Growing Pains for Brain Gains
Mathias Reding/Unsplash
Beginner’s Mindset: Maybe you’ve thought about picking up that guitar collecting dust in the corner or finally booking your first ski lesson, then talk yourself out of it because starting feels so awkward. But pushing through the discomfort of being a beginner is exactly what makes taking up a new hobby so beneficial, as it gives your brain a kind of workout that wards off cognitive decline.
The Benefits: In a 2020 study published in BMJ Open_, _Japanese researchers found that spending more time on hobbies can reduce depression and slow cognitive decline. Learning something new encourages your brain to form fresh pathways and reinforce existing ones. Over time, those changes help the brain stay resilient, which may lower the risk of dementia.
How to Do It: Choose a new hobby that excites you and requires focus. British researchers reported in a 2024 study in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry that music is especially powerful because it challenges multiple parts of the brain at once. But painting, tai chi, or learning a new game can help too. What matters most is showing up often enough to improve little by little and give your brain the stimulus it needs to stay flexible and strong.
