Keeping our brains active

I don't actually understand Sudoku nor any of the multitude of numerical puzzles in the newspapers. Where do people learn about them? I am too idle to do crosswords as I would rather be reading. I am getting through around two to three quality novels or books on history a week. What a treat to read as I did at twelve again, when there was no tv at home, no smartphones,
but there were encyclopaedias. What I do appreciate is wikipedia which leads me down numerous trails of curiosity, some times doubling my reading input. However, my store of words, once recalled at will, often let me down as I spend most days not speaking to anyone. I do worry away at these words until they return. I think our brains will work fine until he end if we are fortunate enough to have daily stimulating conversation. Alas, this is often denied us in old age. I am 85 and a graduate.

Thank you Mamie for Le Mot. I too am a French speaker so will try and keep my hand in.
Another new one is Wordiply from The Guardian. They give you a 3 letter word eg ERA and you have 5 attempts to make the longest words you can in with those letters embedded in that order. Quite fun.

Can I mention U3A again? Groups for a wide range of interests (or start your own group), both physical and mental activity, not forgetting the social side. I belong to walking, table tennis, badminton and scrabble groups and have just joined the committee. Certainly keeps my brain alert (although I still find the odd word goes missing)!!!

Online bridge (BBO), solitaire (Freecell) and Sudoku. I must put up the digital keyboard that got tidied away for Christmas. I treated self to one for covid and only played a year as a teenager so lot of wasted years to catch up on. I found it very difficult so not sure if will keep going tho inspired by poster on here to give it another go.

I go to the gymn 5 days a week, and am writing my third novel. Not happy at never been published. I am in a choir and attend a writing class every 2 weeks

I get regular outdoor exercise walking my dog which helps physical and mental well-being. I also enjoy a challenging knitting patterns which definitely exercise the grey cells!

I do wordle, quordle , sudoku, and I started learning spanish on Duolingo during lockdown. I've been doing a little each day for 971 days !
I also like to knit and crochet .
Exercise wise, I like walking and playing carpet bowls.

I use the MindPal brain training app every morning . It’s free if you just do three of the five games … you can pay if you want to do all five exercises. I also do Wordle and Duolingo to learn languages.

I do life drawing, painting and etching in studios with other people and read loads of scandi type crime and spy books at home. And on-line courses

New York Times Wordle every morning - then share the results on the family chat - interesting that the definite sharpest brain in the family ranging from 13 - 82 years is the 13 yr old grandson who is said to have ADHD, and often gets the answer in 3, followed by myself (70s) and said to be slowing down (sometimes gets it in 3 but usually 4). Solitaire for the numeracy on my desktop.

Daisydaisydaisy

Hi there,

Ancestry really keeps My mind active,I'm only in My mid 50s however I don't work and I can spend hours doing it. :-)

It's Ancestry for me too. I have been doing it since I retired though I much preferred the old way of doing your own research and finding records. Now the companies send ideas and records they think will help. I often ignore them and just use the site to record what I find.
I do the Times crossword at weekends.
I am probably too sedentary so when it stops raining I am going to try a quick walk every day after lunch as suggested by the GP.practise.

Meeting younger people through volunteering for local political party (not saying which) and having to keep up with a cerain amount of tech.
I have a go at the cryptic crossword in the little i paper when I have time.
But I think it's partly luck if your brain goes on working okay into extreme old age i.e. 85+ in my book.

pascal30

I do life drawing, painting and etching in studios with other people and read loads of scandi type crime and spy books at home. And on-line courses

I used to do virtually the same activities pre COVID but somehow have lost my mojo...... Sad really as I do miss creating. The art's the worst, I've nowhere to put/keep my pictures so have stopped creating them!

I take Puzzler compendium every month and do most of Puzzles in that strangely in the late evening. I also watch things like Mastermind (shout out the answers!) and University Challenge and other Quiz shows on TV. My eyes are not really good enough to do things on the IPad
I watch French and Spanish films to keep au fait with those languages.

I do a daily Wordle and read the Times before doing the crossword. I am also learning Italian, running a small online business, making jewellery and painting. Usually a walk to 'engage with nature' and if time, I would write more poetry. This lot keeps me fairly busy

I forget words. I ask Google questions , and I visit the online Thesaurus quite often and this is quite fun and usually gets me the word I seek and a lot extra.

Obviously there is no time to research online when I'm watching University Challenge, and my replies are slow and I experience the tip -of- the -tongue effect.

Gabrielle56

pascal30

I do life drawing, painting and etching in studios with other people and read loads of scandi type crime and spy books at home. And on-line courses

I used to do virtually the same activities pre COVID but somehow have lost my mojo...... Sad really as I do miss creating. The art's the worst, I've nowhere to put/keep my pictures so have stopped creating them!

I really understand, and have all walls covered but I also think that the doing and being with other artists is what keeps me sane.I hope you feel inspired again soon.X

I do a lot of physical exercises, Cycling, swimming and weights (at home) as I fine it keeps me more alert. Over the holiday when I wasn't doing any I started to feel really down.My husband and I usually manage to do The Times non cryptic crossword every day plus general knowledge crosswords and like Cazharvey I use the MindPal app.











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Cryptic crosswords (addictive) and other word and numbers puzzles (Codeword, Wordle, Waffle, Sudoku, Kakuro etc). Writing your memoirs/family history. Pilates, walking, fresh air. Sharing interests with others (U3A excellent in this respect). These are all "feel-good" activities for me though I can't claim that they keep my memory super sharp. I often struggle these days to remember a name or a particular word.

I reckon simply reading lots keeps imagination and thought processes well oiled

Can anyone explain in simple language how to play Wordle.?

Please!

I've just finished a Masters and about to start on a PhD, at age 60. That should keep my mind active for a few years...hopefully!

I’m studying for another degree with The Open University. I completed an Art History one 3 years ago…am now studying STEM subjects. Just love learning new things!

My must do daily puzzles are:

Sudoku
Kakuro
Solitaire
The Telegraph cryptic crossword
Wordwheel
Word ladder
Wordle
Worldle (guess the country from its shape).
Byrdle (a choral music wordle)
Statele (guess the US state from its shape)

How I find the time to do anything else I do not know!

Writing a journal, writing my childhood memories, word searches, book groups, library volunteering, Town councillor, mental arithmetic challenges in the Saturday Guardian, all good ways to keep the mind active.
Plus exercise and fresh air when possible