For those of you who prefer to be productive during your down time, I’d like to suggest four free apps to keep your brain happy & healthy. These brain games are a fun way to stretch your thinking, improve your memory and strengthen your problem-solving skills. And, just as it is with exercising your muscles, the more you practice the more you’ll see improvement. (Having said that, I probably should throw in a disclaimer that these brain exercises can be addictive!)
Have You Ever Had a Brain Fart?
Have you ever had a brain fart? You know, those dumbfounded moments (some longer than others) when your brain short circuits, and fogs up your thoughts or poofs them right out of your head! Well, I’ve had my share, especially with menopause.
The great news is we can keep them to a minimum. All we have to do is challenge our minds just like our muscles. Our brains continue to grow neurons throughout our lifespan, and they continually reshape themselves in response to what we learn. So, it’s never too late to learn something new. (No old dogs here!)
How Balanced Are You?
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Use it or lose it!” when it comes to your muscles and fitness level. Well, the same goes for your noggin. Our brains, like muscles, shrink and grow in response to certain stimuli. When we stretch ourselves mentally we avoid brain atrophy. The key to a younger, sharper mind is to constantly be challenging it.
Here’s a fun little test from “You Staying Young” by Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen. (I highly recommend this “Owner’s Manual for Extending Your Warranty.”)
Jog Your Memory
Here’s something that will blow your mind—on average, our brains have 100 billion (that’s 100,000,000,000) nerve cells and each cell receives 100 messages a second. Wow! Unfortunately, as we age, we begin to lose our brain cells—about 40,000 to 50,000 a day. It’s a good thing we have so many! Another good thing is our brains will continue to grow and create new neural pathways if we exercise them. So, it’s never too late to boost your brain power.