You’ve probably been keeping up with recent events in the news, and one of those recent trends is the growing awareness of mental illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Sadly, these are conditions that take control of your mind and cause you to suffer from memory loss, along with the loss of your ability to speak and even erratic mood swings. The onset of these diseases cannot be halted, but they can be postponed if you maintain a healthy brain and memory. It’s understandable that you’d want to keep your brain sharp, especially if you’ve got a business to run or a career ladder to climb. Enjoying oneself is a great way to accomplish this. Check out these activities that are sure to help you remember things and keep your mind sharp.

Keep the newspaper’s crossword puzzle

Besides the comics and crosswords, why do people buy newspapers? Rather than tossing your newspaper in the recycling bin, try your hand at a crossword puzzle once a week. When you’ve finished it, you’ll not only feel like you’ve accomplished something significant but also like your brain has been exercised and your general knowledge has been tested. Both of these things are very beneficial. If you are not the type of person who enjoys reading the newspaper on a regular basis, then you should consider purchasing a crossword activity book for yourself so that you can challenge your brain on occasion. Absolutely no looking ahead at the solutions!

Learn a new skill

Is there something you’ve always wanted to master, but never got around to doing it? Now is the perfect time! Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn more DIY skills, or perhaps you’ve always liked the idea of being able to play the saxophone. Alternatively, you could put your brain to the test but learning more about the career you’re aiming for, if you’re not already there. Take some classes and upskill yourself for a sharper mind and a brighter future.

Play strategy-based computer games.

Did you know that playing certain kinds of video games can actually help improve your mental capabilities? Computer games significantly help train your brain to focus for longer, even though it may seem like all you’re doing is killing a boss or shooting your friends in the head. In addition to this, the level of determination you have to complete levels or accomplish something inside your computer games also increases. There are many reasons to justify playing computer games, and one of them is that it helps improve your memory.

Keep your memory in tip-top shape by regularly using brain-training apps.

The younger generation of today is constantly absorbed in their mobile devices, especially their smartphones. It’s understandable that we don’t want to put down our mobile devices, given that they now enable us to perform virtually any task with just a few taps or swipes. Why not use Wordle and other brain training apps to keep your mind sharp while you’re on the go?

Play cards

Playing card games is another fantastic activity that can help keep your mind in peak condition. As if playing rummy wasn’t enough of a challenge for your mental abilities, your brain is unknowingly taking note of the cards that are dealt. Card games are yet another type of strategic activity that will require you to use more of your brain power than you would normally. Not only that, but they are also a lot of fun! You can put your skills to the test even further by attempting to recognise a pattern in the cards and guessing the hand that you will be dealt.

Start practising magic.

Finally, magicians are known for having some of the most acute minds in the world. This is due to the fact that in order to fool their audiences, they engage in fast-paced thinking, use sleight of hand, and perform illusions. Keeping your brain active can be as simple as picking up a few magic tricks and practising them until you have them down perfectly. A fantastic programme to watch if you are interested in learning magic or even just watching magicians perform is Fool Us, which features the legendary Penn and Teller.

To summarise, there are a wide variety of things you can do to enhance your memory and mental sharpness over time. You’ll also notice that it’s pretty easy to have fun while you’re doing it, which is a welcome bonus. That being the case, what are you still sitting there thinking about?