We all have our hobbies and passions, our favorite games or pastime that we enjoy whenever we have the chance to. Some of us are fond of swimming, others love to play chess while others just prefer a good movie – however, have you ever wondered whether some of these hobbies can actually boost the cognitive function and improve your memory in the long run?
You no longer need to look at hobbies as a way to relax and let off some steam after a stressful day at work, but as a means to an end. That being said, here you will find 7 hobbies that will make you smarter, if you enjoy them long enough:
1. Learn Another Foreign Language
Have you always been passionate about foreign languages, countries and cultures? If so, then you should know that you can make the best out of this passion by simply expanding your linguistic skills. Not only will a new language give you a deeper insight into the culture, history and traditions of a new country, but it will also help you communicate better, faster and easier. It is highly recommended to start learning a foreign language as easy in life as possibly, ideally in childhood – however, you can still benefit from this as an adult as well. Language learning will add to your brain development and it will help you solve complicated tasks by training your mind – with a bit of practice, you will see that your brain will sharpen and sometimes you will even be thinking in a foreign language. When that happens, you have already achieved your purpose!
2. Play Some Video Games
While it is true that many, if not most video games are actually bad both for children and for teenagers, given the fact that they are very violence-oriented, some of them can actually be great for your brain: the key is to know which video games will benefit you. Numerous studies have revealed that playing video games can actually improve your hand-eye coordination, which is essential later in life. At the same time, these video games will also train your critical decision making skills – in other words, you will be able to take radical decisions that will benefit your life, one way or another. However, it is important to understand that these benefits apply solely to brain training video games.
3. Focus On Games That Prevent Brain Fog
Brain fog is extremely common nowadays, but fortunately there are some games and mental exercises that will help you keep it away. Are you passionate about riddles and other similar hobbies? If so, then you should know that solving riddles and engaging in any other activity that stimulates your mind can reduce your risk for developing dementia later in life by more than 60%, as numerous studies have revealed. At the same time, playing mentally challenging games can dramatically improve your memory, which will be particularly useful once you reach your senior years. There are hundreds of mentally challenging programs, games and activities that are designed to boost the activity of your brain and to make you smarter – that, in combination with the right foods that are known to improve the cognitive function, can result in a trained brain that can be put to good use!
4. Puzzles!
Everybody loves puzzles, no matter how annoying the big ones can get at times, when you do not manage to find the missing piece. However, this is precisely what makes puzzle games so beautiful – these are basically brain teasers that stimulate your mind, they make you think and this will certainly have a positive effect on your intellect. Puzzle games alone are not the only one that can make you smarter, as you can also focus on crosswords. Are you the type of person who has a lot of spare time and wants to make the best out of it, or perhaps you are a busy businessperson who is always on the go and tries to enjoy their time on the train or plane the best way they can? If so, then a brain teaser is by far one of the best things you can do to become smarter, without investing too much money or time. This can easily become a hobby and a daily routine that will make sure your brain is functioning properly even as you age.
5. Collecting Coins And Other Items
Another important and very beautiful hobby that can make you smarter is collecting coins and other items. This will certainly help you understand more about the world that surrounds you – no matter if you decide to collect old coins and bills (that will surely turn out to be quite valuable later in life) or you want to become an entomologist and start collecting insects, being a collector certainly has its mental benefits that should not be ignored. It is important to be curious and to want to find out more, as curiosity is what makes the world go round. You can find a lot about a country and its people by closely analyzing their money, and this can be a great gift to pass down to future generations.
6. Read!
Reading is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful hobbies out there. There are literally millions of books in the world, and a person cannot read even 1% of them in a lifetime. Books offer us a unique and outstanding way to understand the world and they also offer us an “imaginary bubble”, a safe haven where we can go whenever we want to escape reality. One of the best things you can do if you want to become smarter is to come up with a reading list: make a list of at least 10 books you plan to read throughout the year, and sort them out based on their subject. Reading will keep your mind alert and focused, not to mention that it will also improve your vocabulary as well!
7. Play a Musical Instrument
Music is a noble passion, and people who can play a musical instrument have always been regarded as gifted and intelligent people. Just like it happens with language learning, learning how to play a musical instrument is far more efficient if done in childhood – however, there are millions of adults who learned to enjoy music at its finest throughout their adulthood. Besides this, the good news is that you do not even need to focus solely on one instrument, as you can specialize in two or even more, if you have the time and the necessary ambition.
In conclusion, these are 7 of the most beautiful and efficient hobbies for those who want to become smarter. One of the most notable benefits of all the above-mentioned hobbies is that they require only a fraction of your time, and the reward will be tenfold!
(via Lifespan)
