Many people worry about losing their cognition as they get older. But only a small fraction are willing to do anything about it. 

That’s where this post comes into view. It explores some of the fun ways you can entertain yourself and exercise your brain. With these activities, you’ll never feel like you’re losing IQ points or aren’t as fast as you used to be in your younger days. 

Brain-Boosting Snacks

You could start with the easiest activity of them all–eating. But instead of reaching for the profiteroles, pork pies, and battered ice cream, you could indulge in snacks with proven cognitive enhancement effects. These include foods like: 

  • Nuts
  • Seeds
  • Goji berries
  • Dark chocolate (always a favorite)
  • Walnuts
  • Regular berries

Snacking on these can have a profound impact on your cognition and help you to process more inflammation. These foods work by reducing inflammation in the brain and preventing it from feeling the effects of stress so keenly. 

Audiobooks

Next, you could listen to an audiobook on a topic you find stimulating. Reading someone else’s work gives you deep insights into specific topics, allowing you to progress your knowledge and understand more than you ever thought possible. 

You could even indulge in fiction. While the stories might be make-believe, you can often learn a lot from them about human nature, future scientific scenarios, or what people do when faced with uncertainty or stress. 

Your best bet is to go on an audiobook subscription. These allow you to listen to a new book every month, accelerating your personal learning and growth. 

Puzzle Play

Playing with puzzles is another excellent way to entertain yourself on a lazy afternoon while boosting your gray matter. These games force you to think differently and creatively to solve problems. 

For example, you could sit down with a crossword and work your way through it. If you haven’t played these games before, start with simple versions and then work your way up to more complex challenges. Crosswords can be easy, to begin with, but become progressively harder as you increase the number of words and the cryptic nature of the clues. 

Chess is another example of puzzle play, as is Go. These games force you to think strategically to beat your opponents or the computer. 

DIY Experiments

If you’re someone who loves to be in the shed or outside on the patio, then DIY experiences could be just what you want. These let you explore the wonderful world of physics, chemistry, and biology without having to go back to school and sit in a lab. 

DIY experiments can include anything that interests you. For example, you could try a new smoothie recipe or perhaps build a rocket powered by baking soda. You could also trial some new systems in your home, like dehumidifiers, to see if they work well on your property. 

Artistic Fun

Another way to amuse yourself on a lazy afternoon and improve your cognition is to have a little artistic fun. Going out there and being creative can be an excellent way to activate different parts of your brain, many of which may have been dormant for a long time. 

If you don’t have any art supplies, go out and get some. These can inspire you to try new things and explore the hobby further. 

Creative expression relaxes your mind too. Working on an easel on a drawing for several hours is an excellent way to concentrate on things besides your problems. 

Socializing

You could even consider socializing on a lazy afternoon. Going out and meeting people is a great way to pass the time and keep your mind active. 

When you meet new people, it triggers certain parts of the mind that you don’t get when playing alone. Functioning well socially requires you to think carefully about your interactions and ensure you don’t step on anyone’s toes. 

It can also introduce you to new ideas. Friends can explain new concepts to you while new acquaintances introduce you to new styles of interaction that you might not have in your personal life. 

Socializing can also play a critical role in the realm of memory. It reminds you of things that happened in the past that you may have forgotten, making them more present in your cognition as you go about your day. 

Conversations like these can even improve your reasoning skills. You may feel better equipped to think things through after talking with other people. 

Gentle Movement

Gentle movement is another way to entertain yourself on a lazy afternoon. Getting out of the house and doing something different enhances blood flow to the brain and helps you relax. 

You can try all sorts of different things involving gentle movement, including: 

  • Hiking
  • Walking
  • Jogging
  • Running
  • Biking
  • Pilates
  • Stretching
  • Yoga
  • Gardening
  • Pottering

All of these activities are ideal when you just want to move your body and get more done. These keep you active and allow you to think more clearly and creatively when you’re done. 

Purposeful Relaxation

Another option is to engage in purposeful relaxation. While the phrase might sound oxymoronic, it is well-studied and proven. 

Most people never learn how to relax because they are always on the move and active. But purposeful relaxation aims to prevent a racing mind by getting you to focus on specific activities that calm you down. 

For example, you could try deep breathing exercises. These require you to focus, but they also calm you at a physiological level at the same time. After a minute or two of doing these exercises, you can feel like a new person. It’s quite remarkable how effective they can be.

You can also try using brainwork apps. These get you to perform a series of exercises designed to be complementary, helping you banish anxiety or low mood. 

Relaxation is something that can just happen by itself on a lazy afternoon, so you’ll want to evaluate which camp you fall into. If you’re like most people, you need someone or something to guide you to your destination. 

Plan 

Another cool option for a lazy afternoon that boosts your cognition is planning. Thinking about your next move is an excellent way to stimulate the mind and do all of the things you want to do. 

Planning requires a degree of strategy, especially if it is something complex. You have to write everything down methodically to ensure you don’t miss any of the steps. 

Planning also requires thinking about what it is that you want to achieve. You have to bind the scope of your ambitions and set guardrails to get to where you want to go. 

For example, you might plan how you would set a goal to stay looking youthful or get a new job. It’s entirely up to you. 

Explore Nature

Finally, you could entertain yourself and boost your cognitive performance on a lazy afternoon by exploring nature. Stepping outside into the fresh air and natural light can lift your mood rapidly and leave you feeling ready to take on the challenges of the world. 

Research shows that people’s cognition improves in natural environments, like forests. Spending just one or two hours in these spaces each week can deliver lasting benefits that make a real difference to a person’s quality of life. 

In summary, there are plenty of things you can do on a lazy afternoon to improve your cognition. Everything from simple brain-training games to full-blown forest bathing can have an impact. The trick is to find out what works for you and stick with it.