Hoot Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 What do you do to keep your mind from feeling like it is atrophying at an alarming rate? DS17 is a senior this year and is taking most of his classes in a co-op setting. As such, I decided to go back to work full-time when I was offered a position in June. I work in a Pre-K - 12 school and my job is in the pre school department. I don't love my job, but I don't hate it either. It is easy, I have no need to take my work home in the evenings, and the administration has been very gracious in allowing me a level of freedom this year that I would not be afforded elsewhere. The problem that I am having is that I feel like my brain is turning to mush. Most days I come home feeling dumber than when I left. I can't focus or concentrate more than a few minutes. There is no challenge in the work itself and the woman I work with is, to be frank, not one who is capable of any intelligent discussion beyond that which pertains to our preschool students. When I get home at night I'm tired, bored, and relatively unmotivated to do much beyond the basics around the house and then fall into bed. Beyond the teaching of new things to your own children, what do you do to keep your mind sharp? I need some motivation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Join a classical book club, learn to play a musical instrument, learn a new skill, sign up for a lecture series, buy an audio/cd learning tape, take a class in something, join an exercise group or challenge (b/c sometimes lack of exercise turns my brain to mush!) Anne 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Oh my goodness so many things. I read a lot. I'm taking a course at the CC. I'm working through an on-line course. I play the violin. I am big into logic puzzles. Sometimes I think my head will explode. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 It may sound like the opposite of an intellectual pursuit, but have you considered a dance class? You're stimulated by the music, teachers, and other students. You have to move your body, remember the techniques, learn the choreography, and keep going when you're tired and your brain is full. I find it VERY therapeutic to be moving, sweating, playing my finger cymbals, and expressing the music. It seems to activate my brain in a way that sedentary studies don't. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Can you join a book club? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 What do you do to keep your mind from feeling like it is atrophying at an alarming rate? ,,, Beyond the teaching of new things to your own children, what do you do to keep your mind sharp? I need some motivation. Games! Are there family or friends with whom you can play? Some favorites: Bananagrams SET Iota Quiddler Quarto Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 duolingo for languages learning to play piano (which also exercises my fingers and both sides of the brain.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 I play Scrabble online with strangers. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiMi 4under3 Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 I'm taking 3 classes at the CC for fun... thinking of a second degree in science or math just to keep my brain occupied and thinking hard. Homeschooling dd helps, I find myself taking notes during her online Biology lecture. I've just taken a position as a pre-K Hebrew School teacher on Sundays. I would LOVE to learn to play piano... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymonster Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 I'm starting The Artist's Way as a way to reconnect with my underdeveloped creativity... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Night class at the local community college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Genealogy. I started when my kids were young--partly out of curiosity, and partly for the mental stimulation. 16 years later I'm still at it and I still love it. I can work on it as much or as little as I want, and there's always another branch to explore, another problem to solve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Listening to NPR in the car or podcasts while doing housework. It "forces" me to think about topics and expand my knowledge, especially All Things Considered. They delve into topics and make them so interesting and informative, though on the surface I feel that I wouldn't care much about X topic. Or pick up a new hobby. Mastering a new skill (rinse and repeat), can be mind opening. It doesn't need to be intellectual. Anything you don't know about has a wealth of things that can be learned. Study for a new career? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 There are so many things you can do the trick is to pick out what will work for you. I think the vast majority of women on here have been through this at least to some degree(as evidenced by all the posts about it). Keeping ourselves while raising children is hard. My process has been just to keep an open mind and try lots of things, say yes and stop thinking so much. I've found a lot of stimulation in physical pursuits- working on Aerial Silks- totally rewiring neural pathways doing something unlike I've ever done before. My current focus is training to become a Yoga Teacher- which is physical and mental(learning philosophy- which has led to philosophy and religion study on my own, anatomy etc). I like reading a wide variety of books- I go on binges of fiction and non-fiction. Nature study is a hobby. I explored various artistic pursuits, never found my niche really, but perhaps because my desire is using my body for creative expression. I also started by thinking what I wanted to be when I grow up, quickly realized I didn't know :) I still don't know exactly BUT I'm starting to see some paths opening in front of me, once I let go of this idea of how I think my life should look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyGF Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Do you want to do something to turn into a career in something stimulating or a hobby that keeps you active? Those are completely different directions... Emily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyLittleBears Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Exercise and read! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.