, stress management, social connections, and lifelong learning into your daily routine, you can also build a resilient mind ready for anything.

Download the Elevate app on iOS or Android and start on your journey to a sharper, more resilient mind today. Elevate is a personalized brain training program with 40+ games and activities designed to improve your cognitive skills, guiding you to greatness in no time.