Many of us have replaced learning with entertainment. We rent movies, remote control hundreds of TV stations, and spend hours surfing the Internet, but most of our entertainment is more mind-numbing than exhilarating. We have forgotten how fun it can be to learn and challenge the brain!
Exercising our little gray cells is important and beneficial to living a happy and healthy life. The brain challenge makes us more alert and mentally agile. Learning, even later in life, can make us happy, reduce stress, improve memory, boost our self-esteem, and can actually help us live longer, more fulfilling lives. Even doing simple mental exercises helps keep our neural pathways active and builds our problem-solving skills. Here are some ways to give your gray cells an easy but consistent workout.
Read an encyclopedia entry every day. You can get vintage encyclopedias for next to nothing at garage sales or thrift stores. There is probably one already in your basement or attic. Just read an entry or two a day. You’ll expose your mind to a wide variety of subjects and learn new things in less time than a TV commercial break.
Take a preparation book and answer a few questions every day. General ones like GED or SAT are the least intimidating and the most accessible. Take your time with the questions; No hurry. It feels great if you answer the questions correctly, but don’t worry if you get it wrong. As long as you try, you still exercise your gray cells in the process.
Solve puzzles. Puzzles combine play with learning. Puzzles are cheap and easy to find both in stores and for free online. Even simple puzzles keep the gray cells going. One or two per day is enough. Simply mix the Type of puzzles you do. Word puzzles, logic puzzles, trivia quizzes, crossword puzzles, math puzzles, number puzzles, and picture puzzles use different neuron pathways in your brain.
Wait to read. Combine a social activity with a learning experience by attending a lecture at your local museum or library. Bookstores often have author readings or topical discussions. Local colleges and universities often hire guest speakers for special topics, and you can probably attend for free even if you’re not enrolled in school.
Join a reading group. Book groups are quite common throughout the country. A group of people agree to read the same book and then get together to talk about it. Meetings are usually social, but often very engaging and stimulating. You could make some interesting friends in the deal.
Take a class. The local college or university probably has a community education program. Enrollment is usually cheap and there is no pressure to get good grades. The subject you choose to study is not as important as the activity to be learned. As long as the topic holds your interest and you stay active in class, you’ll be reaping the benefits of an active mind.
Learning and mental challenge are not just for children. Human beings are naturally wondering and learning creatures at all stages of life. Just a few minutes a day with a puzzle or learning activity can keep your gray cells active and you will have taken a fun but important step towards a healthier and happier life.
