Are you getting antsy and feel like you’re going brain dead because of the pandemic? Engage your brain with different kinds of mind games. Unfortunately, there are limitations to what we can do because of COVID-19. It’s a good thing that there are activities that you can do at home that don’t require you to go outside much, if at all.

Puzzles

When it comes to improving connections in your brain, puzzles are great for this. These improve your logic, reasoning, IQ, memory, and problem-solving ability. What’s great about this is that there are many different kinds of puzzles that require varying skills and methods.

To hone your mathematical skills, you can try our Sudoku. The practice of solving the puzzles is a lot similar to how you try to figure out a math equation. It is effortless to get your hands on because there are online ones. Getting a book is also a good idea because those usually have puzzles that increase difficulty. The fewer numbers you see, the harder it can be. There are even Sudoku puzzles that are completely blank.

Crossword puzzles are great for challenging your logic and knowledge. Even if you aren’t able to complete it, you can still expand your vocabulary once you find the answers. Every puzzle has its benefits. Jigsaw puzzles, especially the ones with a lot of pieces, improve your spatial perception and memory.

Coding

If you like games and computers, then you can give coding a try. In the past decade, there has been an increase in online classes, and most of them include coding. There are general classes on HTML, CSS, and Java. Although there are hundreds of coding languages out there, you can search for courses for specific functions. For instance, if you want to learn to make a website, it will only include the basic languages involved. Coding for games would require different languages as well.

It’s a great hobby to get into because it is challenging and exciting. The coding world is always changing, so there’s something new every few years. You can even experiment on it and create cool actions or projects. Your mind will have to solve lots of problems and issues using the existing coding functions.

Chess

When it comes to mind games, chess is the ultimate board game. It requires immense concentration and prediction. Even if you don’t have anyone to play with, you can still have a match with yourself. There are also a lot of strategies that you can learn and incorporate in every game.

Chess is good for stimulating brain activity. Some have even said that playing chess regularly can reduce Alzheimer’s and dementia because of the engagement. Unlike other games that are more straightforward, chess requires you to strategize and react using a limited time.

Card Games

Similar to puzzles, card games can improve your cognitive ability. In particular, it is good for memory and sequencing. The unpredictability of card games will take away the repetition, which is great for increasing grey matter.

Certain games are also better than others. For instance, a game of bridge is said to be better for cerebral logic. It is great for reducing dementia, especially for older people. There’s also an element of math to it.

Tinkering

If you are looking to hone your technical skills, then tinkering with technology is a good way to engage your mind. You can learn how to assemble and disassemble computers and gadgets. This teaches you math, semantics, and sometimes physics. Once you’ve mastered some objects’ parts and mechanisms, you can start innovating and improving them with the knowledge gained.

This is also useful in your everyday life because then you can easily identify issues in items. That way, you can repair the gadgets yourself with minimal help. It can also prevent you from being scammed by technicians who are trying to milk you for what you’re worth. The technical jargon won’t easily fool you. By being aware of the issue, it is also easier to request specific services and save up on inspection fees.

Keeping your mind sharp is important for your health. The pandemic has made it harder for people to be engaged, so many have regressed to being passive and reduced brain activity. Not only does this increase existing mental health issues, but it also makes it easier to adapt back to normal life after the pandemic.