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Train Your Brain with These Brilliant Apps – Competition

Train Your Brain with These Brilliant Apps – Competition
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​It’s time to train your brain!

Whether you work 9-5 or study, or both, it can be tricky to get your mind into razor-sharp focus without the stimuli of your regular working space.

Giving your brain regular exercises is as great way to regain that focus and prepare yourself to handle anything that comes your way, whether it’s a problem that needs solving or several tasks that demand attention at the same time.

When you train your mind, you’re actually giving yourself the tools to complete tasks that you might have struggled with before, or even considered impossible. That’s why setting a little time aside each day for mental exercises can help you work, study, focus, and retain information more effectively.

Here are a few apps to help you on your brain training journey:

 

Lumosity

Free (Android, iOS)

 


Lumosity is one of the most well-known brain training apps around, and it’s no surprise. This app has something for everyone. Whether you want to improve your mental maths skills, add more words to your vocab, or improve your memory, Lumosity can help.

Every game is fun and engaging, and some are more stressful than others (Train of Thought, we’re looking at you). But the results are there to be seen. You’ll get insight into your brain speed, memory, attention and more, and you can even compare your stats to other Lumosity users.

And with Lumosity Premium (£59.99/year), you can unlock a whole lot more including a personalised training program that works for you, in-depth insights and useful tips on how to improve. Handy.

 

NeuroNation

Free (Android, iOS)

 


We love this app. The premise is simple – exercising the mind is as important as exercising the body.

There are over 30 great exercises for memory and concentration, and just 15 minutes a day is all that’s required to help improve your memory, thinking speed, focus, and even reduce stress.

Don’t just take our word for it though. A study was undertaken at the Department of General Psychology at Freie Universität Berlin, proving the app’s effectiveness. And it’s been awarded with the Google ‘Best Apps’ prize, too.

A premium subscription (£83.99/year) offers a comprehensive training program with full personalisation, but we recommend giving the free version a go first. It’s still ace.

 

 

Elevate

Free (Android, iOS)

 

 

Elevate is all about personalisation from the get-go. It offers personalised daily training sessions to suit you. Awarded ‘App of the Year’ for iPhones by Apple in 2014, this app puts your goals in mind before you even start. You can train to retain more of what you read, articulate your thoughts more clearly, process information faster, the list goes on.

You’ll need to take a quick test so the app can see your current level for each skill. Once that’s completed, the app will adjust the difficulty of each training game. It’s not just for your phone, either. You can track your performance progress on your Apple Watch, just like your physical fitness stats.

A premium subscription costs £37.99 a year, with a 7-day trial to begin. 

 

​​​​​​Competition Time:

 

We’re giving a £100 Currys PC World voucher to one lucky member from our brilliant Community - treat yourself to some top tech, on us!

For your chance to win, answer the question below:

‘What do you do to keep your mind in focus?’

Do you play games to improve cognitive ability and memory, use apps, or even go back to your classic Nintendo DS for some Brain Training nostalgia? Let us know.

Best of luck!

May’s Competition T&C’s


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99 replies

Apart from listening to relaxing music and playing puzzle games I also really like to spend some time every day meditating with the help of the Headspace app, it makes it really easy to get into it and turn it into a daily habit.

I make lists dailyand play solitaire every night to help me relax and keep my problem solving skills sharp. 

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I like doing crosswords & word searches 

I like to listen to audiobooks and podcasts, especially ones that teach a foreign language. I listen to them through my headsetwhen I go shopping, but get some funny looks if I try to speak the phrases out loud!

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I love app-based word games, playing traditional board games and just enjoying the great outdoors too. All these things contribute to having a happy healthy mind. The suggestions in this blog sound ace too though!

I play many different games in the evening, games such as crosswords, suduko, wordscapes, word connect. But I also have some quite time to relax and get rid of negative energy that I may have. Card games I love to play with the family and board games that make you have to think.

I now use Zooniverse.org to input data, check photos of animals, and help scientific communities and groups. It’s a quick and easy way to find an important puzzle or task that has real results!

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I play the daily challenges on Microsoft’s Sodoku and Minesweeper apps each day to keep my brain working.

On workdays I always start the day by playing the daily set puzzle (https://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle).  I find that this helps to “wake up” my brain and get me thinking logically (I work as a software developer so logical thinking is critical).

I use apps on my phone such as Puzzle Page and Stop. I also read a lot!

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Chess and Sudoku.

Sudoku, wordsearch and crosswords! I have them on apps on my phone, or if I want to stop staring at a screen for the day then in a puzzlebook - also great for travel entertainment!

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I read a lot and love a sudoko or logic puzzle. Though best of all I like to get outside to refresh my body and soul!

Like to play video games and watch movies Also ride my bicycle in my spare time and socialising with friends and family

Drinking coffee and have been playing a lot of chess recently.

Like to play video games l, and watch movies Also ride my bicycle, in my spare time and socialising with friends and family.

Love to play my retro games and have a collection of old school & new game’s consoles 

I do the Microsoft Rewards page whenever I can. Play chess and chilling listening to music. These all work to calm me down after work and keep the brain active.

I go for a ride on my motorbike. I find I focus on nothing but the road ahead and return home much quieter of mind.

Userlevel 1

I love to keep my mind focused. To do this daily I keep a good routine, it starts with playing feel good music when waking up, making an earl grey to reduce those cortisol levels and eating a big breakfast to sustain me through til lunch. I think this sets you up with a good foundation and it becomes habitual once you’ve done it enough. (2-3 weeks to build a habit).

I do the crosswords in the paper and play chess on my phone. This keeps my mind focused

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I try to have a couple of “projects” on the go, such as DIY, long energetic hikes, gardening, etc.  One or more involving me learning something new or re-learning something I haven’t done for a while.

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I first commence by taking a walk around the park to stimulate my brain. This is then followed by sudoku and cross-words and mathematics questions. This gives me a rounded approach and this augmented with a lot of healthy meals keeps my mind in focus. Best wishes, Dr Anand Sengodan, asengodan@yahoo.co.uk.

I do like a game of Rummikub using their Android app on my phone, that certainly gets you thinking.

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I do Sudoku puzzles our breakfast to keep my mind active.

for  me i find painting helps me to focus

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