Fun Puzzles and Activities To Keep Your Mind Sharp

Even the sharpest blades can dull after repeated use. Kitchen knives lose their precise ability to cut fine edges, lawnmowers start pulling at the grass instead of slicing through it, and saws simply get stuck rather than cutting. Our minds are the same way. After a steady routine without presenting new challenges, cognitive ability can feel like it’s been blunted. Fortunately, just like you can sharpen a blade, it’s easy to sharpen your mind — and it doesn’t require any manual labor. Here are some fun puzzles and activities you can do to keep your mind functioning like a razor’s edge.

Crossword Puzzles

Crossword puzzles are incredibly popular, and there’s a reason why they appear in almost every major newspaper. They’re fun, challenging and, importantly, they force you to think. Crosswords contain clues that require a combination of general knowledge, vocabulary and spatial awareness as to how different words fit together. In fact, there’s even a special name for people who create crossword puzzles, such is the skill required to master their construction: a cruciverbalist. Crosswords, like many other puzzles, have also benefited from modern technology. If you have a computer or tablet PC, you can find a wide array of puzzles available online that vary in difficulty and size. And as an added convenience, if you do happen to get a letter wrong here or there, it’s a lot less work to erase it and try again than with paper and ink.

Word Searches

Word Searches offer a different type of challenge than crosswords by focusing on the visual element of vocabulary. Specifically, they test your ability to recognize words hidden in a sea of letters. They also work with the visual processing center of your brain to pick up on words you can commonly recognize but may not necessarily look for out of their traditional left-to-right orientation.

Sudoku

If word puzzles aren’t your style but you love logic brain teasers, sudoku might be the puzzle for you. The object is to take a 9 x 9 puzzle grid and fill it in so that every number from one through nine appears once in every row, column and square without repeating. Each puzzle has a handful of numbers already provided as a starting point, but from there, it requires a strong combination of deductive reasoning and recognizing where numbers can and can’t go. One of the neatest parts of a sudoku puzzle is that its difficulty varies strictly by how many numbers are revealed at the start and their placement, meaning there’s something for everyone from beginners to expert puzzle solvers.

KenKen

Without question the most challenging form of puzzle on the list, KenKen was created by Japanese math teacher Tetsuya Miyamoto. Much like sudoku, the object is to fill in rows and columns with a set of numbers that don’t repeat, but that’s where the similarities end. KenKen is focused on mathematics, with sets of squares listing the solution for a problem and the mathematical operation to solve it. For example, a puzzle may have two squares blocked off with the number 3 and a minus symbol. That lets you know the two numbers that need to go in that square equal 3 when subtracted from one another. In a 6 x 6 puzzle, that means the possible solutions are 6 and 3, 5 and 2, or 4 and 1. Using a basic knowledge of math and the understanding that two digits can’t repeat in the same column or row, you can then begin to figure out which two numbers are the right answer. And although KenKen can be tricky, once you get the hang of it, you won’t want to stop playing.

Nonograms

Finally, if words and numbers don’t suit your fancy, there are nonograms. These logic puzzles require you to fill in points on a grid based on a set of instructions that, when complete, form a picture. Every row and column has a set of numbers next to it that tells you what points to fill, and as you’re doing so, the image begins to take shape. Take a puzzle that’s 5 x 5, for example. The first row may have the number 5 next to it, so you know that every point in that row needs to be shaded in. The next row below that has a 3, so that tells you that only three of the points in that particular row get shaded. To figure out the two that don’t, you then need to check the columns and apply logic and reasoning. The fun part about nonograms is that once you fill in enough area, you’ll start to see the picture take shape, and you can begin to understand where the other shaded areas are going to be. They’re incredibly fun and satisfying to finish, and it’s almost impossible to stop playing once you start.

Conclusion

Puzzles are a terrific way to keep your mind sharp without feeling like you’re burdening yourself with a chore. And as an added bonus, there are entire communities of enthusiasts for every puzzle who love to talk about and complete puzzles together. So whether you’re doing a certain puzzle for the first time or you’re an experienced pro, great puzzles offer something for everyone. If you’re interested in learning more about these puzzles or other activities that can keep your mind razor sharp, get in touch with us at Visiting Angels Barrington today by calling 224-512-4180. Our caregivers enjoy doing puzzles and other activities with the seniors they care for. Our in-home care services offer companionship, assistance with household chores and meal preparation, transportation to and from appointments and much more. Reach out to us for a complimentary care consultation.