This week we’re contemplating sleeping under our own blanket, taking a cooking class, and increasing protein levels. Still learning about our Pounce Pot Protocol? Discover more here. 

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Today is National Sewing Machine Day, celebrating Isaac Singer’s ubiquitous 1851 invention. Sewing is certainly an important craft that’s slowly disappearing from our skill set.

Looking for a new skill to boost your brain? How about dusting off your old machine and giving sewing a shot again? Zero sewing skills? Perhaps you could watch a YouTube video about how to sew on a button properly or how to hem and get to work on your “needs repair” pile.

Give it a go. Tasks that simultaneously use brain power and physical dexterity (called motor-cognitive training) are the most beneficial for boosting your cognitive reserve.

Read more in the Pounce Pot Post.

This week, try to think differently about your hobbies. Even inherently loner activities like writing can be a great way to connect with other people in a group setting. 

Here are 9 more hobbies that you can enjoy with a social group. I think I’ve participated in about all of them. Trivia night, anyone?! 

Even when I couldn’t knit (and I still can’t!) I joined a knitting group while looking for friends in a new duty station. Cooking lessons and book clubs have also been a ton of fun wherever we’ve lived.

The logistics of socializing and finding a hobby isn’t easy, but hey, pick your hard. Yes, being social is hard, but so are the consequences of not having any friendly connections.

Need better sleep but you share a bed with a blanket hog who keeps you awake? Like over one-third of couples, you could get a “sleep divorce”; however, you might sleep better by simply sleeping under your own blanket. 

Having two blankets on one bed isn’t a new idea. It’s popular in Scandinavia, and gaining traction on this side of the pond as well. 

Try out the Scandinavian sleep method this week, and see if you get a few extra winks in. Email me and let me know!

Trying to up your daily protein? It’s certainly a goal of mine, and studies show it’s very important for healthy aging. (Read why here.) 

Remember that “eat more protein” doesn’t mean eat more meat; it means eat more protein which is found in plants, as well. Try adding these higher protein vegetables, beans, and legumes into your meal planning this week.

Staying motived to stay active is the key to meeting your exercise goals. If you need a nudge, what if you knew that exercise is not only good for your physical body, but also essential for the health of your brain?

A study out of John Hopkins indicates that adding walking every day to your routine can decrease your risk of dementia by up to 69 percent. Even a little exercise is better than none. That’s enough to get me out the door! Join in!

This TED Talk does a great job of sharing the long-term benefits of regular exercise for your brain.