Choose Your Own Adventure: 5 Fun Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia
Balancing the demands of a career, raising children, and supporting aging parents can feel overwhelming. It’s crucial to carve out time for you — not just for your own health and wellness, but also to help reduce your own risk of dementia in life.
Staying active, eating well and keeping your brain engaged as much as possible should all be at the top of the list. But what about more unique (and fun!) ways to protect fuel your brain health? Ways that feel less like routine and more like an exciting adventure (especially during the cold winter months?).
Here are 5 adventures that help protect your cognitive health while adding a sprinkle of joy to your routine:
1. Host a Karaoke Night: Gather your loved ones for a fun-filled evening! Belting out your favorite tunes not only enhances your mood but also boosts oxygen flow to your brain. Singing familiar songs activates memory recall, while reading the lyrics sharpens your focus and language skills. If you add some dance moves to your performance, you’ll enjoy the added benefits of a cardio boost —making it a win-win for your body and mind.
2. Try Pickleball: It’s the hottest sport and seems to be everyone’s game lately, no matter your age. A blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, giving you physical, mental and social benefits that are crucial in reducing your risk. The endorphin rush from a fast-paced game sharpens cognitive functions like decision-making, hand-eye coordination, and strategic thinking. It’s social (and sweaty), and it’s one of our new favourite sports. Join a local league or invite friends for some healthy fun while getting your heart rate up!
3. Cook a New Complex Recipe: Embrace your culinary skills and challenge yourself. Navigating a new dish involves planning, multitasking, and solving kitchen surprises (oops, too much salt—time to channel your inner chef). The lively mix of aromas, flavors, and textures serves as sensory stimulation, while chopping ingredients enhances your fine motor skills. Experimenting with new flavours and ingredients fuels your creativity, and savoring a delicious home-cooked meal not only boosts your nutrition but can also become a bonding experience with others.
4. Experience an Escape Room: Unleash your inner detective. Solving puzzles and hunting for clues provides a fantastic workout for your brain, enhancing memory and critical thinking skills. Plus, teaming up with friends to escape adds a splash of fun. The thrill of trying to beat the clock sharpens your focus and you’re challenged to think creatively, keeping your mind on its toes. Not to mention the dopamine hit that comes from successfully escaping.
5. Join a Ceramics Class: Sculpting and molding clay can significantly engage your fine motor skills while stimulating brain areas associated with movement and touch. Beyond tapping into your creativity, the meditative quality of working with clay promotes calmness and helps reduce stress. Try a beginner’s workshop with friends.
These five new adventures can help reduce your risk of dementia while sprinkling joy and excitement into your New Year —especially during the coldest months. So, embrace the challenge, gather your loved ones, and start your journey towards better brain health today!
Check out more ways to reduce your risk here
