Mind Games

There are some excellent computer games for keeping the mind alert. We’re not talking about the ‘Wham Bam Thank you Ma’m’ type of game but the more cerebral ones that are available. Chess has always been on computers but there is now a whole range of games to keep your brain active. Visit Amazon – www.amazon.com - to see some of those that are available.

Card and board games also provide brain food. There are endless board games that you can play, either on your own or with the family, as there are card games. Card games also come on the computer, if you can’t be bothered with cards themselves, and, again, you can use Amazon to see a selection.

One of the best card games for exercising the grey cells is Bridge. You can take bridge lessons and then join a club, play at your golf club or start your own circle. Beware, though – it can become very competitive if you let it! You can find out all you need to know about bridge (except how to play it really well)through the English Bridge Union at www.ebu.co.uk 

Learning a new skill also keeps the brain active, so think about learning something new in retirement. How about one of the arts and crafts (see our Arts and Crafts section), watercolour painting, stained glass or cooking? Whatever you want to learn, it will stimulate your mental faculties. You can go away on an activity weekend, or week, where you can learn some of these skills. Go to www.timetolearn.org.uk  to see a wide range of activity breaks.

There is a host of other ways to keep you thinking in retirement. You could get involved with genealogy and trace your family history or you could do some research work on the history of your local area. How about doing some adult education courses like learning a language or improving your IT skills? Remember, though, that keeping fit mentally doesn’t mean you have to do academic studies – if you’re exercising your brain in any way, you’re helping it to keep fit.

To help your thoughts in keeping fit mentally, as well as the activities mentioned on this page, think about the following:

• Learning a language
• Improving your IT skills
• Attending day or evening classes at your local FE college
• Starting or joining an investment club and following the stock market
• Doing amateur dramatics, having to learn lines for your part

If you have a particular Hobby or Interest and would like to research and write about it on the web, take a look at our Associate scheme.

Now, take a look through the other pages and see if anything takes your fancy – or something might trigger another inspiration. If you don’t find what you want, however, take a look at the Sports and Activities section, or go to Amazon where you will be certain to find a book on the hobby or interest of your choice

Visit our Pre-retirement Courses section here on laterlife or our dedicated Retirement Courses site