For active-duty soldiers serving abroad, life can be filled with a lot of stressors even outside of your job. For example, you may be stationed in a country you’re unfamiliar with, far from your friends and family. These are the kinds of issues that can make you feel less grounded and balanced, which can negatively affect you on the job. As a soldier, you need to be focused and present in the moment, regardless of how you are adapting to life abroad.
If all of this sounds like a familiar struggle, we’ve got some tips and tools that will help you stay mentally sharp and successfully navigate the challenges of isolation and unfamiliar surroundings while serving abroad.
Brain Training Apps
Brain training apps are similar to mobile gaming, but typically you’re not battling other players in these games. The goal with brain training apps is to constantly better your own rankings and skills. Challenging yourself and setting personal milestones in the game can be harder than battling against other players. This style of game tends to be quick to play and easy to understand, making it perfect for casual gamers or anyone looking for a mental challenge.
Casual Gaming on Your Mobile Device
Gaming on your mobile device is not just a great way to relax—it can also be an activity that strengthens your brain, depending on the games you choose. Skills such as memory, critical thinking, and problem-solving can all factor into casual games. This is especially true if you are playing a strategy-based or quick-thinking game. Casual gaming comprises various genres, including casino games such as blackjack, poker, and even some slots. The thing about casino games is they require fast thinking and strategy to win. This is perfect for keeping your mind alert. To learn about the best options out there, review the top casino sites on casinos.com.
Additionally, you can look for games that emphasize risk assessment, pattern recognition, quick thinking, and memory recall. These styles of games will keep your cognitive skills sharp during long periods of isolation or monotonous routines.
Jigsaw Puzzles
Gaming isn’t limited to mobile devices—traditional activities like jigsaw puzzles can also provide mental challenges. Jigsaw puzzles aren’t just fun; they also offer significant mental benefits. If you’ve got a massive jigsaw puzzle with extremely small pieces, you can expect it to take days, possibly weeks, to complete. Chances are you’ll only be able to complete small sections at a time.
Not everyone feels confident when it comes to jigsaw puzzles. This is why starting with a beginner puzzle is recommended. As you build your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, you can advance to more challenging puzzles.
Reading Books
You don’t need to have a specific reason to pick up a book, but there is plenty of evidence to show how much it benefits your brain. Reading can help to improve memory and brain function, which will aid in maintaining mental alertness. When you read, you engage the temporal and frontal lobes, which are responsible for comprehension. As long as the book is interesting and engaging, your brain will be activated.
While reading is a great activity in and of itself, it’s also wise to read a variety of genres, both fiction and non-fiction. The more you feed your brain, the healthier and sharper it becomes.
Learning Another Language
Statistics show that more than three billion people consider themselves bilingual. That’s an impressive statistic, considering that learning another language can take years’ worth of work. This leads us to the next tip for keeping you mentally sharp while serving abroad. Signing up for a second language course is an excellent way to make productive use of your free time.
If signing up for a class doesn’t work with your schedule or is not a realistic option while you’re abroad, look into the many language learning apps that are available nowadays. Users are often surprised at how accessible and engaging the content is. And because they’re apps, you dictate the schedule. Learning another language isn’t just a brain-boosting activity; it’s a skill that can open additional doors for you in life.
Taking Online Courses
Building upon the tip mentioned above, you can also increase your skills by taking other types of courses. Thanks to technology, people can sign up for just about anything online from academic courses to hobbies.
If you’re trying to figure out the best online courses to sign up for, here are a few suggestions that can help build mental sharpness:
- Computer graphics
- Digital photography
- Business-based (owning and operating a business)
- Computer programming
- Math-related courses
- Science-related courses
Online courses are flexible and fit your schedule, unlike traditional in-person classes. There’s no reason that learning has to end when school does. Enrolling in online courses keeps your brain active and learning.
Soldiers Can Stay Mentally Sharp While Having Fun
Maintaining mental clarity is essential for soldiers who face challenging environments and high-pressure situations. The tips and tools discussed here showcase how feasible it is for soldiers abroad to stay mentally sharp. What’s even better is that each of these tips is fun, so you don’t have to feel like it’s a chore. There’s a good chance you’ll find yourself gravitating towards these engaging activities when you have downtime. Staying mentally sharp is well within your control with just a little bit of effort.
Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, he graduated from George State University with an MBA in Actuarial Science. His hobbies include beach volleyball, hiking, fishing, and lifting weights
George is also a certified nutritionist with a passion for health and fitness.