Active Aging
Spending too much time looking at digital devices can be detrimental for people of any age. But for older adults, excess screen time can have negative cognitive effects — at a time when keeping up cognitive skills is more important than ever.
The good news? In a world that’s swarming with screens, it can be a fun challenge for older adults to find ways to replace digital time with analog activities.
The Overload that Comes with Screens
Digital media is engaging and entertaining, but it can quickly lead to overstimulation. Because your brain is processing so much at once, too much screen time can cause the following concerns:·
- Impaired focus from multitasking
- Memory decline from rapidly-shifting focus
- Reduced attention span
- Reduced deep thinking
Your brain may feel engaged and stimulated during screen time, but it’s not actually working very hard in productive ways. By replacing screen time with activities that are actually challenging and stimulating, you can strengthen skills like focus and memory.
Attend Cultural Events
To re-engage your focus and deeper thinking, visit museums or cultural events that might challenge your everyday way of life. When you interact with information that causes you to pause and contextualize what you’re experiencing, your deeper processing skills get a thorough workout.
Learn a New Language
Retirement is the perfect time to learn a new skill. Languages in particular can activate parts of our brain that we don’t often use in daily routines, so time spent memorizing vocabulary will make an impact.
Replace Consumption with Creation
When we pick up a device or the remote control, we’re getting ready to consume something. Whether it’s the news, advertisements, or even digital games, this form of consumption grabs our attention and locks it to the screen.
One of the best ways to step away from screen time is to replace it with creativity. The act of creating something with your hands can refocus your brain and lead to a sense of accomplishment. Most creative pursuits also engage your fine motor skills and help you practice executive function tasks like planning.
By engaging multiple parts of your brain at the same time, you’re strengthening neural pathways.
Pick up Handicraft Hobbies
Screen time is often tempting because it’s so easy to grab a device and turn it on. Finding a craft that keeps your hands busy but has a low barrier to entry is a great way to shift your focus away from screens. Why not try:
- Crocheting, knitting, or embroidering. Take a community college course if you never learned!
- Coloring in a coloring book
- Setting up an art station with your media of choice so it’s always ready to go
- Hand-binding your letters or journals
- Pressing flowers to create bookmarks, magnets, or other decor items
Build Your Legacy
Your creative pursuits don’t have to be for yourself. Creating something can also help preserve your legacy for generations to come.
Consider some of these creative hobbies that will give you joy and improved mental health in the moment while creating precious memories for others in the future:·
- Write letters to loved ones, old friends, or volunteers who have made an impact in your life
- Start a kitchen window garden that can be shared among family every season
- Compile a binder of family recipes. If you don’t have many to start with, enroll in a cooking class and begin adding your favorites!
- Re-read your favorite books (in physical print!) and annotate the margins with your thoughts to pass along later
Play Games
Engaging in activities that support cognitive health and slow potential decline is imperative for older adults.
Research indicates that adults who play analog games fare better in overall cognitive function than those who don’t; great news for extra motivation to put down the screens!
Classic Games
Traditional card, puzzle, and word games are classics for a reason.
When you sit down and play a game, you’re engaging several areas of functioning simultaneously. Your hands hold cards, touch puzzle pieces, or tap a pencil. Your eyes process visual clues. Your brain works on strategy. Playing a game with friends adds the element of communication and anticipation.
Replacing even half an hour of screen time with an analog game can make a big impact.
“Gameifying” Life
If you haven’t heard the term “gameify” yet, it’s time to get familiar with the concept. The idea is that almost any task can be turned into a game to add excitement and motivation.
Challenge yourself to turn a regular task into a game. Rather than just calling the grandkids every Saturday, start each chat with a word puzzle. Your weekly grocery runs could include a challenge to find as many numbers that sum to today’s date as possible.
Any analog game that includes visual and/or auditory elements will provide the same cognitive benefits that store-bought versions do! The more strategy or memorization involved, the better.
Start by replacing screens with one small activity each day, and you’ll be surprised how quickly you notice the benefits.
