What things do you do to help you "think" better. I am always looking for new ways to challenge my logic, decision, and emotional responses. Personally I am big on reading, puzzles, and breaking down the news. As I work out for my body, what things would you suggest for my mind?

I meditate. It's helpful, but hard to get the hang of, especially if you have a lot of interference around you. Still, if you can find some peace and quiet and you learn how to focus yourself, it helps sharpen your mind and widen your perspective significantly.

I didn't think about meditation. Great suggestion.

dieseldub:
As I work out for my body, what things would you suggest for my mind?

While doing research for a high school gym class project on how mental and physical health affect each other, I came across an interesting article once that stated that physical exercise has a temporary effect of making people more mentally alert. (ie. if you go running, you'll be able to think more clearly and remember things more easily for a short time afterwards).

As far as mental challenges go, I like a good game of Chess.... or Starcraft.

Mentally and physically, I'd say to go for a musical instrument.

Any musical instrument will be a challenge for the brain to learn, and that means a stronger, healthier brain.

May I recommend the cello?

Michael_McCloud:
I meditate. It's helpful, but hard to get the hang of, especially if you have a lot of interference around you. Still, if you can find some peace and quiet and you learn how to focus yourself, it helps sharpen your mind and widen your perspective significantly.

Indeed.

Juggle two tennis balls with one hand while doing algebra problems. That's how I work out my brain.

Chess and crossword puzzles.

Jamanticus:
Mentally and physically, I'd say to go for a musical instrument.

Seconded. I've never played the cello but I know that playing the guitar keeps the mind focused and brings real pleasure when you've got the basics down. I'm sure it applies to any instrument. You can grab a cheap acoustic pretty much anywhere, but may I recommend the Yamaha F310?

Brain Age!

But seriously, play an instrument. I play the violin. Exercise also helps the mind, 'cause it gets rid of stress.

I sleep more, and at reasonable times, it really does raise your alertness and ability to solve problems.

I question everything - just not in a paranoid conspiracy theory way...

theklng:

carnkhan4:
I question everything - just not in a paranoid conspiracy theory way...

why?

why are you asking why?

I make myself write every day. It doesn't matter what - rants about X thing, blogging, posting on forums, poetry, part of something larger that'll never get finished - anything. It forces me to think about something every day, which keeps my brain awake.

SamuraiAndPig:
I make myself write every day. It doesn't matter what - rants about X thing, blogging, posting on forums, poetry, part of something larger that'll never get finished - anything. It forces me to think about something every day, which keeps my brain awake.

And thats why I'm on the Escapist, 20-45 minutes a day of foruming, and watching ZP or whatever, and it keeps your brain awake and active.

I think it also helps with cementing ideas, and helps people write papers.

<------------High school

Critical thinking always seems to help think better. For me, this usually takes place while reading the morning paper, where an article will state something and I try to weigh the reasons of why that article might be biased/incorrect while also branching out why i would think what i thought about what i thought about that article.

Ooh, I have the perfect idea. Look through all of JJ.AM's Horrors and Animated Horrors sections. ALL OF IT! If you do not break down you will come out of the experience stronger. I warned you though.

Chess, Sudoku and discussion. All at once.

Also, as mentioned above, writing everyday helps quite a bit.

Ahhh my forte perhaps.

It depends on what kind of mental "Toughness" you are looking for. If its for IQ and basic problem solving then logic activities are for you. Doesn't have to be chess or sudoku or raw logic boredom like that. RTS games and even some MMO situations can provide just as much logical stimuli.

If however, you are looking for true, emotional mental fortitude, then this could be better. This is assuming you want to have the emotional equivalent to a high tech fortress of doom that none can breach.

The exercise is simple. Flame wars. Against everyone hos stronger than you. True you will lose a lot, however, you will develop a thick skin, mental stamina and fortitude and an emotional barrier that ricochets quite frankly even death grieving.

If you can read through the whole of Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, then you are mentally tough.

My personal mental exercise is writing a simple tune, then trying to harmonise it in as many weird ways as possible. I take great pleasure out of it in a weird, musicnerdish kind of way.

Oh, and chess. People who say its boring and just not mentally tough enough.

I like the idea of writing as well from all of your posts. What a great and easy way to learn how to express yourself better. Also, I play a lot of chess as well. However I'm no good at it. That should come with more practice though. As for the musical instruments suggested, another great idea. One of the best things I ever did as a kid was learn an instrument (alto sax).