How to Stay Mentally Active (At Any Age)

Did you know that your brain needs exercise every day to stay alert? Constantly stimulating it will help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, senility and dementia. Here are a few “workouts”:

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Some puzzles and crossword puzzle books
• Possibly some trivia games
• Board games
• A deck of playing cards
• A nearby library or book store (new or used items)
• Access to a university, college, theaters and civic centers
• An engaging hobby

1. CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION-Learn about things that you always wanted to know, but never had the time or money to. Take classes, join a group that shares your interests, figure out a foreign language, or attend plays and lectures.
2. DO PUZZLES-Try the paper’s crossword one, buy a few puzzle books of varying kinds and work your way through them, or put together a traditional jigsaw one.
3. READ (AND OTHER THINGS)-Visit your local library often; it’s not just for books anymore! Besides reading, you can: Learn how to use a computer, gather for group meetings (Many libraries now have conference rooms), borrow DVDs and CDs, or go to special events and functions.
   Many book stores now have “reading rooms” and some will even offer you free coffee and perhaps a treat (Well, at least the one I went to did).
4. DEVELOP AND EXPAND A HOBBY-Do you love collecting items or products? Are you a specialist on growing certain types of flowers or an expert on Chinese cooking? Are you a skilled dress or technical designer? Why not take it one step further and teach or write about what you know to others? You can also develop an e-zine or compile a book about your avocation. Wouldn’t it be great to get paid for something that you love to do anyway?
5. PLAY GAMES-Invite some relatives or friends over for a game of classic Bingo, Monopoly, or break out that deck of playing cards (Poker!).