Keeping The Mind Sharp
As we age, it becomes more and more important to engage in activities that help keep our minds fresh. In 2007, Chicago, engaged in a major 5 year project that studied over 700 patients that had aged 80 and over. Through this study they found that an elderly person not practicing a brain activity is 2.6 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than a person with regular and stimulating brain activities such as reading, writing, listening to music or any other cultural activity.
Alzheimer's runs in my family and although I am only thirty, I am already trying to engage in activity that will keep my brain physically fit so that my brain doesn't become a puddle of mush when I get older. My brain has already felt mushy from the mommy years, but I am trying to incorporate activities that are fun, but also keep my brain sharp as a tack.
Here are some fun and inexpensive things you can do to keep that brain from getting dusty:
1. Puzzle books- I love to get puzzle books from the dollar store and am particularly fond of Sudoku because it is challenging and a great game to unwind with in the evenings.
2. Picking up a hobby- Crafts and hobbies can be a great way to keep your brain fully engaged, particularly if you are learning a new skill. Make sure to try and pick hobbies that are inexpensive so that you can engage in them often without the guilt of spending too much money. Right now I am attempting to learn to knit and it is making my brain think extremely hard. Trying to do patterns in knitting... well, it definitely is challenging my brain and I am loving every moment of it. If you can engage in your hobby while listening to some really good music, then you can engage your brain just a little more.
3. Writing & Journaling-Blogging has been a great way to keep my mind engaged and is a fun and free hobby for me. This entry, for instance, can qualify as some legitimate brain activity and it didn't cost me a dime! If you don't blog, writing or journaling can also get your mind engaged. Start a journal about your life for your children and try to think of some really great memories that you want to always be able to share with them. Gratitude journals can offer a wonderful time for reflection on all you already have and focus positive energies on all that you are enjoying.
4. Reading- I love to read, but I have a hard time squeezing in some good reading time. I can't say enough about how wonderful our library system is though and I am constantly checking out books and trying to learn more as I get older. Try to set some reading goals this summer or start a book club just for you and your spouse. Remember, his mind needs just as much sharpening as yours and you can use this time together to build your relationship too.
Sound Off: How do you keep your mind sharp? Do you have any online or print resources that you could recommend?
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7 Responses to “Keeping The Mind Sharp”
May 27th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I love doing crossword puzzles. My favorite birthday present from last year was the book “King James Games.” It’s over 200 crossword puzzles, word searches, code unscramblings, etc., based on the King James Bible. Mind-stretching and Bible study simultaneously!
http://www.amazon.com/King-James-Games-Scripture-Teaching-Puzzles/dp/0740765019/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211905125&sr=8-1
May 27th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Right now I am reading the book, Where Did I Leave My Glasses? The what, When,m and Why of Normal Memory Loss by Martha Weinman Lear. Being 40ish and noticing too many tip-of-the-tongue memory loss episodes I was getting a little nervous. This book has been a great resource to discover what is normal when it comes to our memories. One study that the author sites is that aerobic exorcise is very important to brain function and keeping our memories healthy.
My favorite way to keep sharp is my involvement in community theater. Memorizing lines is a great exercise. Right now I’m not in a show and so I have set myself the goal of memorizing the book of Philippians in the the New Testament. While I take my daily walks I listen to it on tape. I also have it posted in places where I can check what I have memorized in a glance.
May 27th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
We do the crossword puzzle from the local paper every weekend, taking turns. Its a great brain activity and a nice way to be together. I also pick up scrabble games at yard sales, there were so many versions. We get a lot of use out of a 25 cent purchase – and game night is a cheap as it gets!
May 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I love Suduko too, it’s on my cell phone so I can play a game in line at the bank or on the bus. Like Annie we print off a cryptic crossword from a Sunday paper and work on it over the week.
I’ve been taking evening classes from my local school board recently, they vary in price but I really enjoy learning and they count towards my entertainment budget.
Perhaps you could swap skills, I taught my friend to knit in exchange for a quilting lesson, so we both gained a new hobby, and a friend of mine teaches a new immigrant English in exchange for Japanese lessons.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Great topic! For me it’s getting out there and doing things I’ve learned. I love to garden, and I’m always learning me ways of cultivating the plants and soil.
Blogging has been a much needed hobby to keep learning and moving forward. I’ve learned so much from other bloggers. Emotional and spiritual support helps comfort and nurture the mind as well. I find a lot of that through other moms online…even if I don’t know them, their posts touch me and promote growth in areas I didn’t even realize needed a push.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I wanted to mention something. My mother in law read some things that said if you have a flu shot 5 times in your life you have an 80% chance of getting alzheimers (if I spelled that right). Just something to think about.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Knitter here too.
I love the free online knitting resources — Knitty magazine and the Ravelry site are the most intriguing I’ve found to date. For Ravelry, you have to sign up and get an invitation, but it’s definitely worth the bother. (I can type in ‘paton’s merino’ … and instantly, 400 pictures of things people have made with that yarn pop right up.
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