ModeratedUser150120149

More and more we elders are hearing about how important it is to keep the mind active as we age. There is even an industry focused on "brain games" and such. I was wondering what others are doing?

I know physically we ride bikes and do other things. But, what about keeping the mind fit? What do you do?

Barrettscv 

I enjoy international news programs. It helps when working with a wide range of people to know the current events from a non American news source. The BBC and France 24 are good global news organizations. I'm also learning a new language, although progress is slow on that endeavor.

chasm54

There's some evidence, I believe, that staying physically fit and active helps protect against dementia, so cycling isn't a negligible contribution to continuing mental acuity.

I read. I read a lot, history as well as fiction. I have done a few MOOCs, mainly on philosophical themes. MOOCs are a fantastic innovation, they're going to change the face of education, imo. And more trivially, I have always been keen on crossword puzzles. As long as I can complete the crossword in the London Times in under an hour or so, I'll feel the mental processes are still more-or-less intact.

Still can't remember people's names, though. But that has nothing to do with ageing.

dual650c

The possibilities are endless.
- Play "mind games" like Sudoku, Scrabble, chess, etc. either alone or with others. Personally, I like the interaction with others most of the time (but I also really value alone time).
- Engage in "pen pal" type activities online. This can be combined with 2nd language learning practice on forums, web sites and chatrooms. I've become semi-conversational in 3 new languages, only 1 of which I actually knew when I was younger. As said above, international news/publications (especially when written for a non-English speaking audience) provide a different perspective on the world.
- Listen to music. Why does your grandchild like this or that new artist? If you've never heard Dvorak/Rimsky-Korsakov/bagpipe music, give it a listen (do a search on youtube). It may not be for everybody but what is? (I found it interesting to hear familiar pieces played solo on instruments that I'd never have associated with particular pieces.)
- Take up a new hobby. Research it online, at the library, or participate in a group setting.
- Go to a museum - do some research on the exhibits there, the artist/inventor/event. Create a "virtual bike tour" where you use Google maps (or something similar) to see places related to whatever turned you on (ex., plot a bike tour from home to Monticello if you saw an exhibit mentioning Thomas Jefferson)

I find I don't have enough time to do it all - there are too many things I want to do before my last ride.

Dave Cutter

I am not convinced that "video games" by any name are real brain exercises. I like the idea of old fashion learning. Brushing up on old knowledge and learning stuff you've never taken the time to absorb before. The Internet is a great knowledge resource if used that way... instead of just googling a quick for the minute fact.

I've taken up bicycle wrenching as a hobby. I've already purchased my "winter supply" of a couple old road bikes to restore during the winter. I've learned some real wrenching skills that are both satisfying and handy. I have other "tech" hobbies that are always evolving and require regular learning and updating of skills.

I like Barrettscv's ideas of learning a new language! I'd bet the materials could be borrowed from the library too! I've thought about French a bit.... I speak a little cycling French.... mostly learned at the local TREK dealers.

Biker395 

My job keeps my mind active enough. It's the first and only job I've ever had where I find myself wishing fewer of my brain cells died a premature alcohol-related death.

DnvrFox

I believe the challenge of conquering a tricky mtn bike single track, of navigating a road bike around folks on the MUP or cars on the road, learning and doing new resistance exercises (a la TRX) and stretches, challenging the system by writing letters, analyzing legislation and rules and regulations and writing white papers and web pages and organizing folks, even participating on this forum, directing and learning new songs and deciphering melodies and harmony with my gospel singing group - all are more "natural" forms of mind stimulation than playing sudoko, etc.

I sometimes wish I did not have so much stimulation.

oldroadog

Sometimes I think to much about work. I read, play chess, play music to stay mentally active and turn
Off the occupational problem solving mode.

FlatSix911

Solitaire

Ernest_T_Bass

I play chess and the piano, I sing along...but that doesn't count.

GravelMN

+1 for exercise and fitness helping maintain or improve mental function.

As for brain exercise, I read a lot in addition to a mentally stimulating and challenging job. Activities that promote focus and problem solving, like wheel building and bike mechanics in general, also seem to help. I think it is important to change things up from time to time to force your brain to make new connections.

Cognitive

I'm 54 plus and a practicing software & human factors engineer. My job alone is enough to keep the brain running but in addition I read / listen to books, play video games like a teenager, engage in other brain-related hobbies (photography), and do not watch TV. In my spare time I also started learning another language.

climberguy

Meditation. Calming the mind and letting go of stress helps keep my brain fresh and improves my memory, among other things.

volosong

I'm too stupid to have not retired yet. I think I'll live by the alarm clock for about three to three and a half more years. I have a good job. No, wait! I don't have a "job" . . . I get paid for a hobby. I work in the space program controlling and monitoring two earth sensing instruments on two different environmental satellites. If that isn't enough to keep my mind turning, I also teach at the local community college in the evenings.

