What do you do to "stay sharp"?

[onomatopoeia]

I've been feeling a bit...spacey?...lately and I'm curious what activities people do to challenge themselves. Jigsaw puzzles? Sudoku? Crosswords? Learn an instrument?

I'm rather an introvert and I already do quite a bit of volunteer/community work (plus work full time and have kids), so I'm looking more for activities I can do just by myself. I know it's pretty personal, I'm just curious about what others enjoy!

(I read a lot but even when I read more challenging/non-fiction books I'm finding I'm not really absorbing the material. I just enjoy the process of reading. And I already know about the benefits of exercise )

[Queen Dick, Hibernating Bear]

[Queen Dick, Hibernating Bear]

Jan 15, 2020 20:47:22 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Jan 15, 2020 20:46:00 GMT -5 Queen Dick, Hibernating Bear said:

Is this helpful, DICK??

For staying sharp? Absolutely.

[onomatopoeia]

Jan 15, 2020 20:46:00 GMT -5 Queen Dick, Hibernating Bear said:

Well TBH I had not considered this option lol

[Captain Catnip]

Jan 15, 2020 20:56:30 GMT -5 onomatopoeia said:

Jan 15, 2020 20:46:00 GMT -5 Queen Dick, Hibernating Bear said:

Well TBH I had not considered this option lol

The record player is required.

[Queen Dick, Hibernating Bear]

Jan 15, 2020 21:19:23 GMT -5 Captain Catnip said:

Jan 15, 2020 20:56:30 GMT -5 onomatopoeia said:

Well TBH I had not considered this option lol

The record player is required.

Your garden variety household lazy susan also does the job.

[renna]

Well, I don't do cocaine, but I did find a game website a few years ago and I like some of their quizzes.

The one I linked to you have an outline of the USA. You have to put the states in where they go but you can't miss by much or it ends the quiz. I like a lot of the geography quizzes like naming the countries in Africa or Europe, you can do a typing challenge in there. There are so many and it's free. You don't have to sign up or be a member or anything. It's a lot cheaper than cocaine (which I would not recommend).

www.sporcle.com/games/mhershfield/us-states-no-outlines-minefield

[goldengirlz]

While we’re on the topic of illicit substances, I’m fairly certain that pot makes me smarter, or at least provides mental clarity. The stages of a high, for me, are touch everything > eat everything > sex > have a mind-blowing revelation while getting ready for bed > fall into a deep sleep.

And every tricky work problem I’ve worked out in my head while high has stood the test of sobriety the next day.

[cville]

Crosswords
Reading nonfiction
Try to get more sleep
Sewing project
Do blow off a record player

[readyin07]

Well I am certainly not the sharpest. But I really like to play words with friends daily and a few other words games and they at least make me think. My mom has a luminosity subscription and she absolutely loves it and so does my early 20 something cousin.

I’m really busy with my kids, but when I’m not down the road, I really like puzzles, word search, board games and I can see myself doing more of that.

[laterz]

I actually have an algebra book that i do problems from. But I also like math. And I'm a nerd.

[MrsAxilla]

Jan 15, 2020 22:19:35 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

While we’re on the topic of illicit substances, I’m fairly certain that pot makes me smarter, or at least provides mental clarity. The stages of a high, for me, are touch everything > eat everything > sex > have a mind-blowing revelation while getting ready for bed > fall into a deep sleep.

And every tricky work problem I’ve worked out in my head while high has stood the test of sobriety the next day.

Absolutely.  Even the occasional anxiety is useful for fixing my fuck ups.

[Que?]

Jan 15, 2020 22:19:35 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

While we’re on the topic of illicit substances, I’m fairly certain that pot makes me smarter, or at least provides mental clarity. The stages of a high, for me, are touch everything > eat everything > sex > have a mind-blowing revelation while getting ready for bed > fall into a deep sleep.

And every tricky work problem I’ve worked out in my head while high has stood the test of sobriety the next day.

