Fun For Your Brain

By Nancy Merz Nordstrom NEW RESEARCH…One of the biggest revelations to come out of the 1990s (a decade of pioneering brain research) was that the human brain undergoes significant physiological change when exposed to new learning and new experiences. Keeping our brains stimulated will help retain mental alertness as we age. The brain’s physical anatomy actually responds to enriching activities and is changed for the better. What scientists have discovered is that the brain can grow new connections. Think of it this way: all that old wiring inside your head might lose some of its insulation over the years if you do nothing. But by engaging in challenging activities, you not only preserve that older wiring with better insulation, you also get an electrical upgrade by growing new cells and pathways, enhancing your response times, thought processes, and reflexes. Of all the findings during the Decade of the Brain, this startling new discovery appears to be the most important. Just like our bodies need to be fed and nourished, so do our minds. Challenging mental activities are food for our minds, and are one very important way to ensure that care. Let’s have some fun… Act like a kid again… Remember all the board games you used to play? Dust them off. They served a purpose then, and they can do so again. Scrabble – Parcheesi – Monopoly – Truth or Consequences – Go to the Head of the Class – Risk – Trivial Pursuit – Password – Checkers – Pictionary- Stratego – Life – Jeopardy – Game of Life…and the list goes on. Have a game night with friends on a regular basis. Social interaction and mental stimulation; two necessary life ingredients! More games and activities… Sudoku, a logic-based number placement puzzle, is the latest craze and a real challenge for your mind. Don’t forget crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Play bridge instead of bingo. Find that deck of cards you once had, and resurrect old card games. Polish up your chess game. Like the casinos? Play black jack instead of the slot machines. Get physical… Dance, walk, bike, hike, swim. Join a fitness group. Explore Tai Chi and other similar activities. Use your non-dominant hand to do everyday tasks. Take different routes to your destination. Go online… The Internet is a gold-mine of stimulating games and brain exercises. Join an online discussion board. You will find hundreds of different topics to discuss with others. Take free online courses from colleges and universities. Learn, learn, learn… Read books on topics that cause you to think. Join a book club. Learn a new word or fact every day. Join a choral group, or learn a new song and sing by yourself. Learn to play a musical instrument, a piano or guitar for instance. Join a lifelong learning program. Give some of your time to meaningful community service. Travel to learn, not just for fun. Polish your math. Add or subtract numbers in your head. Listen to audio books or language tapes while you drive. About TV… Try to limit TV to those few shows that cause you to think. Check out the Discovery, History, and PBS channels. Spend one day a week “media free.” Get to know YOU. Choices… Life is all about choices. Keep making choices. Find things to do that require making choices and decisions. Choose to eat well balanced meals most of the time. Stay informed about what’s going on around you. Write or email your elected representatives. Attend public meetings in the community. Join the Friends of the Public Library. Don’t let your brain go on automatic pilot. Nancy Merz Nordstrom (Email: learninglater@comcast.net) is the author of “Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years,” Her website can be found at http://www.learninglater.com