I'm really looking forward to retirement because there are so many classes I want to take. Stuff like physics, because that explains how 'everything' works. I'd like to take some history classes, and some more languages, specifically Latin. I'm sure there are other subjects that I'd be interesting in learning about. I guess when I move after retirement, I'll have to live in a college town. Also want to resume piano lessons too. I hope before I die that I will be able to play some Gottschalk.

MickeyMaguire

I write books, read a lot, and have a lot of hobbies and income streams. I am also an artist working in pen & ink, watercolor, calligraphy, photography (wrote a book titled "Frame That Shot"). I shoot, among other things, vacation and travel shots, dramatic portraits, landscapes. I am also a computer guy and singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. I own a publishing company that produces two magazines and books. I am a copy-editor as well. Retirement? It's not for me. I'll work until I'm pushing up daisies. I am thinking about moving to Florida and opening a bicycle repair business.

Barrettscv 

This app is the best I've found, and it's free: https://www.duolingo.com/

I also watch foreign language films with subtitles, this is very helpful. If studying French, try this series: MAIGRET | MHz Networks: Programming for a Globally Minded Audience

It's like watching PBS Masterpiece Mystery, except in French. Nicolas Le Floch is a period French drama that is action packed and is some of the best intrigue be found: https://www.mhznetworks.org/series/nicolas-le-floch

I enjoy Detective Montablano in Italian, it's superb drama and very authentic: https://www.mhznetworks.org/series/detective-montalbano

Dave Cutter

Very nice! Now... to decide which language I'd like to learn. French is so cycling-ish (a good thing), I already know a little German (might be nice to improve on that). Spanish would be good (I could tell what people in Walmart are saying).

rydabent

Just stay active such as biking, and stay engaged in everyday life. If you just set you rust.

chasm54

Spanish is easy. Nice regular grammar, and a huge overlap with English in terms of vocabulary. Fantastica. I spent three months in Spain a couple of years ago and found it surprisingly easy to grasp.

The challenge, for me, was less in making myself understood (easy) but in understanding (hard). I have a poor ear, so even when I understood the vocabulary I frequently had difficulty in deciphering the rapidly-spoken phrases. Stuff I understood perfectly when reading became incomprehensible in conversation. But it got better over time.

volosong

Wow. That's the opposite for me. I can understand a whole lot more than I can communicate. Only time I get lost is if the discussion gets technical, philosophical, or the speaker talks really fast. In normal conversation, I may not get every word, but do understand the gist of the conversation.

Italian is fairly easy also. It is so similar to Spanish. On one trip to Italy, I went into a shop to purchase something or other. The proprietor didn't understand English and I didn't know Italian well enough to communicate my needs. On a whim, I spoke to him in Spanish and he understood perfectly what I wanted. He couldn't talk back to me in Spanish, but understood perfectly.

Now French! I'm having a devil of a time with that one. It's just plain weird. Hard to believe it has the same root as Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. Haven't given up yet. I think learning a foreign language is a lot more difficult for us older folk. Youngsters have a definite advantage over us in this area.

jim_de_hunter

Started an MS degree in Math 2 years ago. Finish it in May. Then onto two research groups.

FBinNY 

Among other things, I read and post on threads here on BF. The mechanics forum offers plenty of brin teasers, starting with deciphering the qwestion, to figuring out what might be wrong, then "fixing" the problem, all without seeing or touching the bike.

fietsbob

Playing a Musical Instrument ( & sparring here ) have the online radio going at the same time

Local KMUN - Coast Community Radio KBOO | Community Radio for Portland and beyond & KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley: Listener Sponsored Free Speech Radio | KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley: Listener Sponsored Free Speech Radio & BBC - iPlayer Radio ..

late

Video games can be challenging. Shooters are the most common, and they use parts of the brain.
Strategy games use other parts.

And I challenge, nay dare, anyone saying that video games don't challenge your mind to try Portal.
It's 3-D puzzles will fry your synapses. 10 bucks on Steam.

Speaking of thinking in 3D, I like air combat sims. First time you fly into a big furball it's visually overwhelming.
For about 3 or 4 seconds.

ButchA

Playing a musical instrument (or in my case - instruments) is the #1 thing for me. One of my goals in life is to learn to play every instrument known to man. In the photo below, all that is missing is a sax (which I can play but don't own (yet)).

Front row: An old marching band mellophone (i.e. like a french horn in the key of F), Ibanez mandolin, my grandmother's antique heirloom violin.
Middle row: Yamaha 12 string acoustic, Fender Stratocaster, a recorder in C (behind mandolin), Holton Collegiate trumpet, Bundy clarinet, Conn Director trombone, an old (1950's?) Crown Euphonium (i.e. Baritone), Samick electric bass.
Back row: My new/used Yamaha DGX-505 portable grand, full size, 88-key, electronic keyboard.