Brain-Friendly Last Minute Gifts!

Now, I’m sure none of you are procrastinators. Sharp-brained folks like you surely finished with your holiday shopping for weeks, maybe even months. Me? Yes, I’m done… assuming it all gets here on time. (I finished the last minute Amazon orders just a minute ago)

But just in case some of you aren’t *quite* done yet, I thought I’d toss together a few last minute mind-tweaking gift ideas - I’ll even link to the products on Amazon, where possible. (The first one is my favorite, but more conventional gift ideas follow.)

Brain-Building Stocking/Gift Basket

The best part? You can pull this one off at the grocery store. Just get yourself a large christmas box or stocking, and fill it with any or all of the following items, each rumored to be good for the brain.

• Dark Chocolate! The darker the better, and sugar free if possible, but is fine, too!
• Walnuts: They even LOOK like little brains!
• Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds, Cashews, actually, most nuts/seeds. Each has their own benefits, but get the unsalted versions.
• Green & Black Teas. Toss in a tea ball, for added impact.
• Cinnamon Sticks: great for using in cider, and even just the smell is supposed to perk up the brain.
• Coffee! Yes, coffee. The caffeine turns out to be pretty good for us.
• Pomegranates - and they’re in season!
• Smoked Salmon, Pickled Herring/Sardines (way high in Omega 3s)
• Blueberries are supposed to be best, but all berries have their benefits. You may have to go with the dehydrated version this time of year.

Now trot over to the magazine section, and pick up a couple of puzzle books: Suduko, Crosswords, whatever. Get a variety, because the brain needs a variety of challenges to grow. And in the kids section? Look for one of those Paddle Ball
games, a yo-yo, or something else like it that works on hand/eye coordination.

No, I can’t promise you that eating these tasty snacks or playing paddle ball will make Mom remember where she put her car keys - but the idea is more to raise awareness and spark interest in brain health, and make it fun.

How ‘Bout Books About The Brain?

The Pricier Stuff!

For about $150 plus shipping, you can pick up Nintendo DS and one of the Brain Age games. It’s not the most scientific of the brain-training software, but its fun, addictive and people ARE likely to use it…

Then there’s the cream of the crop:

Brain Training with Posit Science: It ain’t cheap, but it’s one of the best researched and easiest for seniors to work with, and the one your parents are most likely to believe in (and therefore use)

The best news? As a holiday special, they’re offering a twenty percent discount, plus a donation to a charity… and they do have a two day shipping option, so you’ve still got time.

Unique Gift for Seniors Save 20% on doctor-designed software that helps keep aging brains sharp. Use Coupon Code PSC20HPC

Unexpected Brainy Books

Ok, so you aren’t QUITE to the “shopping at the grocery store” stage, and you have time to pick up or order a decent book as a stand alone gift, or an addition to your Box-o-Brain Goodies. Here are a few of my favorite suggestions:

Origami (the art of Japanese paper folding) seems an unlikely choice to find here, but it’s actually good brain exercise, working on hand eye coordination, spatial reasoning, and it can be quite challenging working out the patterns of more advanced models.

Or Juggling - Several studies suggest it’s quite a good workout for the brain…

Really, Really Last Minute?

Lumosity offers gift certificates at $24.95 (3 months) and $79.95 (1 year). They can be emailed (thus promising to get there on time) or printed and added to your brain-basket of goodies!

If you’re so inclined, you can get there in a round about way through my affiliate link, but it’s sort of a pain to find that way, but I do appreciate you going to the trouble! Reclaim Your Brain: Improve Memory with Lumosity Games.

So there you have it.

A quick and dirty list of last minute brain-friendly holiday gifts.

What do you think? Did it spark your brain?