Keeping the Brain Active

I’ve finally purchased a laptop to write my blogs when I am away from home. The laptop computer is a little different – just enough to challenge my senior brain. I know that we’re never too old to learn something new. Thank goodness I have tried to keep my brain active by playing Scrabble, solving the Jumble puzzles in the daily newspaper, solving some Sudoku puzzles, as well as writing my short stories. I’ve also learned to do common everyday activities in a different way just to keep my brain active. For example, instead of always opening the door with my right hand, I sometimes use my left hand. Trying new recipes, going to different movies, reading books in an unfamiliar genre are other ways to wake up my brain. I try not to follow my same old tiresome routine every day.
I’ve recently read and believe that a person must also incorporate some type of physical activity into his or her daily routine to keep the brain active. For seniors who have limited mobility, chair exercises are a great option. While seated, and with or without music, seniors can move their arms, legs, hands, feet and shoulders as a form of exercise. A person must, of course, consult his or her physician before beginning any exercise program.
To me chair exercises are a good beginning. It is never too late to begin exercising. If you want to do this, get advice from your doctor about what is best for you. Go to a senior center, the YMCA or YWCA, or to your place of worship where you are likely to find others who also wish to do some form of exercise. And if there are no groups where you live, start one yourself. You are limited only by your imagination.
Begin slowly for short periods of time then increase and vary your activity. Some seniors are able to walk for a couple of miles and some can run in a marathon. But don’t feel that you must match someone else’s level of activity. Be true to yourself and your abilities. But above all, enjoy what you do. My husband and I enjoy country line dancing for singles and for couples even though I have some limitation in my mobility. I changed a few of the steps so that I may keep up; but I won’t quit. And I still love golf; but winter is coming. I will have to play virtual golf indoors. I think mall walking is also on my winter agenda. But whatever I do, I want to keep moving. This will help my brain stay active.