How Do You Keep Your Head Sharp?
Obviously jobs involve brain power, but we also know that jobs often do things to make your brain worse.
So in your free time, what kind of things do you do to keep your head purring like a V8? Do you regularly do crossword puzzles, Sodoku, or Wordle?
Or do you have a hobby that helps keep your brain nimble? For instance, carpentry requires regular measurement and calculations. Knitting involves close attention to detail, record keeping and counting.
What kind of mental benefits do you find from whatever you do? Better memory? Quicker thinking? Better flexibility and creativity? Better memory? Wait did I just write that? I forgot.
I have found that deliberately not plugging in to headphones when I walk or run is pretty useful. Having a bloc of uninterrupted time when my mind can flow freely means that I can just let my mind mull over stuff and look at things from different angles. It helps break the kind of rigid if-then sequences that lead to constricted decision making.
Also, I did a Jumble the other day for some reason.
So, Deadsplinteratti, how do you challenge your head and engage in the kind of active problem solving that keeps you from being a reactive tool or a damn dirty ape?
I engage my brain by playing music. I have a few instruments that I focus on, but every 5 years or so, I decide to pick up another. Plus, the martial arts are supposed to be good for the old noodles.
Supposedly people like Pau Casals and Andres Segovia stayed sharp forever because they played Bach every single day.
I try to kill off all the weak brain cells so only the smart ones figure out the plan & avoid death. Not sure it is working but I’m too invested in this to turn back now.
Meh, what was the question? I save the Wordle for a filler when I segue from finance mode into marketing mode at work. The Sunday NYT crossward and an Irish coffee is a habit. I should exercise to keep the old brain sharpish…some day?
I used to love doing crossword puzzles. But I don’t get a newspaper anymore and the puzzle books just aren’t as good. So I mostly play video games instead. I think they’re good for my brain up to a point. If I play too long I zone out. Yoga is good brainwork.
The physical logic of things like yoga is supposed to be important in a way that purely mental problem solving falls short. I’m not accomplished enough to know why, exactly.
My theory is that physical activity that makes use of coordination, perception, proprioception, balance, and the other higher functions of the brain light up the parts of the brain that don’t get used much as we get older. Think of the feeling you got when you learned to drive, or learned a new dance step. It’s why I believe tai chi helps my older students so much. I’ve been teaching for decades and I’ve never met a tai chi practitioner with severe cognitive decline.
I think that’s the right way to look at things. Things like muscle memory and spatial awareness aren’t isolated and need to be engaged in conjunction with other parts of the mind.
Yes, and that includes the perception of beauty. In tai chi and in music, we strive not just to do something, but to do something beautifully (whatever that means to you). It is a whole brain/nervous system/muscles thing, with the high functions of the brain connecting with the lower functions of the body. I think this is what is meant by mind-body connection.
It’s funny, I didn’t used to talk like this, thinking that it was too new-agey and woo-woo. But as I get older, I see there is wisdom in thinking about things this way.
This might not count but I watch shows actively as opposed to passively. I’m constantly trying to solve the plot and even dialogue before it happens. Lucky for me, my husband doesn’t mind my interjections and speculations because I am right 80% of the time and it is like my super power.
Knives Out was such a fun movie and I think it was so successful because it forced audiences to engage that way. I’m not sure why more writers and directors don’t try harder to work at that level. They don’t seem to understand how to embrace mystery.
As basic as this sound, the most important thing for me to stay sharp is regular sleep.
That and regular exercise.
This explains why I’m so stupid! Tomorrow I’m getting up at 330am, not sure how much dumber I can get!
not sure my heads ever purred like a v8…
i figure between work and the amount of reading i do any given day i’m probably good
i do enjoy going for walks…dunno if it helps anything….but its relaxing just having a wander about with no goal or destination in mind