It’s easy sometimes to just content ourselves with Netflix and scrolling endlessly through Facebook and Twitter. When we get home from work or school the last thing we want to do is something that actually involves our brains. But it’s super important to keep our brains sharp, just as it is important to work out as the gym, our brains need to be challenged as well. Below are a few super easy, and fun ways, to keep our minds active and engaged, all while learning something new.
TED Talks.
IF you haven’t heard about TED Talks yet, please, I beg of you, google it. You will quickly find yourself on a website with thousands of videos, with titles on varying topics, from genetics, to architecture, to politics, to psychology, and more. The basic premise is that a lead researcher in each field gives a talk, in 18 minutes or less and with little more than a projector for help, on their topic. The depth that can be reached in 18 minutes or less is unbelievable and each TED talk is unique and different in its vibe, depending on who is giving the talk. I guarantee no matter what you’re interested in, you’ll be able to find one that you’d like to watch.
Learn a new language with the app Duolingo.
Yes, I agree, actually learning a language from a smartphone app seems unlikely. And becoming fluent most likely is impossible. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t pick up vocabulary, basic grammar, and enough of a language to get by in a foreign country. Granted, I would never claim to speak Spanish fluently, I am confident to say that I could now introduce myself, ask basic questions, and identify certain food and other things that, before installing the app, I could not. It never hurts to get comfortable in as many languages as possible. You never know when you might need it. And Duolingo has A TON of language options.
YouTube DIY videos.
There are an insane amount of DIY videos on YouTube. From carpentry, to refinishing antique furniture, to learning a new software, pretty much any project that appears daunting at first, has most likely already been done, and posted on YouTube. Before starting a project, (or during) it can be helpful to watch a tutorial on how someone else has done the same project you’re struggling with. Chances are you’ll learn few tips.
Dictionary.com App.
Seriously. It’s not even THAT nerdy..well I mean it is, but still. This app is actually really cool because it has a Word of The Day feature which teaches you some random word you’ve never heard of before. It literally takes like 10 seconds to read the notification, and bam, you’ve already become a little bit smarter. It never hurts to add to your vocabulary and impress people with your vast knowledge.
theSkimm.
Now this is a free newsletter than you can sign up for. All you have to do is enter your email and you’re done. theSkimm sends you an email every weekday, with a summary of all of the important news events that went on the day before. Best Parts? The newsletter is short, and concise but also sarcastic and v funny. It’s a great way to know what’s going on in the world, without having to read full length articles on actual news websites.
Goodreads.
This is an awesome app for avid readers, and for those who don’t really like reading. It’s basically like Facebook but for books. You can share your favorite books, write reviews of them, see what other people (and your friends) are reading. It’s an awesome place to find new things to read. You can filter by category of book and save books you want to read into a list.
