How to Keep Your Mind Sharp

by | Jun 11, 2024 | How To | 0 comments

If you are soon who often walks into a room and instantly forgets why you went in there in the first place, or if you often struggle to remember the names of the colleagues you see five days a week, then it could be that your brain health is not as good as it could be but don’t worry because there are lots of things you can do to change that, and many of them are a lot of fun too, as you will see below…

1. Crack the Puzzles

And I’m not just talking about jigsaw puzzles that you spread out on the dining table and hope your cat doesn’t sabotage. Dive into all kinds of puzzles—crosswords, Sudoku, logic puzzles, the works. These aren’t just ways to kill time in the doctor’s waiting room; they challenge your brain, improve problem-solving skills, and enhance your attention to detail. Plus, the feeling of putting in that last piece of the Sudoku puzzle? Priceless.

2. Get Your Game On

Who said video games are just for kids? Certain video games are like a StairMaster for your brain. Opt for strategy games, trivia games, or even some old-school Tetris. These games force you to make rapid decisions, remember key details, and focus intensely, all of which give your brain a fantastic workout. Plus, shouting “Just one more level!” at 2 a.m. is an adrenaline rush unlike any other.

3. Feed Your Brain

Your brain loves to eat, and no, we’re not talking about devouring the latest gossip. Certain foods are like superfuel for your noggin. Fatty fish rich in omega-3s (think salmon, trout, and sardines), blueberries packed with antioxidants, turmeric with its powerful anti-inflammatory effects, and even dark chocolate (yes, chocolate!) can boost brain health and mental performance. Just try not to eat that dark chocolate bar all in one sitting. It’s about balance, folks.

4. Say Yes to New Experiences

Variety isn’t just the spice of life; it’s also a fantastic brain sharpener. Sticking to the same old routine can turn your brain into a couch potato. Learn a new language, pick up a musical instrument, or take a cooking class. New experiences challenge the brain in unique ways, encouraging the formation of new neural pathways. Plus, you might discover a hidden talent or passion that’s been waiting to shine.

5. Become a Social Butterfly

Isolation is the arch-nemesis of a sharp mind. Social interaction stimulates our brains in a way that solo activities can’t quite match. Engaging in lively discussions, sharing stories, and even the occasional heated debate keep your brain engaged and challenged. So, call up a friend, plan a family game night, or join a club. Your brain will thank you for the company.

6. Keep It Physical

What’s good for your heart is good for your brain. Physical exercise, especially cardiovascular, boosts blood flow to the brain. This isn’t just about bulking up or slimming down; regular exercise can improve memory, enhance cognitive abilities, and even help stave off mental decline. Whether it’s yoga, hiking, dancing, or joining a local sports team, find an activity that makes you sweat and stick with it.

7. Meditate Your Way to Mental Clarity

In the never-ending circus of life, it’s important to give your brain a break. Meditation isn’t just for yogis and monks; it’s a scientifically backed way to enhance cognitive function. Regular meditation can help increase your attention span, decrease stress, and improve memory. Even just a few minutes a day can make a difference. Sit down, clear your mind, and breathe. Ahh, feels better already, doesn’t it?

8. Sleep On It

Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. Sleep plays a critical role in brain health. It’s the time when your brain gets to hit the refresh button, processing the day’s information, consolidating memories, and repairing any damage. Lack of sleep can fog up your thinking and critically impair your cognitive function. So, make those 7-9 hours of sleep a non-negotiable part of your day. Your brain—and probably your coworkers—will thank you.

9. Teach What You Know

They say the best way to learn is to teach, and they’re not wrong. Sharing your knowledge with others forces you to refine your understanding and simplify complex concepts, which is a fantastic mental exercise. So, whether it’s tutoring a student, giving a presentation at work, or explaining the rules of football to your grandma, teaching is a great way to enhance mental clarity and retention.

10. Stay Curious

Keep that curiosity alive! Always asking questions, exploring, and seeking new information can help maintain a vibrant and sharp mind. Curiosity leads to lifelong learning, which is perhaps the most enjoyable and enriching way to keep your brain active and engaged.

