AARP Rewards Community Learning & Earning Contest August 2022

Besides reading, doing Sudoko and crossword puzzles everyday, I am learning Mah Jongg, a table games with tiles in which you draw tiles (like you would cards in a card game) and try to create one of a set of "hands" or groups of tiles. I also walk every day and do an online aerobic class.

Both my husband and I try to keep our brains active by playing word games. We really like Word Trip, and also Word Serenity.  We have the apps on our Kindle Fire (which is a great inexpensive tablet to have).

I love marking plants grow I rescue plants that people are throwing in trash they will say that it is dead and something is eating it but I check as close to root a possible and if any green I nurture and google and I have learned so much from internet that I haven’t lost a plant that I rescued  I want to take some courses about growing and raising plants I read everything there is seed packets YouTube I can’t believe how as I get older I can’t get enough of knowledge if I hear something and someone says that this is a true story I have to research it well that’s enough I have to google something.

---

@AARPTeri wrote:

August 2022, Learning/Earning/Back to School Contest!

 

Tell us how you keep your brain active to keep engaged for the chance to be one of five (5) winners of a $50 VISA Gift card! 

 

Post your message by clicking reply at the bottom of this message! Contest runs from 8/1 until 8/31/22.  Click here to see Contest Rules.

 

Some examples to help get you started!

My son moved to Germany, and I take German classes so I can feel a little more comfortable with the language when I visit him for the holidays.

 

I like to take quizzes and watch videos about topics I’m interested in like “what do you know about long-term care” from the Rewards earning page.

---

I love crossword puzzles.  I just bought a book of 500 Sunday New York Times puzzles.  A month later I am working on #23

I practice mindfulness, read, walk and play brain games like puzzles and split words on staying sharp.

I keep my brain active by engaging in the following activities:

1. I belong to a Facebook group that teaches Yiddish, which was spoken in my home as a child, but as I grew, the family spoke it less and less. I am learning new words, and relearning ones that I once knew, but forgot.

2. I am an avid reader and take walks to my local library several times a week. 

3. I like to do crossword puzzles, and all types of word puzzles.

4. I find new recipes from other cultures, and make these new dishes often. I also learn about the origin of the recipe. 

5. I read a lot about dementia, as my Dad is in an assisted living facility, and I am with him on weekends, caring for him, helping him cope and still do "normal" things.

I follow complicated knitting patterns and I'm learning Italian.

First, I keep my neurons (brain cells) active and growing by maintaining a healthy vascular system – that is by keeping my blood pressure, blood glucose, ldl cholesterol levels and my weight within normal and healthy ranges. I decreased my A1c level from 6.8% to 5% by decreasing carbs and substituting simple carbs for complex carbs that contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Secondly, I control sodium, caffeine, and stress to keep my blood pressure levels within normal range and every week I participate in an online diabetes education class. Third,  I stay socially connected by eating and socializing with friends and family. Attending social events, e.g. church, and taking day trips helps defeat social isolation, depression and brain cell inactivity.  To keep brain cells active, I exercise, play computer games, take online college level writing courses and write essays which I hope to published. Through the AARP Staying Sharp website and the Alzheimer's Association website where I previously volunteered, I read and research about brain health other health and nutrition related topics. 

Hi @AARPTeri! I just joined AARP, took the AARP vegetarian quiz (been veggie for 17 years, and I got the meat question wrong, haha), and I am beginning acoustic guitar lessons on Tuesday! My 50's are gonna be filled with music I make! -Meg5678

I am taking Spanish every day so I can talk to Spanish speakers, while planning for a trip to Mexico. I play several different word games and card games to stimulate different parts of my brain. I exercise 5-6 days a week with bicicleta, elliptical and weights. I eat healthy with lots of fruits and vegetables.