Challenge your brain by adopting new activities that stimulate neuron growth and cognition.
Good physical conditioning has been at the forefront of health news for decades. More recently, mental health has taken the stage. As an issue that concerns us all, being able to view mental illness as on-par with a runny nose, a sick stomach, or cancer, is a paradigm shift that would benefit the entire world.
What about intellectual wellness, however? Is this about raising your SAT scores and being the next winning contestant on Jeopardy? Sort of, maybe. But not really.
Intellectual wellness isn’t a competition of smarts. It’s about doing interesting things and staying informed.These days, staying active and involved in scholastic pursuits, as well as cultural activities, and community events can be a challenge with the constant distraction of online media that lulls us into being inactive viewers rather than being enthusiastic participants. Simply put, it’s now so easy to sit around all day scrolling through celebrity Instagram images and clicking through your favorite kitty cat videos on Tik Tok that you can easily lose your edge. Increasing your intellectual wellness is all about pursuing intellectually stimulating activities for a sharper mind that’s better informed. Here are seven ways you can start.
Read a book before bedtime
Reading before going to sleep has been connected with increased math and language scores in children and it can also benefit adults. It can be easy to have a busy day that doesn’t allow for much downtime. By setting aside 30 minutes to one hour each night for reading before you fall asleep, you can vastly increase your exposure to new ideas. Experts say both fiction and non-fiction can be of benefit as both can expose you to patterns and new language. For a true challenge, find a topic you want to learn more about and dive in.
Reading can also be relaxing and allow you to have a better night’s sleep, leading to increased connections in your brain that allow you to perform at a higher level the next day.
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Tackle a foreign language
Taking up a new language can also be a great way to stimulate intellectual wellness. Learning a new language stimulates neural growth in your brain and the formation of new connections among existing neurons. Studies show that people who speak multiple languages are twice as likely to return to normal cognitive functioning following a stroke. It’s also been shown that bilingualism can promote better executive functioning and more focused behavior.
Learn a new musical instrument
As with learning a new language, challenging yourself to take up a new instrument can also lead to a more efficient brain. Research has shown that musicians, along with people who are bilingual, use fewer resources in their brain when completing working memory tasks. Playing a musical instrument can help slow down age-related cognitive and provide you with fun experiences along the way!
Take up dancing
Strap on your fancy dancing shoes and hit the floor. According to Harvard Medical School, dancing is said to not only reduce your stress-which is good for your brain- but it also increases your feel-good serotonin. Dancing is great for your intellect as it helps you develop new neural connections related to long-term memory, spatial recognition, and your executive functioning.
Journal your thoughts
Journaling is a habit held by many famous people including Oprah, Jennifer Aniston, Lady Gaga, and at one time, sources say, Einstein. The process of journaling can help you organize your thoughts, bring clarity to your feelings, reduce your stress and anxiety, and cope with depression. All of this can definitely lead to clearer thinking and better brain function.
Join a debating club
It can be easy to become set in your beliefs and your ways of thinking. Toss things up by joining a local debating club or meetup. This can encourage you to discuss the other side of arguments, leading to creative thinking and increased empathy. It can also encourage you to conduct research on topics you may not have known about previously.
Go to a museum
Museums are fountains of knowledge. It can be difficult to take in all they have to offer in just one visit. Visiting the same museum regularly over time can allow you to take in the information available on a deeper level. It can also be beneficial to visit other cultural institutions like the science center and historical points of interest. Act as a tourist in your own city!
Intellectual wellness is about keeping your mind active and engaged in the world around you in a meaningful way. Reach out to your friends and stay connected. As places reopen following pandemic shutdowns, now is the ideal time to revive life lived outside your home for a brighter mind and future.
photo credits: Tupungato/Shutterstock.com