All of my business accounting is done at night while stoned. In the sober light of day, spreadsheets are confounding; at night, they’re my bitch.
Another thing, I have a child that asks approximately 726 questions a day. At dinner, I googled how many hearts an octopus has (3!), do male seahorses actually have babies (yes) and about 68 multiplication questions I didn’t know. Sharp as a fucking tack with useless knowledge over here.

[mrsukyankee]

(as a therapist, being high may take away anxiety about getting things wrong and so it allows your brain to work better on problem solving - but you could do it w/o getting high as long as you don't let your brain/anxiety get in your way)

I read a lot which helps me stay as sharp as I can - perimenopause is not helping (brain fog).

[huskymom]

Puzzles
Podcasts
Words with friends
I still might love Candy Crush

[urbancowgirl]

Crossword puzzles. I did them years ago when we had a newspaper subscription (lol) and just started up again a couple months ago. I started with the NYT app’s daily mini (free) and ended up buying a full subscription to have access to more puzzles.

[rebneen]

I was taking a Khan Academy chemistry course, lol. I gave up because it takes too much focus/time. They have soo many options. Also Great Courses, Coursera or the extension center/adult Ed at your alma mater may have online learning.

Duolingo for learning another language or practicing one you are rusty speaking.

I am supposed to do a Jewish online/hybrid pair learning class soon. I have a friend who wants to do it with me, but I am not reliable quite yet.

[cosmowife]

Coursera, and Yale has courses on YouTube. Also reading college textbooks for fun (I am re-learning calculus and working on a financial models text book)

[fivechickens]

Jan 15, 2020 22:16:52 GMT -5 renna said:

Well, I don't do cocaine,

So lame! Lol

[meowmaps]

Jeopardy

[ohgillian]

Unolingo (https://puzzles.usatoday.com/unolingo/)
Soduko, however you spell that word.

[flex]

Stop aging?

[somersault72]

I do crosswords and sudoku.

[pinkballoons]

Crosswords through the NYT app
Reading non-fiction, mostly related to history
Actually following the stupid “breathe” instructions on my Apple Watch
I feel incredibly sharp after a Pilates. There’s something about having to coordinate my arms and legs in different activities that really pushes me to focus on what I’m doing. I take classes on Sundays, and I get so much shit done afterward.

[onthemove]

I’m pretty sure I heard a news report saying things like online memory apps were not all that helpful, but the best thing you could do was learn to dance, play music, or learn a language. Something about re-wiring your brain. But the dance piece was highlighted because it is also good for physical exercise, and social interaction.

[mmmomof2]

Sudoku and word puzzles on my phone. I'm addicted to this one called Word Crossy. It has helped my be better at Jeopardy anagram clues, which I'm not sure is all that helpful.

[goldengirlz]

Jan 16, 2020 4:34:29 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

(as a therapist, being high may take away anxiety about getting things wrong and so it allows your brain to work better on problem solving - but you could do it w/o getting high as long as you don't let your brain/anxiety get in your way)

Or it might be the flood of dopamine, which studies have shown has been linked to better attention and focus.

(This is not to imply that getting stoned is in any way “good” for you, but I think the anxiety explanation is only part of the story and might be ignoring the neuro-chemical effects.)

[mrsukyankee]

goldengirlz, fair enough. My view comes from my work with my clients and their reports.

[Que?]

Jan 16, 2020 13:26:04 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

goldengirlz, fair enough. My view comes from my work with my clients and their reports.

You’re both right. I am a chronic marijuana user and have been for a long time. I have a healthy relationship with my vices, but I still sometimes check in with myself to make sure I’m not medicating anxieties that I need to process sober, and doing that work.

[notsopicky]

Jan 16, 2020 4:34:29 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

(as a therapist, being high may take away anxiety about getting things wrong and so it allows your brain to work better on problem solving - but you could do it w/o getting high as long as you don't let your brain/anxiety get in your way)

I read a lot which helps me stay as sharp as I can - perimenopause is not helping (brain fog).

Whoa, MrsUK--I  didn't realize that with peri comes brain fog (perhaps said fog interfered w/ what the gyn was telling me--not to mention she was also telling me in the same breath that I might have cancer, JFC).

That explains a lot.