Boost Your Brain Power

I find time daily to keep my mind active. I read my bible and anything else I can get my hands on. I play Concentration and Old Maid with my granddaughter and I'm looking forward to playing chess again with my grandson who lives in another state. I am happy that I am the one who got him interested in it. I'm not very good at it, though, and I expect he will have far surpassed me by the time we play again.

I love backgammon but have no one to play it with so I play online. My favorite place to play against the computer is at Motif Backgammon and I usually go there at least once a day either when I have writer's block, just for fun or to relieve stress. It is not easy but even when I lose, it makes me a better player on other sites. There are easy-to-understand instructions, the history of backgammon, and the rules and etiquette of playing the game. For those who already know how to play backgammon, click on Motif to go directly to the site.

Luminosity is an excellent place to train your brain no matter what you may need improvement on: memory, problem solving, attention, or any other area of your brain you want to strengthen. Just as we need to keep our bodies in shape, it is also important to exercise our minds. Luminosity offers a few games for free and a training program for a limited time. For those interested in taking it further, you can get personalized training, access to all the brain stimulating games, and performance tracking. Cost for full access runs from $4.95 a month for two years to $299.00 for a lifetime subscription. Don't let the prices scare you. Not only is your brain worth it, you can play for free.

Have you tried the Frog Leap? I had a lot of fun teasing friends of all ages with this one. Brain Bashers has a large variety of brain teasers for everyone. I signed up for a free account at Great Day Games and have a few favorites. Some are slow to load or play but others are loads of fun. I rarely play backgammon there because you can only play against the computer and it set up to play one way and the odds are in the player's favor. While it might sound good to win most of the time, it can be boring.

Have fun, stay active, and play like you're still 5!