How To Keep Your Mind Sharp As A New Parent

Keeping your mind sharp is probably the last thing on your mind as a new parent — there are nappies to change, formulas to make, and sleepless nights to recover.

It’s tough when you are a new parent, the sleepless nights, constant activity and not a lot of time to relax and unwind. So let’s look at how to keep your mind sharp as a new parent.

But if you don’t stay on top of your brain power then you’ll quickly find that you slip into ‘zombie parent’ mode, feeling slow and lethargic.

Taking up some gentle post-baby exercise like yoga will increase your blood flow, helping your body feel more awake and energised, but what about your mind?

There are many ways to keep your mind sharp as a new parent, but I’ve focused on three that are simple, achievable, and deliver tangible results. Check them out here:

How To Keep Your Mind Sharp As A New Parent

Play blackjack

Blackjack is one of the oldest and most popular card games on the planet. It’s played in casinos and homes across the globe and is a great way to keep your mind sharp. Why? Because it exercises your mind’s ability to think logically.

Logical thinking is a huge part of blackjack; you need to use logic to decide what action is the correct one to take, establishing if the correct move is to bet (in a variety of ways) or sacrifice your hand.

While learning blackjack may sound like a lot of work (especially for a busy, new parent) it’s actually a breeze to learn how to play it. It takes only a few minutes to learn the rules, and you can find them here, along with tips on how to win.

It’s a great way when you are considering how to keep your mind sharp as a new parent.

Life drawing

Speaking from experience, life drawing is one of the most fun and rewarding hobbies you can have. It’s relaxing, challenging, sociable, independent, and gives you something tangible to admire. There are many ways that it keeps your mind sharp, but one really stands out; it coaches you to focus.

Focus is key in life drawing. You can get as little as three minutes to capture a pose and this means you need to focus in at least two ways. Firstly, you need to focus on what you’re going to draw. Secondly, you then need to focus on how you’re going to deliver on this.

Though life drawing may sound more involved than your frazzled, new-parent mind can cope with, it’s actually one of the most meditative ways to stay sharp. I usually come away from my classes with a greater sense of balance and peace.

Learn a new language

It’s said that there are two hobbies above all others that are a great work out for your mind — learning how to play an instrument and learning a new language. It;s one of the best ways I found when I was exploring how to keep your mind sharp as a new parent. While I could spend hours talking about both these things, I’m focussing on the latter. Why? Let me explain:

Learning a new language sharpens your cognitive skills and your brain’s ability to function. The byproducts of this are that it makes you smarter, more perceptive, better at remembering things, and so many more things. But the reason I’m recommending it over learning an instrument is that it’s also a skill that helps you to boost your CV — handy if you’re planning on going back to work or changing jobs once your parental leave is over.

I’ll admit, learning a new language is daunting. However, the important thing to note is that you can pick up a second tongue by spending just a few minutes a day studying (and at the time of your choosing, like if your baby is napping). Simply, use an app (such as Duolingo or Babbel) and your mind will be sharper in no time at all.

Playing blackjack, attending a life drawing class, and learning a new language are just three ways that new parents can keep their minds sharp.

But the reason they’re so great is they’re cheap and simple to do. So, start with one of these three things, and slowly but surely your brain will thank you!

*This is a collaboration post

How To Keep Your Mind Sharp As A New Parent