By Sharon Brock, MS, MEd and Donovan Giang

As children, many of us engaged in a variety of activities. From joining various sports teams to taking art or piano lessons or creating fantasy worlds with Legos, we always seemed to be learning something new. Not only were we following our impulse for fun, but participating in various hobbies was also excellent for our brain development.

Since the human brain tends to establish patterns, many adults fall into a state of “automatic pilot” and don’t challenge their brains as often as they did when they were children. Over time, when we no longer take on mental challenges, our brains begin to atrophy.

“Parents are constantly enrolling their children in different activities, but we aren’t doing that for ourselves as adults,” says neuropsychologist Shaliza Shorey, PsyD.

“For long-term brain health, I encourage adults to stay curious and playfully engage with a variety of hobbies simply for the sake of being in a state of creativity, which is so healthy for the brain,” says Dr. Shorey.

Pick Up a Hobby to Keep Your Brain Healthy

Whether we are doing daily crossword puzzles, taking a drawing class, or learning how to play pickleball, we are engaging different parts of the brain. Due to neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to increase its volume and create new pathways between neurons, we can enhance our cognitive health by engaging in new activities.

Specifically, learning to play a musical instrument is an activity considered to increase volume in many brain regions, as playing an instrument involves multiple sensory and motor systems.  And, lifelong musical practice has been associated with a lower risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, as well as improved memory.

Another key activity for long-term brain health is creating art. Whether it’s drawing, painting, sculpture, or crafting, creating art can engage and strengthen different regions of the brain. Research shows that art therapy with older adults resulted in increased brain volume and improved memory.

“It’s important not to put pressure on ourselves as we are taking on new hobbies,” says Dr. Shorey. “If you’re taking a painting class, rather than striving to create the best possible painting, try to take it lightly and prioritize the brain benefits that are occurring while you’re engaged in the creative act of painting.“

Practice of the Month

Engage with One Brain-Healthy Activity from Each Category:

1) Mental:

• Learn a language – Download a language learning app on your smartphone.
• Learn a musical instrument – Sign up for a weekly piano or ukulele class.
• Brain puzzles – Do a crossword, Wordle, or Sudoku puzzle with your morning coffee.
• Arts and crafts – Sign up for a class in sewing, painting, drawing, or photography.
• Reading – Rather than watching television at night, read a book to learn something new while you’re winding down.
• Multitask – While you’re cooking and mixing a dressing for your salad, try to remember how long the meat marinates and how many minutes the rolls need to be in the oven.
• Put down the calculator – Do math problems in your head (then double-check your answer with the calculator).

2) Physical:

• Group classes – Join a weekly class at your local recreation center, such as pickleball, ping pong, yoga, or dance.
• Gardening – Design your dream garden with your favorite flowers or vegetables and learn the knowledge and skills to make them flourish.
• Get your heart rate up – Go for a jog or brisk walk every day to circulate fresh blood to the brain. (Even better if you walk with a friend!)

3) Spiritual:

• Meditation or Prayer – Spend the first 10 minutes of each day to intentionally create a sense of calm in the mind and body.
• Mindfulness – Throughout the day, calm the nervous system by taking three deep breaths to bring your mind into the present moment.
• Forest bathing – Take a quiet walk in nature and notice the beauty and peacefulness in your environment.