We spend a lot more time at home during the colder months and it’s all too easy to let ourselves sit in front of the TV all day.
Keeping your body moving is important, but far too many people forget that their brains need a good workout too.
Exercising your brain is vital and has been shown to have a wide range of benefits.
The good news is that there are lots of activities you can do that aren’t going to wear you out physically, but will get your brain working harder than it might have for a while.
If you want to keep your brain in tip-top health, then here are some of the best ways to exercise your brain at home.
Get Some Apps
While there are lots of games and activities that you can choose from to start your brain exercises, most people tend to start with phone apps.
We use our phones a lot, so it’s no surprise that it’s what most people think of when they realise they’ve been neglecting their brain health.
There are plenty of brain training and brain exercising apps available too, and you can choose from a wide range of ways to keep your brain feeling more agile.
Look at apps like Peak, Lumosity, or Fit Brains Trainer.
Try a few out (most are free) and decide which brain exercise format works best for you.
Of course, the problem with phone apps is that it only takes a single notification to distract you and suddenly you’re doom-scrolling down social media pages yet again.
Take a Test
It might be a while since you sat down to your exams and the chance that you’d want to re-live that stress if you don’t have to is miniscule.
However, not all tests have to have long-term consequences like that dreaded math exam at school.
There are now quiz and test websites everywhere and there’s a good chance that you will be able to find something that appeals to you.
If you’re a comic book fan, then look for the ultimate MCU quiz.
If you’re more inclined to watch The Crown, then there are quizzes and tests for that too.
Choose a subject that you find love and start doing some Googling.
There’s a good chance that you can spend a lot of time giving your brain a workout and you might end up having a lot more fun than you ever did at school
Plan an Escape
You have likely heard of escape rooms and you may even have played a few.
Escape rooms have exploded in popularity and more people than ever are willingly being locked in various rooms with only their thinking skills to help them escape.
It would be a lot of hard work to build your own escape room at home a few years ago, but that is no longer the case.
It’s now never been easier to plan and play in an escape room at home, and you and your family can end up having a lot of fun.
Of course, it takes a lot of thinking to escape from these devilish puzzles, so that means you’re going to be giving your brain the workout that it really needs.
Learn a Language
Whenever we learn something new, our brains are making fresh connections and working harder.
Learning a new language might sound like a lot of hard work, but it’s never been easier or more accessible.
There are language learning apps and online courses that you can take, most of which are free to use.
Whatever language you might have an interest in learning, there’s an option for you.
Think about where you like to go on holiday and start learning a few new phrases that will help you next time you visit Spain, France, or Italy.
If you’re planning a trip somewhere further afield, then even learning a few basic words will not only be valuable when you arrive but will also give your brain a much-needed workout.
Video Games
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that videogames are just mindless entertainment.
Multiple studies have shown that regularly playing certain video games is actually incredibly good for long term memory, mental agility and hand to eye coordination.
When you play some of the biggest games in the world like Super Mario, Call of Duty, or Minecraft, you’re giving your brain an exercise regime that only has positive effects.
However old you are, playing a video game occasionally can be very useful and may even help to fight off degenerative brain diseases.
If you’re someone who thinks that playing console or PC games is nothing but a waste of time, it might be time to get a controller in hand and start playing some of the best games in the world.
Learn to Draw
There are a lot of reasons why learning to draw is a good idea.
Not only does the act of drawing (on paper or a device) help to boost creativity, which is itself good for your brain, it also gets your brain thinking in entirely new ways.
We can learn a lot by drawing, especially about ourselves.
Drawing teaches us about coping with mistakes and how easy those mistakes can sometimes be to rectify. M
ost importantly, drawing helps you to think in ways that you may never have done before, addressing elements like perspective and shade.
Realizing there is more than one way to draw an object is liberating and a great way to get your brain doing something entirely new and invigorating.
Practice Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a good way to get your body moving, but you might not realise just how good it is for the brain too.
Repeated studies have shown that even five minutes of calming Tai Chi a day can help improve the way your brain works and has been proven to help multitasking, time management, and decision making.
One of the most vital reasons to exercise with a little Tai Chi is because it has been shown to improve the physical volume of your brain, which is one of the best ways to help ward off dementia.
If you’ve never tried Tai Chi before and you don’t know what to expect, simply check out a few YouTube tutorials, find the level that suits you, and get moving.
Read a Book
If it’s been a while since you last picked up a book then it’s time to start.
Reading isn’t just one of the most relaxing ways to spend your free time, it’s also incredibly good for your brain.
Reading regularly improves your brain’s connectivity, it boosts your vocabulary and reading comprehension, and even develops higher levels of empathy.
From helping you to sleep more easily to reducing stress, there’s no reason why everyone shouldn’t have at least one book on the go at all times.
You don’t have to panic and start reading books that are too challenging.
Anything you read will be doing your brain a lot of good, so start looking at those books that might interest you.
Learn to Cook
While learning a new skill is always a good brain workout, there are some additional benefits of learning how to be a better cook.
Not only can you start to eat more healthily, but you can also cut your shopping costs when you have a little more skill in the kitchen.
Of course, you can use your new cookery skills to start taking a closer look at what you’re feeding your brain with.
There are plenty of foods that are proven to be brilliant for your brain, so start looking at creative recipes that include fish, whole grains, superfoods, and olive oil.
Cooking a meal can be a very stimulating and rewarding activity that helps keep your mind working while ensuring that you get to eat tastier, healthier meals.
There are more ways to keep your mind active than ever and often only a little bit of research to identify the best brain exercise for you.
Take your time to choose the activities that you’ll enjoy the most, but always remember to challenge yourself.
By doing so, your brain will be getting the workout that it really needs.