Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Brain Games - Help or Entertainment

Brain games seem to be the rage now, nobody wants dementia or Alzheimer's.  For years we've been working all kinds of word games and puzzles trying to stay sharp mentally.  Is it helping or are we just getting better at working puzzles and word games?

I view this subject as rather like a dog chasing it's tail.  Who knows?  I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it or researching it but I did read an article that made me happy because it agrees with my way of thinking.

I don't particularly like word games or puzzles.  I keep crossword puzzle books in the bathroom, have a word find puzzle on my phone and work jigsaw puzzles on my phone but that's about it for me.

This author seems to think the goal is to keep your mind active, how you do it is your choice.  If you like word games and puzzles, great.  However, you can accomplish just as much by reading books, newspapers, visiting museums, and any other activity that stimulates your mind.

The goal is to stay mentally stimulated.  The brain needs exercise just as our bodies need exercise.  There are many ways to exercise our bodies and many ways to stimulate our brains.

Now I'm going to mark this subject off my list of things to worry about and go merrily on my way doing things I enjoy that stimulate my brain.

Do you do any activities with the goal of keeping your mind sharp?

5 comments:

  1. I play word and other thinking games. I always have, even before they weren't on a computer. Now what did you want to know?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I do crossword and actually since I started, I no longer get that blank stare trying to think of a word in mid-conversation. Small improvement--I'll take it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I play Words with Friends daily, I do crossword puzzles only when on a long flight, and I knit. I know knitting isn't a game, per se, but following knitting instructions can be a puzzle at times.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I do a daily quiz thing in the newspaper and the word scramble. I don't know if they keep me sharper. I just like taking time during my lunch hour to do them. It's relaxing. Of course I read a lot of political editorials. Those might just be mind numbing? And I read novels and watch TV shows and listen to the local and national news. None of this is for the purpose of brain exercising. I just like to be informed.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So, I guess it's a case of use it or lose it! Sometimes I wish I could give my brain a REST instead of exercising it! I read, play Scrabble and Words on Facebook and I keep a jigsaw puzzle on a table - work in progress! I write something every single day.....in my journal, online, my book, something!
    I hear the news a lot since LD watches TV but if I didn't have him I would only watch local news stations!

    ReplyDelete