5 Fun Ways to Energize your Brain

 

           The best brain exercises will help us understand that if we want to strengthen our brain, we have to keep challenging it. It's not that tricky, we just have to keep trying new things or try doing the same things differently. When we stick to our everyday routine, our brain stops all the thinking and does the tasks almost automatically. This may hinder our growth.

Think about the tasks you do every day. Most of the tasks we do are either monotonous or automated. We spend hours on our phone relentlessly surfing through social media or watching TV shows. Scrolling through the web has become so easy for us that we don’t even need to think. Everything is available with a click of a button and we don’t have to take any efforts at all. In the process, we often forget to give that much-needed attention to our brain which it deserves.

When we challenge ourselves to do new things, we stimulate a better long-term brain functioning. Next time you’re bored and can’t decide what to do, show your brain some love, and engage yourself with these fun activities.

Here’s my list of favorite ‘Brain workouts’ which are simply activities to engage your brain muscles and energize your brain:

1. Play Sudoku

Skills: Logic and concentration

 

            Recently, my sister and I have been enjoying solving sudoku before bedtime. It’s a logic puzzle that my mom taught me when I was a kid and we solved the sudoku puzzles that were published in the newspaper. We did it for fun, turns out it's helpful in cognitive stimulation and improving skills like logic and problem-solving. Try installing a sudoku app on your phone or find it in your local newspaper or magazine.

 

Read how to play sudoku:

https://sudoku.com/how-to-play/sudoku-rules-for-complete-beginners/

2. Doodle

Skills: Focus and Creativity

 

            How can doodling improve brain functioning? I found out that doodling improves focus and memory retention. You just need your colorful pens or your good old-fashioned pencil and a notebook to sketch some doodles. Doodling is not only good for your brain functioning; it also boosts your creativity and relieves stress. If you seem to be clueless as to what to draw, try doodling your favorite superhero, aliens, or even pieces from nature such as leaves, flowers, or cacti. 

You might like this Pinterest board that I created for some doodling inspiration: 

https://pin.it/6ukwG78

3. Solve Crosswords

Skills: Problem solving and vocabulary

 

            If you are someone who thinks crosswords are boring, do give it a try to find out for yourself. Solving crosswords can help you make good use of your cognitive skills and help you solve problems better. You may start with easy crosswords and gradually increase the level if you really want to enjoy crosswords as a novice. You can find crossword puzzles in newspapers, magazines, online apps, and even crossword workbooks.

If you want to engage those brain muscles further, try creating a crossword puzzle yourself.

4. Vocab Games

  Skills: Language and Vocabulary

 

            Learning new words can feel like a tedious task but we can approach our vocabulary building skills through some vocabulary games. Active engagement in such games improves your vocabulary and helps you comprehend text better and also helps you to become a better writer or speaker. A quick vocab game that I really like is the Google word coach. Other fun games include Scrabble or Hangman.

Play Google Word Coach (for mobile only):

https://g.co/kgs/9r2XAE

5. Origami

Skills: Concentration and Problem solving

 

            I used to make origami out of marble paper when I was in school using an origami guide meant for kids. As adults, we can find endless origami tutorials on YouTube. Making origami helps to improve concentration and makes you a better problem solver. An added bonus is the joy of creating something tangible with your own hands out of just a square-shaped paper. This activity reminds me of The Professor from Money Heist and the iconic paper origami he made during the heists.

 

Here’s an origami tutorial that I like to help you get started :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYQarMQUaLs

 

            Brain development is considered so important for a growing child, but as adults, we conveniently ignore our brain health. Try incorporating these activities in your daily routines every now and then to improve your skills and to keep your brain energized. 

 

I’d loved to read about your favorite brain activities in the comments down below.

Art by Ruchika Pardeshi

Thanks for reading :)