Are you one of those people that finds themselves reaching for their smartphone at seemingly every opportunity? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Research done by Ofcom, estimated that people in the UK, now check their smartphones, on average, every twelve minutes of their waking day. There’s no doubt that that stat is similar in other countries too.
So, if you are always reaching for your smartphone, you might as well use it for good. One way that this can happen is by using apps that have been specially designed to help keep your brain active. We know as a society how important it is to keep your body well exercised to stay in shape. Well, it’s exactly the same for the brain, and you need to keep the most important organ in your body in shape by exercising it regularly. Remember as well, that if you’re struggling mentally, there are five types of apps that can help you beat depression.
Here, then, is a quick look at some of the best apps to help keep your brain in tip-top condition.
Duolingo
Learning a new language can be an incredibly difficult undertaking, but also an extremely rewarding one. There’s evidence that learning another language can help boost your all-important memory skills. If you’ve been wanting to learn another language, but always struggle sticking with it, then the app Duolingo will be a game-changer for you.
It’s an app that delivers bite-sized lessons daily, so you’re never overwhelmed, or chucked in at the deep end. They offer more than thirty-five different languages available for you to learn, including Spanish, German, and Russian. The lessons are delivered in a mini-game style, so it really doesn’t feel like hard work, but more like a fun memory game.
It’s not designed to make you fluent in a language but gives you a thorough and guided introduction to one. So once you’re over that hurdle, you can go on to have more advanced lessons. You’ll be speaking in a second tongue in no time.
Sudoku
A fantastic way to get the brain working overtime, in a fun and productive way, is by using puzzle-solving games. One of the most popular games of this genre is Sudoku, which is a logic-based combinatorial number-placement puzzle. Even though there have been variations of the game dating back to the 19th century, the modern version only came to prominence in the late 1980s in Japan, before spreading west. The name actually means ‘single number’.
To play the game on your smartphone, just head to your app store and search Sudoku, to find hundreds of apps all designed to bring the game to you wherever you are. Our recommended choice is the app developed by Brainium Studios, which delivers a perfect rendition of the game, and even better, is free to play. There are a small number of ads, but they’re not too distracting, as your brain will be too busy focusing on the task at hand.
Solitaire
Another immensely popular puzzle game is card-based solitaire. The game has been played since the end of the 18th century in England, where it was known as ‘patience’. The interesting thing about playing solitaire is that even though it is a game that requires your attention, it also is so formulaic, as you search for sequences in the cards, that it helps the mind enter into a slight meditative state. This can help any stress that you are holding onto dissipate and free up your mind, whilst also still engaging it.
You can find many solitaire apps, but our chosen choice is by MobilityWare. The app is beautifully designed, and the colors pop gorgeously off the screen. It is also, again, free to play, though there are certain in-app purchases available.
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