10 TIPS TO STAY ACTIVE

10 tips to stay active

1. Play games, do puzzles. Games that require mental manipulations are especially beneficial.

2. Organize a dinner or a book or video discussion group.

3. Travel someplace new with a friend or family member.

4. Enroll in a course. Give your brain a workout by learning something new.

5. Browse the hobby section at a bookstore; find something new that interests you.

6. Correspond with friends and family through mail or e-mail.

7. Consider part-time work. Many seniors stay sharp by working at a job they enjoy.

8. Volunteer. Such work can provide an opportunity to learn new skills.

9. Start a journal. Record your thoughts, dreams or ideas you'd like to explore.

10. Write a memoir or trace your family history. Check Census records, ship-passenger logs and other genealogical sources.

Source: Adapted from The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain (Basic Books, 2005) by Gene D. Cohen