Keeping Your Brain Sharp this Summer

This article was written by our Everly Mag intern, Bridget.

We all know the feeling of going back to school after a relaxing summer with a foggy brain. As we end this school year and head into summer it is important to remember that we can still be using our brains while relaxing and doing what we love so we can feel bright as day when we return to school in the fall. Here are some tips on how to keep your brain sharp this summer:

Read a News Article Everyday

It’s easy once school is over to not keep as up to date with current events, but these things are actually very important for not only working your brain, but also knowing what’s going on in the world around you. If you are someone that gets bored with the news, do not worry because there’s several easy and quick ways of doing so without having to sit down and read a whole newspaper or watch several news sources. For instance, The Daily Skimm is a subscription news source that sends you an easy breakdown of the most important news stories each day. Getting the app of a news source of your choice that can notify you each day with news stories is an easy way of having current events at your fingertips as well.

Read Books

In today’s society we tend to turn to our phones when we are bored. This summer, challenge yourself to pick up a book instead. Start by trying to read a book for at least 20 mins a day. Perhaps find this time when you are waking up in the morning when you would normally check Instagram or when you can’t fall asleep at night, when you might normally be watching YouTube videos. Even reading a fiction book that you are interested in will help positively stimulate your brain, rather than mindlessly scrolling through social media.

Listen to Informative Podcasts

Who knew that the hundreds of free podcasts that come with your iPhone were just as binge-worthy as Netflix? Podcasts are a great way to learn about interesting topics- history, self- improvement, current events, criminal cases, sports- you name it and there are podcasts about it! Listen to them when you are driving instead of listening to the radio, when you are tanning outside, or even when you are working out. It is such an easy and interesting way to learn about such a wide range of topics. Serial is the very popular criminal case podcast that got me addicted to listening to podcasts, but if you aren’t interested in this one, take a look at the top 50 charts in the Podcast app for ideas!

Keep a Journal

Writing in a journal, even if it’s just a few sentences a day, will not only be good for your emotional and mental health, but is also an easy way to practice your writing. The best part is you can get as creative or as personal as you want, and no one is grading you for it. If nothing else, at least it would be a good way to keep up your handwriting over the summer.

Do a Fun Intellectual Activity

Instead of just sitting in your backyard when you are bored, do something that will get your brain working! Go to a museum or monument and learn about art or history, listen to a speech, attend an activist march, even going to a zoo or aquarium as simple as it is gets your brain working. Any activity where you are able to learn is a productive activity.

Explore Something You’ve Always Been Curious About

If there is a question you never got answered in school, or even a random topic you’ve always wanted to learn about but were too busy to really do it, summer is the perfect time to explore these topics! Make a list of a bunch of topics or questions you have and set them aside for a rainy day. Then choose one and do the research. It will be super satisfying to cross these questions off your list and gratify your curiosity!

We can still have a relaxing summer while building knowledge and exercising our brains. You will likely feel much more productive and proud of yourself for challenging your mind in new ways. Just by making a few changes to our daily routine in these next few months, we can be that much more prepared for the new school year!

What other ways can you use to work your brain in the summer? Comment below!

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