Almost everyone craves freedom from being stuck in the same routine, but this past year, COVID-19 has forced many of us into the same boring schedule, day in and day out. Luckily, it looks like hope is on the horizon, and the pandemic is drawing to a close. And this year more than ever, we want to encourage everyone to jump into the excitement with both feet, and to do this, your mind must remain active and healthy. In this article, you will learn five fun, easy, and practical ways to keep your mind active and healthy in 2021.

1. Art

Art unleashes the inner Leonardo Da Vinci in you, and is a great way to keep your mind active. Art is a form of creativity, and when you create, your mind comes alive and becomes actively involved in the process. Art means different things to different people, so you have to find the exact kind of art that appeals to you or even try out art that doesn’t appeal to you – that is the whole idea behind keeping your mind active. Here are the various forms of art you can engage your mind:

• Painting
• Drawing
• Playing music

You can decide to learn to play the piano, the guitar or even learn to sing. There are a plethora of videos on YouTube on how to do that. If you already know how to play, you can stimulate your mind by trying to play unusual pieces, try playing new forms of music. If you play only Rock, try playing Blues, Funk, or Classical.

If you love to paint, but usually stick to landscapes, try a still life, or a portrait. Try a self-portrait!

2. Reading

One of the most affordable and enjoyable means to keep your mind active. There are tons of books on the internet that you can read from your device, without ever leaving home. If reading from your device isn’t your thing, there is a book somewhere on your shelf gathering dust that you have not read because you keep postponing. Make a promise to yourself to pick it up and read it this year.

You can also try out books that are different from your usual genres. Switch from reading motivational and inspirational books to reading biographies and historical books. Or if you love cozy mysteries, try a romance! If you read the newspaper, pick up some poetry. You will be grateful for yourself for trying out something different.

2. Play Games

There are tons of different games you can play that can engage your mind. Board games like Chess and Scrabble are a great place to start. Card games, Computer games, or even virtual games with friends can stimulate your mind. You can do a virtual zoom game where you give a word and ask them to sing any song containing that word. Or pick up a crossword or Sudoku.

4. Virtual Conversations

Thanks to the amazing technology we have today and the internet, you can have virtual, mind-stimulating conversations with friends and family as if they were in the room with you. You can review books you’ve recently read, talk about trending issues, play games, or have a conversation about anything where you can just laugh and have fun.

5. Writing

You do not have to be a Writer, with a capital “W” in order to write. You can write your opinion on the latest movie you saw on Netflix. You can write your experiences during COVID and journal each day. You can write poetry or short stories. In fact, there are a million and one things to write about, from a short story about your childhood to a letter to someone you love. In fact, here are a few hundred writing prompts to inspire you right now

Writing is an exercise that keeps the mind active and healthy at no cost. Expressing your emotions through words can be a great way to keep your mind active and healthy. Many people see writing as a difficult task because they think you have to write down all their ideas at once. However, it does not matter if you put in a few words each day. The most important thing is to maintain a level of consistency, and with time, the whole process will begin to favor you, and you will be able to write voluminous work.

Bonus Tip: Stay Positive!

The need to keep the mind active and healthy cannot be overstated, but remember that there is no limit to the activities that can help you. The list above can serve as a starting point, and as you move ahead, you will discover more things that fit your personality. Stay positive this year, try something new, and remember to have fun!