11. Harness the Power of Music

Listening to or playing music can be a delightful way to stimulate cognitive functions. Research suggests that music can enhance brain connectivity, improve memory, and reduce anxiety. Encourage readers to listen to classical compositions, jazz improvisations, or even try their hand at an instrument. Not only does music enrich your life aesthetically, but it also provides a rigorous workout for various parts of the brain involved in attention, prediction, and emotion.

12. Engage in Regular Reading

Regular reading not only entertains but it also profoundly stimulates the brain. Diving into different genres—be it fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or scientific journals—can expand vocabulary, improve empathy, and enhance decision-making skills by providing new insights and perspectives. Challenge readers to set a reading goal each month to keep their cognitive wheels smoothly turning.

13. Brain Training Apps

Introduce readers to the world of brain training apps, which offer a plethora of games and exercises designed to improve cognitive functions such as memory, problem-solving skills, and mental flexibility. Recommend trying apps like Lumosity, Peak, or CogniFit, which provide structured challenges that users can engage in daily for mental development and maintenance.

14. Explore Nature

Spending time in nature isn’t just good for the body; it’s also beneficial for the brain. Activities like hiking, bird watching, or even gardening can help reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance attention and memory. Encourage readers to take regular walks in natural settings to disconnect from the digital world and allow their minds to rest and rejuvenate.

15. Documentaries and Educational Programs

Encourage readers to watch documentaries and educational programs. This can broaden knowledge and spark curiosity in new subjects. Platforms like Netflix, PBS, or National Geographic offer a wealth of content that can inform and inspire, from nature and science to history and art.

16. Mindful Coloring

Promote the practice of mindful coloring, which uses complex coloring books designed for adults. This activity can be a therapeutic tool for easing stress, enhancing concentration, and promoting a state of relaxation. It’s a perfect quiet activity for calming the mind and can be especially effective before bedtime to help wind down.

17. Strategic Board Games

Suggest engaging in strategic board games like chess, Settlers of Catan, or Risk. These games require critical thinking, long-term planning, and cognitive flexibility, making them excellent for brain health. They also offer a fun way to spend time with friends or family, combining social interaction with intellectual challenge.

Keeping your mind sharp is not only, as you can see, a lot of fun, but it is also a good way to ensure that your brain ages gracefully, your memory stays fresh, and you continue to have a great quality of life, as you get older, too. It’s pretty important!

In Columbia, Maryland, there’s a former grocery store that has been transformed into a department store for mythical creatures, time travelers, and intergalactic tourists.

It’s called DoodleHATCH.

You can groom a unicorn, visit an intergalactic space station, climb onto a giant’s bed, meet guinea pigs, explore an artist’s studio, and discover approximately a million other things that somebody actually sat down and made.

It’s a nonprofit interactive art museum, a community project, an educational resource, and one of my favorite places I’ve ever discovered.

And it could be demolished as part of a proposed redevelopment of the Long Reach Village Center.

But there’s still an opportunity to help.

You don’t need to donate money. You don’t need to live in Maryland. And you don’t need to know anything about zoning laws.

You can start by writing an email.

🚨 Here's what's happening

Developer Columbia Concepts has proposed redeveloping the Long Reach Village Center in Columbia, Maryland.

The proposal would replace existing buildings with new housing, recreational facilities, and other development.

Unfortunately, that puts a whole collection of existing community resources at risk of being demolished, including:

  • DoodleHATCH Interactive Art Museum
  • Maryland Fashion Institute
  • A makerspace used for community education
  • Local restaurants, shops, and service businesses
  • Early childhood education and community programs
  • A 140-foot-long mural created by approximately 100 community members

This isn’t just about losing a fabulous museum. It’s about losing an entire collection of places that people have built, supported, and relied on.

And there’s another possibility!

🌈 Meet The REALM

Lee Andersen, the founder of DoodleHATCH, and her nonprofit ManneqART want to preserve the existing community resources and transform the village center into an arts and culture destination called The REALM.

