Thursday, May 28, 2009

Lifelong Learning Thursday

Nancy Merz Nordstrom, author of Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret of Making the Most of Your After 50 Years will share the benefits of Lifelong Learning on Thursdays.



LEARNING LATER, LIVING GREATER: 
The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years.

Lifelong Learning in Your Later Years… 
A Health Club for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit!

As promised last week, here are some ideas for how to challenge your mind and keep it sharp and vigorous.

Act like a kid again…
Remember all the board games you used to play? Dust them off. They served a purpose then, and they can do so again.

Scrabble – Parcheesi – Monopoly – Truth or Consequences – Go to the Head of the Class – Risk – Trivial Pursuit – Password – Checkers – Pictionary- Stratego – Life – Jeopardy – Game of Life…And the list goes on.

Sudoku, a logic-based number placement puzzle, is the latest craze and a real challenge for your mind.
• Don’t forget crossword and jigsaw puzzles.
• Play bridge instead of bingo.
• Find that deck of cards you once had, and resurrect old card games.
• Polish up your chess game.
• Like the casinos? Play black jack instead of the slot machines.


Have a game night with friends on a regular basis. Social interaction and mental stimulation; two necessary life ingredients!

Get physical…
• Dance, walk, bike, hike, swim.
• Join a fitness group.
• Explore Tai Chi and other similar activities.
• Use your non-dominant hand to do everyday tasks.
• Take different routes to your destination.


Go online…
• The Internet is a gold-mine of stimulating games and brain exercises.
• Join an online discussion board. You will find hundreds of different topics to discuss with others.
• Take free online courses from colleges and universities
.

Learn, learn, learn…
• Read books on topics that cause you to think.
• Join a book club.
• Learn a new word or fact every day.
• Join a choral group, or learn a new song and sing by yourself.
• Learn to play a musical instrument, a piano or guitar for instance.
• Join a lifelong learning program.
• Give some of your time to meaningful community service.
• Travel to learn, not just for fun.
• Polish your math. Add or subtract numbers in your head.
• Listen to audio books or language tapes while you drive.


About TV…
• Try to limit TV to those few shows that cause you to think.
• Check out the Discovery, History, and PBS channels.
• Spend one day a week “media free.” Get to know YOU.


Choices…
• Life is all about choices. Keep making choices.
• Find things to do that require making choices and decisions.
• Choose to eat well balanced meals most of the time.
• Stay informed about what’s going on around you.
• Write or email your elected representatives.
• Attend public meetings in the community.
• Join the Friends of the Public Library.
• Don’t let your brain go on automatic pilot.


THURSDAY’S THOUGHT…

“One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The perfect goal to strive for each and every day!

For more information on Learning Later, Living Greater visit www.learninglater.com

You can purchase Learning Later, Living Greater at www.amazon.com

Till Next Time…

Nancy Merz Nordstrom is Director of the Lifelong Learning Department at Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com)

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