Cognitive decline is one of the most concerning aspects of getting older. And somewhat peversely, as life expectancy rises, so the rate of dementia follows suit. According to a report by The Guardian, “Dementia is the biggest health crisis of our time…as statistics show the condition was the primary cause of death in England and Wales last year.”
Phew, that was a rough start. Want to hear some better news? Some studies suggest that we might be able to give our brains a workout and have fun at the same time by taking up a new hobby or two.
The benefits of taking up a hobby are well documented. Not only can they keep our brain sharp, warding off those senior moments we all sometimes (even in our youth) suffer from. But hobbies can also have a hugely positive effect on our mental health. Indeed, studies have shown that they can help relieve stress, make us happier and give us a new sense of purpose with our leisure time. Oh, and they can be super sociable, too. What’s not to love?
With all this in mind, here are 8 hobbies that help keep your mind sharp.
CROSSWORDS
‘‘One word. Five letters. The second and last letters, D and L. The clue is ‘perfectly suited’…’’ (see the end of the article for the answer.)
Crossword puzzles come in all sorts of levels of difficulty, sizes and shapes, from quick to challenging, and clear to cryptic. What they all have in common is their ability to keep the mind fresh and focused, by extending our logistical and literacy skills.
Indeed, research by the University of Exeter Medical School and Kings College London found that practitioners of word puzzles maintain brain function as they age, especially when it comes to attention, reasoning, and memory.
Ideal tip: Make doing the crossword part of your daily morning routine. Buy a crossword puzzle book or do the one in your daily newspaper while you enjoy your coffee and cereal.
CODING
We know what you’re thinking; coding isn’t exactly a fun hobby. However, you’d be surprised by just how many people who start coding soon become passionate about it.
From the sense of accomplishment when solving a really complicated problem and becoming part of a coding community, all the way to the pleasure of making things that are useful to other people, coding can be fulfilling in more ways than one. Moreover, if you’re looking for something to challenge your grey matter, then this is it.
As highlighted by the FDM Group, the benefits of coding on our brains are incredible. They explain that “Coding can help you improve your logical thinking skills by allowing you to see problems from a new perspective”.
Ideal tip: For those that have never tried coding before, start with a small computer like a Raspberry Pi, which is wonderful for beginners with its easy-to-use functionality.
CHESS
A game that has existed since the 8th century, chess combines competition with critical thinking skills as we attempt to beat our opponents on the famous chequered board.
Learn how to plan moves, make difficult decisions and get creative with playing styles, all while improving at one of the world’s most universally loved and respected past times.
Some even believe that these skills – of foresight and planning – can be applied to life outside of chess, too. Getting into chess is easy; look out for chess clubs in community centres or get invested by watching chess-related media like Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit.
SUDOKU
This deceptively simple Japanese numbers game has been said to help brain function, with a study in the Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry finding that increased playing of sudoku led to better brain function in the over 50s. What’s more, Everyday Health have recently reported that ‘‘a brain game like sudoku…can help delay dementia and Alzheimer’s’’. Wow!
When the rules of sudoku are understood, the game is incredible for problem-solving, logical thinking and memory, all of which could potentially boost brain functionality.
READING
If you’re not a numbers type of person, then the good news is that reading can keep your mind sharp, too. A study found that people who engage their brains in an activity such as reading are 2.5 times less likely to develop the degenerative disease Alzheimer’s.
Reading is perhaps the world’s most beloved hobby, and certainly one of the healthiest; it’s educational, informative, entertaining and oh-so relaxing.
Ideal tip: Become a bedtime reader. According to The Sleep Council, ‘‘39% of people who are in the habit of reading before they go to sleep, sleep very well’’. So, get into the habit of reading a chapter before bed to better both your brain and your sleep.
JIGSAW PUZZLES
Ideal for logical thinking, reasoning and pattern recognition development, puzzles are a lifelong hobby that everyone can enjoy.
Today there are so many intricate puzzles out there to really give your brain a workout, from fully 3D models to optical illusion puzzles.
Or, you can attempt one of the biggest puzzles in the world from Grafika, which has 54,000 and covers 190 sq ft. The puzzle comprises 50 paintings by artists ranging from van Gogh to Klimt, Arcimboldo to Brueghel or Monet to Leonardo da Vinci. It should be noted that it will set you back £399 and can be pretty (very) frustrating to complete. Or, you could just stick to a more achievable one picture painting of the Mona Lisa instead.
Ideal tip: Make puzzle night a regular activity with friends and family.
LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE
According to one study discussed in Country Living, learning a new language can boost your IQ by a whopping 9.71%. Moreover, it may also help prevent cognitive decline.
As the British Academy highlights, “language learning engages an extensive brain network that is known to overlap with the regions negatively affected by the aging process”. Alongside this, “learning a new language can people who speak other languages often exhibit more empathy and a global mindset” and allegedly can even make us appear more attractive.
Ideal Tip: Learning a new language is now more accessible than ever thanks to apps like Duolingo and Rosetta Stone, which have revolutionised the way we learn languages. The free versions, which although limited in scope and reach, provide an opportunity to get some beginner words under your belt.
COOK NEW RECIPES
Now this is a hobby everyone can get on board with – we all have to eat after all! When trying new recipes, you get to give your brain a little workout, learning new techniques, skills, ingredients and dishes. And according to that Country Living research we just mentioned, trying new recipes every week can boost your brain by 4.17%.
Ideal Tip: Consider signing up for a recipe box that lets you expand your cooking repertoire with ease. You can either order boxes with all your ingredients, like with Gousto and Hello Fresh, or you can just get the dry ingredients with Simply Cook, and buy the fresh food needed separately.
Do be aware, however, that you are paying for the convenience. These boxes aren’t necessarily good for your wallet when compared to buying the same ingredients at the supermarket.
Not one to usually direct you away from our website, but food writer Jack Monroe is such an authority on meals that won’t break the budget, so let us send you to Cooking On A Bootstrap. The recipe section is deep and broad; go get it!
THE BOTTOM LINE
Your brain is a muscle, and just like the rest of the body, it needs a workout to keep it healthy. Push your boundaries and try and to do different things – challenging yourself is key to keeping your mind sharp!
Oh, and the answer was ‘IDEAL’, of course. Isn’t it always?