When it comes to brain health, lifestyle choices matter. As we get older, keeping the mind active and stimulated is one of the best ways to prevent degenerative diseases such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parksinson’s disease. It is never too early to get on top of brain health, which is why regularly engaging in mentally stimulating games and activities is always recommended. Brain training can help improve your memory, response time and improve cognitive function, which is why we’re here today to share with you 6 activities that are sure to stimulate your mind. Grab a cuppa and read on to find out more!

Escape Room

If you’re someone who is a fan of thrills and mystery, visiting your local escape room in Melbourne is one of the most fun and engaging activities that you can immerse yourself in. In a nutshell, an escape room experience is one that usually lasts about an hour and requires you to solve a variety of puzzles in order to complete your mission. The ultimate goal is to solve enough puzzles that you find your way out of the room, and this is often achieved with the help of friends and family. Some of the mental benefits that an escape room experience can offer include improved memory, sharper concentration and heightened social skills.

Sudoku

You’ve probably already heard of Sudoku, a logic based, combinatorial number-placement puzzle activity that has taken the world by storm. Sudoku originated in Japan and its name comes from the Japanese phrase ““Sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru” – which means, “the digits are limited to one occurrence.” This mentally stimulating game has been known to reduce the chances of Alzheimer’s disease, while helping players develop a keen sense of concentration, improve on memory skills and help develop brain function even in adulthood. Sudoku can be played online, with pen and paper or even on your phone, making it a highly accessible activity that you can enjoy on your own in your spare time.

Classic Game of Chess

The launch of the Netflix series “Queen’s Gambit” earlier this year saw thousands of people flocking online to learn how to play Chess, making it one of the most popular games in 2021. Although chess isn’t by any means a new game, it is one that has stood the test of time. 

Some of the mental benefits chess can offer include improved planning skills, better foresight and improved memory. Chess is also an excellent form of memory exercise since it encourages players to remember moves for various strategic purposes. You can play chess online, with friends or even at your local chess club where you will be able to meet like minded individuals with a shared passion for this classic and timeless game.

Nothing Beats a Real Book

With how technology has taken over all our lives in recent times, it is becoming more and more rare for people to ready physical copies of books over online options such as eBooks or Audio Books. While there is nothing wrong with the latter, we believe nothing beats a real book. Reading is one of the best ways to strengthen the mind, learn new words, prevent cognitive decline and reduce stress levels amongst many other things, and picking up a book from a local bookstore or library is one of the best ways to keep your mind stimulated. 

Fun Fact: did you know that the physical weight of a book imparts a sense of “gravitas”? Reading a book that you can actually feel or hold makes the brain take it more seriously than you would when browsing through an eBook or Audiobook.

Learn A Foreign Language

You may think that you’re way past the stage of life where learning a new language seems like a viable option, but we’re here to change your mind. In fact, taking up a new language at any age is one of the best ways to keep those neurons firing for as long as possible. Training yourself to speak in a different tongue will not just help keep your brain stimulated but will also strengthen your linguistic skills and potentially reduce the rate of cognitive decline you experience as you get older. Learning a new language doesn’t have to be complicated either -- applications such as Duolingo have made it easier than ever to pick up new tongues in the comfort of your own home and at your own convenience.

Take Up Knitting

Knitting isn’t just for grandmas -- in fact, it is an incredibly rewarding task that assists with multitasking skills and cognitive anchoring. Studies have also shown that craft skills such as crochet, felting or knitting can help reduce memory concerns or prevent memory loss. Lastly, research has shown that crafts such as knitting can serve as a bilateral, rhythmic, psychosocial intervention that has the power to greatly improve mental health and transform people's lives. The best part? You’ll not only improve on your mental dexterity but you’ll also end up with a bunch of amazing projects that you can share with friends and family!

Keeping your mind active and in tip top shape is one of the best ways that you can take care of your overall health and wellbeing. We hope that this article has inspired you to take up a new hobby, task or activity that won’t just help stimulate your mind but will also bring a ton of fun and joy into your life.