How to Use Technology to Keep Your Brain Agile

Learn about strengthening mental dexterity with tech tools.

Losing mental dexterity is truly a frightening prospect. The effect aging has on the mind can rob a person of the ability to live independently, maintain relationships, and understand what is going on around them. Fortunately, studies have shown that challenging your brain as you get older can help create and maintain neural pathways that might otherwise degenerate. This is why it’s important to spend time honing problem-solving abilities and dedicating time to developing new skills.

If you live on your own or have limited mobility, it might be hard to find satisfying activities to activate your mind. Thankfully, advances in technology and access to the internet present a range of opportunities for you to challenge your brain. No matter what your age, your brain can benefit from including these types of activities in your day.

Enjoy puzzles and games on your laptop or tablet.

Many computers and tablets come with games like chess and solitaire already included in the list of uploaded applications, but you can expand your options beyond those. Look for apps and computer games that offer brainteasing puzzles, like Sudoku or crosswords. You can either play to beat your top score, or you can play against the computer. When you’re connected to the internet, you can play games online against other opponents. There are even websites that have created online platforms for popular classic board games. Choose games that require creativity and stretch your memory capacity. Good options include classics like Scrabble and Tetris, and newer games like Carcassonne and Mystic Vale. Technology lets you enjoy a healthy game hobby even when your friends aren’t available to come over and play in person.

Install a language app on your phone.

Learning a language is another thing you can do to build new connections in your brain. Becoming fluent in any new language is hard work. It requires memory strength, keen listening and problem-solving skills, all of which give your brain a great workout. By installing a language app on your smartphone, you can pop in some earbuds and study wherever you go—whether you’re sitting in traffic on the way to the grocery store or cleaning up around the house.

Get artsy on your tablet.

Practicing creative arts (drawing, painting, doodling) is one of the best ways to keep your brain in shape because it involves concentration and attention to detail. When holding a pencil, pen or paintbrush, you use fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. You can always draw or paint on real paper or canvas, but tablets are a great option if you want to keep things mess-free and portable.

Art tablets let you take your hobby on the go because you don’t need to lug around a bunch of supplies. If you don’t already have an extensive array of paints or markers, downloading a drawing or painting skills app provides the digital tools necessary to explore your creative side. If you already own a tablet, the only tool you’ll need to add to your arsenal is a stylus pen.

Challenge yourself with a video game.

Surprise, surprise! Video games can help keep your brain agile. Many games force you to make quick decisions based on information you must process on the fly while others present mysteries you need to unravel over time through a series of puzzles and clues. Additionally, if you’ve never spent much time playing video games, your mind will also grow from the challenge of simply learning how to navigate using the controller. Plus, you can find video games covering just about every genre and style that might interest you.

Limit daily tech time.

Remember that your technology should always serve your needs, not the other way around. Because many websites and apps profit from how often people visit or use them, companies have created a plethora of ways to keep you scrolling and coming back to the same pages to check for updates. Don’t let these addictive gimmicks keep you from spending time on other tasks or with people you love.

Know that your relationship with technology can either be a productive one that spurs your creativity and mental agility, or one that sucks up your valuable free time. Don’t settle for technology use that keeps you in a passive consumer state of mind. It’s always good to have portions of your day designated as screen-free time so that you can use your newfound skills to fully enjoy the world that’s right around you.