It’s week five of our six-week series – the perfect time to slow things down and reconnect. This week, we’re focusing on connecting with nature and staying sharp. 

 

Stay sharp

Regularly challenging your brain to learn something new is a great way to help build cognitive reserve – which is your brain’s ability to keep working properly in the face of diseases such as Alzheimer’s. It’s never too early or too late to support your brain health, and building healthy habits is a great way to make it part of your everyday life. 

 

3 ideas to try 

1. Plan a stargazing night:

Inspired by the recent coverage of the solar eclipse or the spectacular Perseid meteor shower? Learning about different planets and constellations is a great way to connect to the world around you and learn new things.  

Pick a clear evening, grab some blankets, drinks and snacks, and set up outside as it gets dark. 

You could: 

• Use apps like Stellarium to identify stars and planets. ‎Stellarium Mobile – Star Map App – App Store

• Challenge each other to spot specific constellations. How to find the constellations in the UK night sky – Parents’ Toolkit – BBC Bitesize

• Take turns sharing interesting facts about space. 

This works just as well for adults looking to unwind as it does for children discovering something new. 

 

 

2. Birds and minibeasts:

You don’t have to travel far to explore nature: there’s plenty to discover right outside your front door.  

Why not have a go at identifying the birds in your garden with Merlin Bird ID? Merlin Bird ID – Free, instant bird identification help and guide for thousands of birds – Identify the birds you see 

Fill an afternoon with children with a minibeast hunt. Print out minibeast checklist – learn to identify butterflies, beetles, and worms. Minibeast Hunt – Tips for Finding Bugs – Woodland Trust 

 

 

3. Grow your own herbs

There’s nothing quite as rewarding as growing your own food and using it in your own recipes. It’s a great way to encourage healthy eating and learn new skills.  

Herbs are a great plant to start with as they’re relatively simple to grow both indoors and outside – and can add so much flavour to your food.  

Top tips:

• Use pots with drainage holes 

• Place on a sunny windowsill 

• Water regularly – but don’t overwater 

• Pick leaves often to encourage growth.

Some simple herbs to start with: 

Basil – perfect for pastas, pizza, marinades, and dressings. 

Mint – a lovely refreshing herb for drinks, sauces, and salads. 

Chives – great in salads and potato salads.

 

If you’ve found this helpful, why not share it with your family and friends or tag us on social media – we’d love to see what you try.  

Connecting with nature this summer is just one way you can look after your brain health and start to build healthy habits that last a lifetime. For more ideas, check out weeks one to four here: Blog – Think Brain Health – Alzheimer’s Research UK

Take the Think Brain Health Check-in to discover what you’re already doing for your brain health and where you have room for improvement.