"The analytical, 'verbal' part of your brain (sometimes called the "left brain"), tries to label an object after just a brief glance," Dr. Katz explains in his book. "When you look at a familiar picture right side up, your left brain quickly labels it and diverts your attention to other things." However, if you view something upside down, your brain's ability to quickly label something is inhibited, and it has to work harder to read the time since it's not easily recognizable in it's upside down state.

Similar to closing your eyes while getting dressed, wearing gloves while driving blunts your sense of touch, forcing your to rely on other senses and cues to steer the wheel. The difference in touch will influence your brain to handle the act of driving differently than it normally would, hence giving it more of an "exercise" than usual.

While it's true that crossword puzzles or Sudokus don't exactly have well-established data to prove they can help keep your mind sharp, it is known that an inactive mind is more likely to decline. "Memory games aren't a treatment for cognitive decline and sadly, won't make a major difference over time," says Dr. Preter. "However, keeping your brain interested and engaged can delay symptoms of forgetfulness and memory loss, making these kind of games a good way to keep your brain active and engaged," says, Dr. Preter.

Trading in your fork for a pair of chopsticks can make the most routine act of eating challenging for your brain. Want an even bigger challenge? Try using the chopsticks in your non-dominant hand for double the brain workout.

If you drive home from work using the same route every single day, your brain processes the information the same way each time, using the same brain pathways. "The neural links between brain areas required to perform that trip become strong. But other links to areas that were initially activated when the route was novel --such as a new smell, sight, or sound when you rounded a certain corner -- get weaker as the trip becomes routine," says Lawrence Katz in his book.

So, by choosing a path less traveled, you open your brain up to new sensory associations and problem solving skills.