However, I've observed that even on weekends -- when we have more spare time to read, write, play Sudoku, or engage in other mentally-stimulating activities -- many people still opt to do things that require minimal thinking, such as sifting through Facebook posts or binge-watching The Real Housewives of Potomac.
Mind you, there's nothing wrong with these kinds of things. But while I'm all for giving the mind a rest at certain points throughout the day, I can't go more than a couple of hours without wanting to learn something new -- whether it's the meaning of a word I came across in an article or about President Trump's latest economic proposals.
I'm on a seemingly never-ending quest to expand my vocabulary and gain as much insight into the world -- and the human mind -- as I possibly can. I try my best to sate that intellectual curiosity by reading books, writing blog posts, watching educational documentaries, and visiting museums.
I realize, though, that not everyone shares the same willingness/disposition to learn new things.
I recognize, for example, that counting Jeopardy! and CSPAN history programming among my favorite shows puts me in the minority.
The point here is not that everyone should become a bookworm, watch only quiz shows, and play Scrabble for fun.
It's that we should make a conscious effort to do things every once in a while that involve mental rigor -- whether reading instructions to assemble a bookshelf, proofreading a nephew's book report, playing a game of chess with a friend, or investing the time to learn the history of destinations you're considering traveling to.
Thinking critically and creatively keeps the mind sharp and improves memory -- something we all need as we age.
The way I see it, human beings don't come endowed with superhero powers. We can't fly. We can't shoot fireballs. We can't teleport or wield an invisibility shield.
We do, however, have a brain and the capacity to boost its power.
And how exactly can we amplify our brainpower? By feeding the mind knowledge.
A person armed with knowledge is a powerful person indeed. Thus, knowledge itself is power.
My social psychology professor in college put it rather succinctly: "We are cognitive misers." We are inclined toward conserving our cognitive resources as much as we can.
And there's no question that as technology becomes more and more sophisticated, our reliance on it to complete the simplest of tasks will only grow.
It's important we give our brains a little exercise here and there. Challenging ourselves to learn and retain information will not only serve to sharpen our cognitive skills, but make us wiser and better informed.
Comments