It should come as no surprise to you that your brain will be your biggest asset in college. Chances are that you take care of the other organs in your body, but you need to make sure that you’re keeping your brain just as healthy. If you’ve been neglecting your brain, it’s time to kick things into high gear. Studies have shown that adults do not retain new information with the same ease that children do.

If you’re returning to school, here are ways that you can make sure your mind is ready:

Read

You may not consider yourself a reader, but you may want to start channeling your inner bookworm. Get a library card and start taking out books that you’re interested in. It doesn’t matter if they’re fiction or non, the simple act of reading can kick your brain into motion. When you read, your brain draws mental pictures of the words that it’s “seeing.” This subconscious act can strengthen your brain with very little effort on your part.

Occupational Information

Speaking of reading, finding trade publications that are related to your major or desired occupation can be beneficial. Unless you are already in the profession, you may not have an understanding of what is happening within the industry. You may be surprised at just how much reading these types of publications can help you absorb knowledge in class. Magazines like Forbes, Fortune and Fast Company are fantastic for anyone who wants to enter the business world; The Economist can give you a leg up when it comes to global economics.

Sleep

If you ever needed a reason to sleep in, here’s one: Sleeping helps your brain process new information. When you’re tired, so is your brain. When your brain is tired, it can’t process new information in the same way that it can when it’s well-rested. Don’t believe it? Think of how much more focused you feel after a good night’s sleep; it’s because your brain has gotten the proper amount of rest. Aim for seven hours each night; eight if you can swing it.

Learn

When you stop learning, your brain stops growing. Try to remain consistent about learning a new skill or subject. Take guitar lessons, have someone teach you how to knit, or think of almost anything that you’ve always wanted to do, and do it. The process of learning helps to keep our brains sharp. You don’t have to study rocket science to keep your brain humming along; learning about any subject is enough.

Get Out of Your Rut

If you drive to work the same way each day, pick a new route. If you always take a shower, dry off and put your pants on, try showering, drying off and putting your shirt on. Small changes in our routines can jerk our brains out of auto-pilot and wake them up. Have you ever gotten somewhere, only to find that you couldn’t really remember how you got there? That’s because your brain is too used to your routine. Spice it up a little; your brain will thank you.

You don’t have to do endless pages of math problems to keep your brain sharp; small changes to your everyday life are often enough. Do what you can to strengthen your brain and you’ll find that rigors of being an adult learner are easier to cope with. By sleeping more, changing your routine and learning a new skill, you’ll give your brain the work out that it craves.

Stacy Hilliard is an avid blogger focusing on education and brain hacks. Interested in business? You might consider an MBA degree, such as those programs offered by Northeastern University or Brown University.