Got Cabin Fever this winter? Find ways to stimulate your brain!
Cabin fever. It's a pain, isn't it? It's winter, it's cold, and you're sick and tired of being stuck in the house with nothing to do. The pandemic has taken away many of your favorite activities and social events, and each day seems like it blends into the day before. Do you feel like your brain is rotting away from boredom?
Here are some ways you can keep your mind stimulated so that you can banish that cabin fever and feel more alert and energetic.
Play Brain-Boosting Games With Others - You can give your brain a workout by playing games! Consider games like Scrabble, chess, sudoku, or any other game that gives you an intellectual puzzle to solve. (Chess has become more popular recently thanks to The Queen's Gambit!) It can be a board game that you play with your family, or an online game that you play with others remotely. Playing games by yourself can be fun, but playing with others gives your brain an extra challenge because you're interacting with people and engaging in some friendly competition!
Practice Meditation - Meditation can do more for you than just calming you down. It can also increase your ability to process information and enhance your concentration and memory! Meditating involves being in a quiet location with your body in a comfortable position. It can be done in as little as 5 minutes, or you can do it for longer if you want. Breathe slowly and deeply while letting your mind rest, grounding yourself in the present moment without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Meditation is a wonderful way to improve both your mood and your brain function.
Jump Into A New Skill - Try to get started learning a new skill, such as studying a new language, teaching yourself how to draw, working with your hands to build and make things, playing a musical instrument, or cooking tricky recipes. Trying to take on a new skill that's difficult for you is an excellent way to build up your brainpower! With regular practice, you'll get better and better.
Dance The Night Away - Dance has many amazing benefits. It doesn't matter whether you're a dance pro or you always trip over your own feet. Dancing gets your body moving and gives you the exercise you need -- and it also challenges your brain, because you have to memorize lots of moves and constantly be aware of your body positions. Pick any dance style you want, and have fun!
Explore Your Curiosity - If you're stuck at home and bored out of your mind, now is the perfect time for your mind to learn and grow. Find documentaries to watch on subjects you don't know much about. Watch YouTube videos about science, math, history, or language arts. Dive deep into fascinating topics you've always been curious about. You might learn something surprising!
Be Like Tom Brady - No, I don't mean winning a million Super Bowls. I mean training your brain! Tom Brady uses the BrainHQ training program to sharpen his mind in the areas of attention, brain speed, memory, people skills, navigation, and intelligence. You can try some BrainHQ sample exercises yourself by visiting their website.
Cabin fever may have you feeling like you're losing your mind. But if you do these things, this long, cold winter might turn out to be more fun than you thought!
