New learning experiences keep our brains healthy.

Swimming my usual laps in the community pool I heard a popping sound nearby and got out of the water to watch a pickleball game.  That looks like fun, I thought, it will be a breeze for me because I play tennis.  Not so fast.  While pickleball has some similarities to both tennis and ping pong, I had a lot to learn.  Fortunately, when I joined the group they were warm and welcoming as they explained and demonstrated this game.

I learned the rules, the strategies, and slowly replaced some of my tennis habits with new skills.  While I never became particularly good at the game, I enjoyed the process and making new friends.  And as an added benefit a number of studies show that acquiring new knowledge and skills can keep the brain healthy.

Learn and Thrive

Research studies by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) also suggest that cognitive health interventions (activities that involve thinking, learning and remembering) can delay dementia and Alzheimers.

Pickleball was fun and I considered the new experience a success. Another new venture, however, did not go as smoothly and I had to make adjustments.  My first time mountain biking was with someone who had been enjoying the sport for years. Even after several sessions I had trouble keeping up on the narrow trails that often had roots and rocks to dodge.  I should have known better, but I tackled a difficult trail and skidded off a small cliff.  Luckily, I landed in a stream and that cushioned the fall.

The sport of mountain biking still held some appeal for me because I enjoyed navigating trails through the forest, far from traffic.  And so I compromised and found a wide, well-groomed former “carriage path” winding through a hilly park which was safer than the narrow trails in the mountains.  The ride was still a challenge, and required my full focus. Over time I learned just how fast I could push my speed without wiping out!

Challenges and pursuit of performing a task at a high level both keep our brains active.  And the studies on the subject of life long learning seem to confirm “use it or lose it” can apply to the mind as well as the body.

The learning doesn’t require an active physical component for it to reward us with the cognitive benefits. Some ideas to pursue include studying, practicing and enjoying the following:

• A new language
• A new board game – chess, cribbage, you name it
• Word games such as scrabble
• A new dance
• Enrolling in adult education courses on topics of interest
• Woodworking, gardening, painting
• Play a new musical instrument

How Curious Are You?

I’m guessing the key to continual learning is curiosity.  It is the driver that pushes us to acquire a new talent. In my book writing career, curiosity has prompted me to ignore my agent’s advice to continue writing the true survival books that sell well.  I’ve tackled other subjects including leadership, military history, and even romance.

For one book project about learning to set boundaries and say no to others to seize control of our free time, I worked with psychologists and found their views and research methods fascinating.  I felt a sense of purpose pouring over the techniques and methods of why we have such trouble saying no to others.  That sense of purpose or enrichment can come from any new learning experience and it really does improve our mood and self confidence.

My most recent hobby required a learning curve that surprised me much the way Pickleball did.  As an avid fisherman in New England I figured those techniques would work on the Florida coast.  Boy was I wrong.  The different fish species of the South, such as pompano, required a whole new set of skills and knowledge if I hoped to catch them from the beach.  I asked fellow anglers for advice, read articles, shopped for new equipment, and then through trial and error slowly began having success from the surf.

Heck, I was a getting a three for one health deal on the surf fishing: I learned a new skill, got plenty of exercise, and every now and then enjoyed a healthy meal with omega 3!

Try a new hobby or take on a the challenge of acquiring a new skill—your brain will thank you.

YOUR TURN

What new interest hobby or activity have you taken up recently?  How has it been working for you? Share your experience in the comments!

Michael Tougias is the author of the award winning Ten Hours Until Dawn: Survival and Tragedy in the Blizzard of ‘78  His latest two books are No Will Set You Free and a true story for young adults, Fatal Forecast.  www.michaeltougias.com.