Imagine a place where artists have studios, children have room to explore, students can learn creative skills, people can attend performances, and local businesses continue serving their neighbors.

There are plans for a performing arts space, more opportunities for artists, and a Witches Kitchen that might serve you a horrible-disgusting breakfast.

Which, personally, I think sounds promising.

The people behind DoodleHATCH are gathering support to oppose the developer’s zoning proposal and advocate for The REALM.

And they’d love your help.

💌 How to help in about two minutes

If you live in Howard County, Maryland

If you’re 18 or older, DoodleHATCH is asking eligible county residents to visit the museum and sign their petition in person.

📍DoodleHATCH Interactive Art Museum

8775 Cloudleap Court, Unit 101
Columbia, MD 21045

⏱️ Museum hours: Friday–Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM.

And while you’re there, I highly recommend exploring the museum. Bring someone who needs a reminder that being an adult doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying ridiculous things.

If you don't live in Howard County

You can still help!

DoodleHATCH is collecting emails from people who oppose the proposed Columbia Concepts redevelopment and support preserving the existing arts and community resources through The REALM.

Send your email to: Lilou@DoodleHATCH.com

Suggested subject: Support The REALM | Oppose Columbia Concepts Zoning Proposal ZB 1132M

You can write your own message or use one of the templates below.

You don’t need to write an essay. A short, genuine message explaining what you support and why is enough to participate in this email campaign.

✍️ What should your email say?

To make your position clear, include these three things:

1. Say what you’re opposing.

State that you oppose the proposed Columbia Concepts redevelopment and zoning amendment for the Long Reach Village Center, case ZB 1132M.

2. Say what you’re supporting.

Express your support for preserving DoodleHATCH, the Maryland Fashion Institute, existing community resources, and the proposed arts and culture center called The REALM.

3. Explain why you care.

This is the part that makes your email yours.

Maybe you’ve visited DoodleHATCH. Maybe you’re a parent who wants more creative places for children. Maybe you’re an artist, an educator, or someone who thinks it’s important to protect the few spaces where people can explore and make things without needing to buy something.

Maybe you live across the country and just learned that there’s a department store for mythical creatures in Maryland, and you think the world would be a little less interesting without it.

That’s a perfectly good reason to care.

Automatically Build Your Email!

💌 Email templates you can copy

Option 1: Short, simple, and effective

Subject: Support The REALM | Oppose ZB 1132M

Hello,

I’m writing to express my opposition to the proposed Columbia Concepts zoning amendment and redevelopment of the Long Reach Village Center (ZB 1132M).

I support preserving DoodleHATCH, the Maryland Fashion Institute, and the existing community services and small businesses, as well as the proposal to create The REALM arts and culture center.

Creative and educational spaces like these provide valuable opportunities for families, artists, students, and the wider community. I believe they deserve to be protected.

Please include my email with the messages of support being collected for DoodleHATCH and The REALM.

Thank you,

[Your Name]
[Your City/State]

Option 2: For artists, creatives, and fellow merriment makers

Subject: Please Protect DoodleHATCH and Support The REALM

Hello,

I’m writing in opposition to Columbia Concepts’ proposed redevelopment and zoning amendment for the Long Reach Village Center (ZB 1132M), and in support of The REALM.

I believe communities need places where creativity, imagination, and play are actively encouraged.

DoodleHATCH is an extraordinary example of what can happen when artists and community members are given room to create something that doesn’t fit into an ordinary commercial space.

Places like this are rare. They encourage people of all ages to experiment, learn, explore, and connect with one another.

I support preserving DoodleHATCH, the Maryland Fashion Institute, the existing community resources, and the vision for The REALM.

Thank you for collecting these messages and advocating for the creative community.

[Your Name]
[Your City/State]

Option 3: For people who've visited DoodleHATCH

Subject: Please Save DoodleHATCH | Oppose ZB 1132M

Hello,

I’m writing to express my opposition to the proposed Columbia Concepts redevelopment and zoning amendment for the Long Reach Village Center (ZB 1132M), and my support for The REALM.

