12 Ways To Keep Your Mind Sharp This Winter

The long winter nights can be a great excuse to retreat into cozy routines. And while it’s the perfect time of year to enjoy some rest and relaxation, it’s also an excellent time to invest in keeping your mind active and sharp. Whether you want to learn something new, improve your memory or just keep the winter blues away, a little mental agility can bring you many benefits.

From playing games to learning a new language, here are 12 ways you can keep your mind sharp this winter.

Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons

1. Learn a new skill

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but the truth is, you can learn a skill at any age. Why not use the winter months to learn a new craft or start a new hobby? Something that will keep you busy, and could perhaps come in handy one day.

Want to develop your skills at work? Try learning to code, design basics or how to film and edit videos on your phone. It’s good to keep your skillset fresh – you never know when it might come in handy for your job.

2. Get into reading

Reading is a fantastic way to expand your mind and keep your brain sharp. Reading opens up a lot of different worlds, and whether you’re a fiction fan or prefer a little non-fiction any type of reading has its benefits. Make the effort to read a little each day and turn it into a habit – it could be the perfect antidote to spending too much time on your phone or watching TV until late at night.

Why not set yourself a reading challenge? You could aim for a book a month to help keep things manageable. You could even start a book club as a way to motivate you to read and enjoy a little socializing with others.

3. Play games that are good for your brain

Playing games gets a bad reputation, but gaming can be great for the brain, especially for seniors. It’s all about choosing the right type of games – ones that will stretch your mind and maybe even boost your cognitive skills too.

Mahjong is a game that’s said to help fight Alzheimer’s, while chess has been known to improve focus. These types of games help you think strategically and logically, while also boosting your memory. Playing games is also a fantastic way to bring people together. Whether you play with a partner, a family member or someone online, playing games helps develop social connections and lets you have a little fun too.

4. Journal

Journaling has some incredible benefits for your mental health. It can help reduce anxiety and regulate your emotions, but it’s also a wonderful way to reflect on your day and the things that have happened in it. Even if you don’t read what you’ve written ever again, it can feel cathartic to let it all out.

Getting started with journaling is easy, and even phones come with journaling apps built-in to make it even easier to get started. Try writing for five minutes each day, and build it up if you find it’s something you enjoy.

5. Do something active

Keeping active is important throughout the year, but it’s even more important in winter. It’s easy for your hibernation instinct to set in, with ‘it’s too cold’ or ‘it’s too dark’ often used as an excuse not to exercise. Try forcing yourself to do some daily activity to help you stay active and burn a little energy throughout the day.

Walking is the ideal way to stay fit in winter. Simply wrap up warm, get some comfortable shoes on and start walking! Getting outside every day can help regulate your body clock and boost your mood, as well as have a positive impact on your sleeping patterns. Try to get outside at least once a day to see the difference it can have on your mind.

6. Learn a language

Why not use the winter to learn a new language, ready for your summer vacation? Learning a new language can change your brain, helping to boost your concentration and improve your memory. It can also be a social activity if you choose to sign up for some classes. Some of the things you can do to learn a new language include:

Join a class – either face-to-face or online.
Watch videos or listen to language learning podcasts.
Use language learning apps and games to help enhance your vocabulary and teach you sentence patterns.
Watch movies and TV shows in a different language with subtitles to help you understand what’s happening.

Learning a language can be a lot of fun, and become a valuable skill that can be used in many situations. By the time spring rolls around, you could be ready to order a meal in Italian or have a conversation with your Spanish-speaking neighbor!

7. Practice mindfulness

Some daily meditation or mindfulness can really help you keep your mind focused and reduce stress. It’s a wonderful thing to take 10 minutes to focus on your breathing and re-energize, and best of all – it’s very easy to get started.

The internet is full of guided meditations and mindfulness exercises. Give meditation for beginners a try and see the effect it can have on your stress levels and energy, ideal for combatting the long winter days.

8. Take a class

Taking some kind of class can be a wonderful thing to do for yourself this winter. It can be a great way to meet new people if you’re lonely, and it can teach you something really valuable too. Check out local classes in your community such as cooking, dance or crafting and invest in learning something new.

Classes can help you use your brain differently, giving you a little break from the ordinary and perhaps even helping you find a new passion!

9. Listen to podcasts

Have you discovered the delights of podcasts yet? Podcasts are incredibly popular, and can be a useful way to multitask if you want to engage your brain while driving, doing chores, etc. You will find plenty of recommendations for podcasts that will keep your brain sharp, or you can ask friends and family for their recommendations.

Podcasts are something you can pick up and listen to whenever you want, and many people find that their focus improves after listening to a podcast – especially if it’s about something you have a real interest in.

10. Challenge your memory

This winter, why not challenge your memory and give it a good stretch? Some memory tests and games can be a form of exercise for your brain, and could be a fun way to learn something new – even if it has no real value in your daily life. Some simple and enjoyable suggestions for challenging your memory include:

Learn to name all 50 states.
Learn all the countries of the world.
Learn the periodic table.
Learn all the presidents in order.
Learn every Best Picture winner since the Oscars began.

These are just some starting suggestions. You can find ready-made quizzes on platforms like Sporcle to make it easy for you to learn wherever you are.

11. Become a mentor

Could you use your skills and experience to help someone else in their life? Becoming a mentor can be very rewarding, in ways you may not expect. Mentoring someone can be a good way to share ideas, solve problems and provide guidance – things that can keep your mind sharp, but also help you in emotional ways.

There is usually a great demand for mentors, so whether you sign up through your workplace or a dedicated mentoring program, you can find plenty of amazing opportunities to mentor someone.

12. Practice yoga

Practicing yoga has the double benefit of being good for both your mental and physical health. Yoga helps:

Improve balance, strength and flexibility.
Boost your breathing.
Protect your body from injuries.
Ease problems and pain you might have, such as joint or muscular pain.
Manage stress.
Improve your mood.
Sleep easier.

There are different types of yoga, so it’s worth exploring different styles to help you find one that meets your needs. It’s also something you can do by yourself, with the help of a video or a class environment, giving you several options throughout the winter months.

While the winter months can feel long and drawn out, they provide opportunities for you to work on yourself and perhaps even change your life for the better. While you might be used to cozy routines or spending every night engrossed in the latest binge-able series, using your winter nights for something a little different could have its benefits. Explore different ways to keep your mind sharp this winter and see the difference it could make to your life.

SEARCH