6 Ways to Give Your Mind a Workout at Home

Since a large part of the country is on lockdown, it is more important than ever for moms to exercise. And while it’s probably a good idea to try out yoga positions you haven’t used before, you can also take this time to enhance your mind. After all, your brain cells need a workout just as much as your leg muscles!

There are loads of activities you can do to sharpen your brain, so let’s take a look at a few of the best ones. 

Board games

There is nothing like old-fashioned games like Monopoly or Risk to put the mind to work. Board games can do a lot more than provide wholesome family fun. They can also help you improve your critical thinking and decision-making skills. Monopoly, for instance, stimulates the regions in the brain responsible for complex memory formation. Apart from that, a healthy round should be enough to put you at ease — just don’t take things too seriously when someone has bought up all the Utilities in the game!

Play chess

We all know chess should be included in the same category as Monopoly, but this ancient game deserves a spot all its own. Unlike other board games, chess engages the brain more intensely. The mechanics are more complex, requiring a great deal of attention to detail. So, even if you are just starting to take the game seriously, you will find yourself becoming better at it the more you play. If you have a chess board at home, play with your kids or someone who’s already competent. You might lose every time during your first tries, but you’ll get your chance to win eventually.

Play word and number games

There are also games that can help you stimulate your linguistic and mathematical abilities. Take Scrabble for example — not only is it a great way to kill time, but it also helps you learn words you didn’t know existed. If you want to add problem-solving and trivia-finding, then doing crossword puzzles would be great for flexing your mental muscles. You might want to try harder patterns as well, but if completing one stresses you out, then you can find crossword answers online for relief. Aside from crosswords, you can also try your hand at sudoku. It helps with problem solving and keeps your mind busy as you learn how to complete each puzzle you come across.

Adopt a creative hobby

Aside from analytical skills, you also need to put your imagination to work. Have you ever had a creative activity you weren’t able to explore fully? Now is the time to rediscover this hobby. Whether you are taking up knitting, penning lyrics to a song or painting landscapes using watercolor, losing yourself in a creative endeavor is a therapeutic process. Anxiety and stress can easily be treated when your mind is able to loosen up as you pick the medium of your choice.  As you spend the days honing your craft, you will be surprised at the things you can do with it. Who knows, you might even be able to build an online business based on your creative output!

Read books

This is as basic as basic gets, but reading books is no doubt the best exercise for your mind. Numerous studies suggest that reading can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other ailments of the brain. It can also enhance memory retention, reduce stress, and improve critical thinking. And let’s not get started with creative thinking because books are the wellspring of imagination! Since you might be stuck at home for a long while, you might as well start ticking  off a few books from your reading list. For better results, you might want to diversify your reading list. Aside from fiction, you can also reach for self-help books about success and personal development.

Take an online course

If you are mastering a new skill or field of interest, then you can find a great avenue for that online. For sure, platforms like Udemy and Coursera are offering online courses in a variety of subjects, ranging from IT to business to the arts. And since you don’t have to be physically present in a classroom, these platforms can give you a convenient way to learn something new and get an actual certificate for mastering it! So, browse through the courses you like and see if you can find something that’s worth your time.

Your mind is a hungry monster, and that’s a good thing! You need to feed it every chance you have, so start with these easy tips towards giving your brain some much-needed exercise. So, go out there (figuratively speaking) and find yourself some brain food!