By Michelle Wilson, wellness program manager
Keeping our brains healthy
This month one of the things we are thinking about is intellectual well-being, which is an important part of staying healthy. At La Clinica, we think of intellectual well-being as including the ways we think, learn, and make sense of the world. We can support intellectual wellness by learning new things and by doing things that are creative.
What are your favorite ways to be creative? What do you like to do to challenge your brain? Here are a few ideas we’ve come up with that may help you get started:
- Find a hobby that keeps your brain challenged. If you enjoy cooking, learn new recipes. If you like to make things with your hands, learn how to create something you’ve never done before, such as a small piece of furniture or a craft project. If you enjoy art, take a class (online or in-person) on new art techniques.
- Plan game nights. Whether you enjoy old-fashioned board games like checkers and chess or newer strategy games like Catan, or anything in between, board games are great for keeping our brains active and keeping us connected to others. Card games are also fun, or you may pull out a favorite game from childhood and see how you enjoy it as an adult.
- Read a good book or pick up a magazine. Even reading for a short amount of time each day helps our brains continue to develop. The library is a great place to start or check out a local bookstore. If you don’t enjoy reading regularly, think about a subject that interests you and look for something on that topic. Make reading fun and interesting by choosing subjects that keep you engaged.
- Choose a topic to learn about this year. Give yourself a goal to finally learn more about a subject that has always interested you. Do you want to travel but can’t do it as often as you like? Travel in your mind by choosing cultures that interest you and start researching and reading about them. Learn how to play a musical instrument or take a cooking class. Look for flyers at the library or at other public places that share information about classes or workshops. Check out La Clinica’s wellness page for great classes we offer to patients.
Research shows us that our brains keep changing and growing throughout our lives. Make a commitment to keep your brain healthy by doing things you enjoy and continue learning as long as you can.
Tip: Think back to when you were a child. What were you interested in? What did you enjoy doing? Start there and choose one thing to do this week to keep your brain active and healthy.