Exercise Your Brain for Health & Well Being
Puzzles can help improve our memory, mental acuity, and overall health and well-being.
Crossword, jigsaw, sudoku, math, and logic puzzles are just a few examples. Think of these games as “mental aerobics” that can exercise and strengthen our mind.
It’s not surprising to see why there has been a dramatic increase in the sales of puzzles and games since the pandemic began…we’ve all been trying to fill the many hours at home! Puzzles are fun, and can keep boredom at bay, but they have another benefit…
It’s important to choose games that are at just the right skill level. Too easy, and there’s not much challenge at all. There should be an element of effort involved. Too difficult and we can become frustrated and give up. Start at the beginner level and work your way up to more difficult challenges; just as a person training for a marathon starts by running small distances.
Games exercise and stimulate mental activity.
Just as a car doesn’t run very well if left to sit in a garage all year, our minds need to be “used” for optimal operation. Games stimulate our brain because they force our minds to work in novel ways and they activate various cognitive functions, including memory, spatial relations, attention, and concentration. Studies show that people who frequently play brain games show a lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who don’t. And, that moment of accomplishment we feel when solving a puzzle gives our emotional well-being a boost. Who doesn’t feel proud and successful after beating a challenging game?
The crossword is possibly the most well-known and accessible brain game.
Perhaps the most widely known version is the New York Times crossword puzzle. The puzzles are published every day (a mini version of the crossword can also be played for free at: NYTimes.com/crosswords/game/mini); and they increase in difficulty, with Monday being the week’s easiest puzzle and Sunday being notoriously challenging. Books of NY Times crosswords can easily be purchased online for those who prefer pencil-and-paper instead of using a computer.
USA Today offers free crossword puzzles along with a wide array of other puzzles on its website (games.usatoday.com) You can easily play sudoku, card games, chess, and even jigsaw puzzles. You can also choose your difficulty level. This is a great site to try out a variety of games, allowing you to discover new games you both enjoy and are challenged by. The website Dictionary.com also offers a vast amount of free crossword puzzles in an easy-to-use format. Another plus of using Dictionary.com is that it features a “word of the day,” which is a marvelous way to upgrade your vocabulary!
Braingle.com is another terrific website that features a wide variety of games. The standard games are all there, but there are also thousands of riddles, logic puzzles, and optical illusions, to name a few. Many of these games don’t need to be “played” on the computer, so if you’re looking to share them with someone who either doesn’t own or isn’t adept at using a computer, they can be printed out.
Brain games are just one of the tools in a toolbox of activities that keep our bodies and minds healthy.
Other tools include: eating healthy foods; being physically active; sleeping well; and staying socially connected. If you’re looking for a fun new activity to engage in, either for yourself or for a loved one, why not pick one that can also be beneficial to your overall health?