I’ve personally visited DoodleHATCH, and I want to share why I believe it’s worth preserving.

[Write two or three sentences about your experience. What did you see? Who did you bring? What surprised you? What made you want to return?]

DoodleHATCH is more than a collection of exhibits. It’s a place where creativity is something people can actively participate in, and I believe losing it would be a tremendous loss to the community.

I support preserving the museum, the Maryland Fashion Institute, and the other existing community resources through the proposed arts and culture center, The REALM.

Please include my email with the messages of support you’re collecting.

Thank you,

[Your Name]
[Your City/State]

A few tips before you hit send

Automatically Build Your Email!

DO:

  • Use your real name.

  • Include your city and state so organizers can understand where support is coming from.

  • Clearly identify the redevelopment proposal you’re opposing.

  • Specifically mention your support for The REALM.

  • Add a personal sentence or two if you can.

  • Be respectful, even if you’re frustrated.

  • Share this page with other people who might want to help.

DON’T:

  • Pretend to be a Howard County resident if you’re not.

  • Claim to have visited DoodleHATCH if you haven’t.

  • Make up experiences or information.

  • Send threatening, insulting, or harassing messages.

  • Assume your email is the same thing as signing the official petition.

  • Worry about making your message sound impressive. Clear and genuine is better than elaborate.

💌 The Save DoodleHATCH Email Machine

A few clicks, a little personality, and an email that helps support DoodleHATCH and The REALM. No account or signup required.

What's your connection to DoodleHATCH?
Why does protecting places like this matter to you?
✨ Your email preview
To: Lilou@DoodleHATCH.com
Subject: 


✉️ Open in My Email App




Your information stays in your browser until you choose to copy or open the message. The email does not send automatically. Emails support DoodleHATCH's advocacy campaign; they are not the same as official petition signatures or zoning testimony. Please review the message before sending.
 





			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
🐹 Wait. What exactly is DoodleHATCH?

			

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
I’m so glad you asked.


DoodleHATCH is an interactive art museum in Columbia, Maryland, created by artist, designer, and professional generator of wildly ambitious ideas, Lee Andersen.


The museum is designed as a pretend department store for mythological creatures, time travelers, and galactic tourists.


There are dozens of installations, and unlike most museums, you’re encouraged to touch things, explore, and participate.


There’s also an artist’s studio full of fabric and handmade garments, workshops, special events, birthday parties, free books, and opportunities for local artists to share their work.


The museum welcomes families and children, but adults are absolutely allowed to enjoy themselves, too.


And the woman behind it has spent decades bringing creativity into the community through fashion, festivals, education, and public art.


I discovered DoodleHATCH in 2020 and loved it so much that I started volunteering.


I’ve been back multiple times, and there are still things I haven’t seen.


That’s part of what makes it special. You can keep discovering things because people keep creating them.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
You don't have to live near DoodleHATCH to care about it.

			

				
				
				
				
				
There are Merriment Makers everywhere.


People turning empty buildings into art spaces. People organizing parades. People teaching kids how to sew, paint, dance, or build things. People putting enormous amounts of time into projects that make their communities more interesting.


Sometimes they’re running nonprofits. Sometimes they’re working out of their garages. Sometimes they’re making something weird in a strip mall that you might drive past a hundred times without realizing what’s inside.


I hope you’ll help protect DoodleHATCH.


And I hope you’ll look around your own community, too. Visit the strange little museum. Go to the local art show. Find the person who makes giant puppets or organizes an absurd annual festival. Spend your money at the independent shop with the handmade things.


There are people everywhere creating reasons for us to be curious about being alive.


I’d like them to be able to keep doing that.

			

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Help save DoodleHATCH. Help protect The REALM. Help keep the world interesting.

			

				
				
				
				
				
💌 Email: Lilou@DoodleHATCH.com


🌈 Visit: DoodleHATCH.com


🦄 Share: Uncustomary.org/Doodle