Many studies have shown that, like the muscles in our body, the brain needs some sort of activity to keep it young and vital throughout life. Activities stimulate the brain cells, helping create new neurobonds and connections and simply saving the brain from deterioration and possible diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Now, we’ve all heard how learning languages and new skills can drastically improve our chances of staying mentally sharp, even at the ripe age of 90. But if you’re having a hard time learning new languages, maybe we can interest you in your own language a bit more.
Word games are extremely popular at parties and family gatherings, and are the perfect brain workout. They simply make you think twice as fast as you usually would, and you’ll have to work on your vocabulary, learn new words, and simply think sharper than everyone else if you want to win. It’s safe to say that word games are one of the easiest and best ways to keep your brain young. But if you’re still not convinced, maybe we can achieve that in the text below. Read on as we’ll list some top reasons why they are a great brain workout and why you should start playing them if you already haven’t.
Cognitive Enhancement
One of the primary benefits of engaging in word games is the possibility of cognitive enhancement and the chance to improve your current short-term and long-term memory.
Word games like Scrabble and Boggle and other similar types of games make you think in patterns that are completely different from the way you perform your day-to-day thinking. The way your brain connects everyday speech depends on the type of conversation you’re having and in most cases, you’ll use regular words and avoid complex terminology. This type of everyday speech is stimulating but not in a way that forces the brain to make new neuro connections and bonds or in a way that forces it to make new patterns. The mental effort of thinking of different words or creating new ones stimulates mental activity, which in turn can protect the brain from the type of cognitive decline usually associated with old age. Memory, attention span, and problem-solving are the three top skills most affected and activated by word games, making them a perfect way to keep the brain healthy and young even in old age.
Vocabulary and Language Skills
If you’ve ever played any type of word game, you’re probably aware of the amount of thinking it usually requires. The issue sometimes is not the game itself; as the rules are simple and easy to follow, the issue is a lack of simply not knowing the right words. The lack of vocabulary and language skills often makes them more difficult than they are.
And so, if you’re trying to win at the word game next time your family and friends are all together and throwing a party, the best way to prepare is to learn new words and to improve your communication skills. So, word games simply push you to learn new meanings, new spelling, and the proper usage of words. And if you’re having a hard time figuring it all out, there are a variety of different online tools available to help you “unscramble many words”. You can always check out Unscramble.me and similar platforms, which offer you a great way to learn more while making it easy and accessible. All in all, this helps your brain create new connections and bonds, improving the brain’s ability to connect things faster and better in everyday life, while you’ll improve your overall communication skills and speaking and that can have a great and profound impact on your social and maybe even dating life as well.
They Reduce Stress and Promote Mental Well-Being
The best use of word games is the effect they have on your overall mental well-being and the reduction of stress. The idea behind playing the games is simply to escape your day-to-day responsibilities while having social interactions with people you love and care about. Word games occupy your brain just enough so you don’t have the time to think about anything else and while playing them, you’ll feel joy and happiness, and you won’t worry about whatever is bothering you at the moment.
Social Engagement
It’s well-known how social interaction and participating in social activities boost dopamine and all the other hormones of happiness. Word games are the perfect social glue; they help you meet new friends and people and also strengthen the relationships you have right now. It’s a great way to communicate with others while having a lot of fun and simultaneously keeping up brain activity. Social engagement is crucial for your brain’s health and your overall well-being as one of the main causes of brain deterioration and general feelings of depression and unhappiness is isolation and a lack of social interaction.
Boosting Creativity and Problem-Solving
The skills you’ll learn when it comes to problem-solving you can later implement in your everyday life, and you probably will do so completely unconsciously as the brain does most things by default. Playing word games is perfect for creating a productive environment for your brain, activating and stimulating it in ways you usually couldn’t or wouldn’t. It’s completely different from reading, as you not only engage your memory and reading skills but also the problem-solving part of the brain, enhancing your cognitive functions and simply making you more productive. Believe us, you’ll solve most day-to-day issues with ease and you’ll ask yourself “Where did that come from”?! The more you engage your brain, the better, and the game is a great way to train cognitive flexibility and innovative thinking.
Word games are a great way to engage with friends and family, to learn and boost creativity, and to constantly work on yourself and your mental capabilities. It’s a fun and exciting way to constantly work on your vocabulary and your communication skills while avoiding hours and hours of sitting behind a desk and reading and studying about them. Through games, the knowledge you acquire is simultaneously acquired and happens naturally; it happens on a subconscious level without you thinking about it and before you know it, you’ll acquire new skills you never knew you had.
