Research has long proved that, during the summer, kids’ minds don’t retain much of what has been packed in there during the school year. Typically, the first few weeks of the new school year are spent catching up. But it’s not just students who need a refresher after a long break in their routine.
Vacations are intended to rejuvenate and refresh. Everyone deserves down time, for both mental and physical health. Finding the balance between complete mental drain and keeping your mind active doesn’t have to be a challenge. Here are some tips for those lucky enough to have an extended summer break and don’t have a moment to spare trying to catch up.
Read. Just as students are assigned summer reading, you, should also add at least one professional development book to your summer book list. New ideas, concepts, tricks, and tips can keep your mind problem-solving even while you’re miles away soaking in the sun on a beach, hiking up a mountain, or enjoying the sanctuary you’ve created in your own backyard.
We’ve put together a reading list for each of our position-specific e-Letters.
Give your memory a workout. Memory is vital to help us power through any given day. You can strengthen yours with simple challenges, vacation or no vacation. Try brushing your teeth using your nondominant hand (challenges such as this will help your brain boost its level of acetylcholine—its memory chemical—believe it or not); make it your mission to be able to dial key phone numbers instead of relying on your phone’s address book; reorganize drawers in the office or around your home on a rainy afternoon, finding new homes for whatever rests inside. Simple activities like these are brain-friendly challenges that will help increase your memory.
Stretch your vocabulary. You can keep the language portion of your mind fresh by stretching its capacity. Take advantage of your summer break and begin learning a new language. Or, if learning foreign languages isn’t one of your strengths, expand upon your English. Dust off your dictionary and flip to a random section. Pick a different word each day for two weeks (or a month for extra credit!) and make a point to use it in conversation or your personal blog.
Test your musical abilities. Playing a musical instrument is a great way to strengthen your motor skills. Just 10 minutes a day can make a huge impact—and improvement—in your cognitive functions. If you’ve never played an instrument before, make this the summer to change that. The best choice to challenge your mind? String instruments.
Build something—anything. If you’re passionate about the outdoors, try your hand at building a birdhouse or a new patio potter. If you’re tech-savvy, make time to finally build that robot you’ve had in mind. If you’re interested in home improvement, add that new backsplash to your kitchen or new medicine cabinet to your bathroom. You get the idea—no matter what you’re interested in, there’s a project you can set your mind to solving.
Feed your mind Omega-3 fatty acids. For your mind to work at its optimal speed, it needs the right fuel. Vacations are often excuses to eat poorly. Everyone needs to splurge every now and then, but don’t overindulge. Healthy diets rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids keep your brain fed.
Additional ISM articles of interest
Private School News Vol. 10 No. 6 Exercise Your Mind
ISM Monthly Update for Admission Officers Vol. 7 No. 6 Top 5 best Foods To Feed Your Mind
