As we get older, we begin to lose a lot of mental focus and clarity. As our bodies and minds begin to fail us with age, it’s important that we maintain a high level of personal care to keep up our physical and mental health. One of the best ways to keep mental clarity as you age is to frequently engage in mental exercises. Mental exercises not only sharpen your wits but also provide satisfaction and a morale boost when completed. So what are the best mental exercises to engage in? Let’s take a look.
Crossword Puzzles/Wordle
One of the best ways to exercise your mind is through the use of crossword puzzles. Not only do these puzzles challenge you to recall words, but they also make you think critically about the clues. This year, the word game Wordle exploded in popularity, giving the elderly another form of word puzzle to train their brain. Crossword puzzles and Wordle are fun and interactive, and they even can be a great bonding tool. Doing word puzzles with family and friends can be a great way to spend some time together, while simultaneously training your brain to be sharper.
Sudoku
Much like word puzzles, Sudoku offers a great chance for the elderly to sharpen their mental acuity. Sudoku is a 9×9 grid puzzle where the aim is to fill in each square so that no column or row has a repeating number. These puzzles range from very easy to extremely complicated, depending on how many numbers are given initially. Critical thinking and planning are required to complete a Sudoku puzzle, making it a great tool to increase mental sharpness. The satisfaction of completing a difficult Sudoku puzzle is great, and will surely boost morale.
Cooking
Outside of puzzles, cooking is one of the best ways for the elderly to stay engaged and mentally active. Cooking requires a lot of thinking as you need to juggle various tasks such as planning recipes, measuring ingredients, and monitoring cooking times. Cooking is also a great activity to do with friends and family, especially baking. Baking and cooking with children and grandchildren is a great way to spend some time together with a fun activity. In the end, you’ll also have some delicious food to enjoy, which will surely boost the morale of all.
Arts & Crafts
Another great creative outlet for the elderly to enjoy is arts and crafts. In order to make arts and crafts, one needs to tap into the creative part of your mind. Additionally, there’s plenty of planning and designing involved, making it a great way to keep your mind sharp. There’s also a variety of avenues you can pursue with arts and crafts such as drawing, painting, sewing, and crafting. Arts and crafts may be challenging, but it’s a great opportunity for the elderly to focus on a task and have a creative outlet. Additionally, friends and family will love seeing and receiving the creations you make for them!
