maintaining an active mind by exploring interests, expanding knowledge, skills, and creativity
Why is it important?
More frequent cognitive activity predicts reduced cognitive decline.4
A wide spectrum of arts/creative activities can have mental health benefits.5
Information and Resources
Brain-training games are a good way to challenge yourself mentally.
Crosswords, Sudoku, chess, game apps, etc. are other ways to keep an active mind while taking a break from studying.
Become more well-read and expand your mind by listening to audiobooks.
Digitally access resources from your local library.
E-readers allow you to store all your favorite books in one place.
Find affordable books to read in your downtime.
Learn how to become a life-long learner.
Try something new at a reasonable price.
Recommendations
- Learn at least one new thing every day. It could be related to medicine or something entirely different.
- Try a creative/intellectual activity during a study break.
- Subscribe to scientific journals/professional organizations (JAMA, NEJM, Epocrates, ISMA, etc.) on email or social media.
- What are some ways in your life that you have the opportunity to be creative? What are new hobbies that you could try?
- Art (draw, paint, coloring books, photoshop, photography …)
- Music (listening, playing an instrument, singing, …)
- Writing (blogs, poetry, journals, stories, calligraphy, …)
- Food (cooking, baking, wine tasting, making beer, …)
- Building (crafts, woodworking, crocheting, …)
- Media (films, documentaries, reading …)
- Learning a Language
- Nature (hiking, gardening, birdwatching, geocaching …)
- Physical (dancing, running, cycling, sports, …)
- Intellectual (chess, crosswords, sudoku, …)