5 Fun & Easy Mental Exercises to Give Your Brain A Boost

Keeping your brain in tip-top shape can be challenging, especially for busy moms, but it is essential that we make sure that our whole body, including our brain, gets a good workout on a regular basis. Working out your brain doesn't have to be boring; this might become your favorite regular workout!

I will share with you 5 fun ideas on how to give your brain the regular exercise it needs to stay sharp. Don't worry it doesn't take a lot of time or expensive equipment to get a mental workout in every day. You only need a few minutes each day to flex your gray matter.

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Mental Self-Care For Busy Moms

Self-care, especially for busy moms is so important. Taking a little time each day to focus on taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually will not only make you feel better but it will help you be a better mom. 

Exercising your brain can benefit you in so many ways like improved concentration and focus as well as other important cognitive functions. Here are a few more benefits from flexing your mental muscles:

• boost your confidence & self-esteem
• improve your memory & attention
• make you smarter & sharper
• improve decision-making ability
• enhance positive mood & attitude
• boost your creative energy
• improve your communication skills

Everyone will benefit from a few minutes each day of active mental activities and exercises. Your quality of life as a busy mom depends on it! Here are 5 simple, budget-friendly games you can start doing today and get your brain in tip-top shape.

5 Fun & Easy Brain Games To Exercise Your Mommy Brain

WORD SEARCH

I find word search puzzles so relaxing! It is a great way to fill time when you are waiting for an appointment, sitting in the car pool line, or just taking a few moments to unwind after a long day. 

Whether you like the electronic versions or the printed softcover book style you can still give your brain a great mental workout! Word searches come in a variety of themes like Bible verses, vacation themes, science, and seasonal themes. There is almost no limit to the themes these kinds of puzzles offer. 

App Recommendation: Word Search Explorer by PlaySimple Games (Google Play Store)

Classic word search puzzles with beautiful scenery to help you relax your mind. This app offers free to play word search puzzles that will help you grow your vocabulary as you solve the puzzles.

Printed Recommendation (softcover) : Large Print Bible Word Search Puzzle Book 

This puzzle book that you can purchase on Amazon has over 1,000+ hidden words! Each puzzle page contains a verse from the Bible with words selected within the verse that are hidden in the puzzle. Not only are you spending time exercising your brain but you also benefit from reading Scripture verses! This puzzle book makes a great gift for a senior friend or family member because of the large print size. Tuck this book into your bag, purse or tote to take along with you on vacation or to appointments. 

SUDOKO 

Sudoko is a great workout for your brain! This working-memory training activity, like chess, requires you to think three or four steps ahead to your next move. Fun and challenging games like sudoko will really work your gray matter.

App Recommendation: Sudoko-Classic Brain Puzzle by Shared Fun (Google Play Store) 

Beware, this is an addictive game that can help you train your brain!

Printed Recommendation (softcover): 1,000 + All Easy Sudoko Puzzle Book

MAZES

A maze puzzle not only challenges your brain but it helps with eye hand coordination too. These types of puzzles come in a variety of shapes and levels of difficulty too. A favorite puzzle for kids, mazes are also popular with adults. Completing a maze creates a sense of accomplishment while keeping your brain active and working in top condition. 

App Recommendation: Mazes & More (Google Play)

Printed Recommendation: The Amazing Book of Mazes (Amazon)

This book is full of handcrafted mazes for you to enjoy! Seventy-five fun mazes for you to solve.

CROSSWORD PUZZLES

A popular past time that has been around for decades, crossword puzzles are still a popular activity for people of any age. The benefits of working on a crossword puzzle offers more than just a challenging game. According to Harvard researchers crossword puzzle clues often force you to link concepts you hadn't pictures together. These features mean that crossword puzzles cause large areas of your cortex to be active, and stimulate new connections in your brain. So if you are looking for an easy way to relieve stress with a good mental workout I recommend that you try a crossword puzzle!

App Recommendation: Crossword Puzzles by Xpress Mobyte (Google Play Store) rated 4.5

Printed Recommendation: Amazing 2024: Easy Exciting Crossword Puzzles for Adults (Amazon)

This fun puzzle book has over 2400 words to decipher! 

BRAIN TEASER PUZZLES

Do you consider yourself a detail oriented person? If so, brain teaser puzzles that challenge you to spot the differences between two pictures or puzzles that you have to find hidden objects will be loads of fun for you. These puzzles can include anything from challenging math puzzles to visual challenges. Brain teaser puzzles are not only fun but they can help prevent short term memory loss. 

App Recommendation: Brain Test: Tricky Puzzles (Google Play Store)

New levels added every month! Rated 4.7

Printed Recommendation: The Fun and Relaxing Adult Activity Book (Amazon)

A collection of different fun activities that will keep you mentally sharp and entertained for hours!

WORD GRID PUZZLE (a.k.a Boggle Solitaire)

These types of puzzles are based on the Boggle board game. The goal of the game is to find as many words as you can with a given grid of letters but you can only make words for letters that touch each other and each letter can only be used once per word. Once you begin to master this type of puzzle set a time limit and see how fast you can complete it! 

App Recommendation: Boggle with Friends Word Game (Google Play Store)

Printed Recommendation: Boggle Your Mind (Amazon)

BONUS GAME - Boggle Solitaire Alternative!

Word Grid Puzzles (aka Boggle Solitaire) are based on the Boggle board game. In Word Grid, you’re given a grid of letters and must find as many words as you can.

The rules are simple: words must be made from letters that touch and each letter can only be used once per word. To make it more challenging, set a time limit!

Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Word Grid for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. 

Your brain will thank you for all of these fun activities! Get your kids involved and make it a family fun night with a variety of brain teasers.