// Brain Training

I've become such a huge fan of brain training over the last few months. It all started when I innocently downloaded the Lumosity app on my phone. Soon I became addicted to playing little games each day and tracking my brain's "progress." After a week or two I finally convinced Mike to give it a go and now we manage to have a little competition each day as we "train." It sounds silly, I'm sure, but it's so fun! Over time I've really noticed a difference in my brain's functioning ability and I've grown to really really look forward to my games each day. I kind of feel like my Nana when I think about her love for all things Mahjong! 

While I haven't plunked down the cash for a full Lumosity account yet (oh how I want to! But then we'd have to shell out for two because Mike would be so jealous!), I love the free iPhone version. I've also found a few other free brain training games that are worth checking out, too! I mean, it can't hurt to train on three or four different games a day, right?!

Here are the brain games that I'm currently obsessed with:

LUMOSITY // Lumosity is available on the iPhone, iPad and computer, so it makes it super easy to use. I've noticed I really have to be "in my element" to do my best work though! (Read: on the couch, in the morning, in the quiet of the house haha) Even just laying/sitting a different way seems to throw me off my game! I've only unlocked a few of the games since I play the free version on my phone, but just browse the game offerings on the site! Seriously it makes me want to take the plunge daily. Ahh!

FIT BRAINS // When I was looking up brain training apps, this was one of the first ones to pop up in the App store. I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not, but it's actually quite effective. My only qualm with it (and it's probably silly!) is that when it counts down the "3, 2, 1" before starting a game, it goes WAY too fast! It's like it gives me anxiety as I'm supposed to start a relaxed game. The vibe with Lumosity is way more calm and overall better, but Fit Brains is also free and a nice little add-on when you're feeling frisky.
FLOW FREE // This is the lite/free version of Flow, and it's so addictive! The object of the game is to take a certain number of dots and create "snakes" to connect the appropriate colors without crossing over each other. (There's a "Bridge" version where you can cross, but that's a whole other story!) The free version has hundreds of levels and I blazed through over 150 of them in the first day. Some of them are super super quick (the easy levels are very easy), the hard levels start to get ya! I'd go a few days at a time without being able to figure one out. I'm a stickler though and I refuse to cheat and look up the answers, but boy I've been tempted!

I'm sure there are plenty more brain training apps and websites that totally rock (feel free to share those below!) but these are definitely my three favorite. I know if I overloaded my phone I'd just take up space and then not play any of them. Now I just have to convince myself that two annual Lumosity memberships are worth it!

Do you play any brain training games? If so, which ones are your favorite? I'd love to hear about others!

9 comments:

  1. I've seen a couple of commercials for Lumosity, and have thought about giving it a shot - especially since 90% of the games I play are puzzle games! But I do love Flow - I too breezed through most of those levels pretty quickly.

    My husband and I currently are battling one another in Dots! It gets pretty hysterical when we're in public doing it (like waiting in line at the movie theatre) and I'm sure people think we're insane - we do a bit of friendly "trash talking."

    Some other iOS games I play are Word Crush, PuzzleJuice, and Pudding Monsters.

    - Robyn
    http://make.rewynd.net

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    1. These sound great! Thanks for sharing Robyn! I'm off to download all of these myself to give them a go! We get way competitive over here! :P

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  2. I've used Lumosity and I really do love it! One of my favorites is still Brain Age, which was, I think, one of the originals. It's for the Nintendo DS and it's so so so fun, even though there are more effective brain training sites and software now-a-days!

    Elyse @ Cuddly as a Cactus

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  3. I've always thought these were a good idea and then never got around to it - maybe this is the reminder that I needed to finally check it out!

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  4. while reading this blog spot, my phone is downloading the Luminosity app. I've been wanting to try it out but didn't know there was a free app! I've also tried Flow, but after getting stuck on level 120 or something FOR WEEKS, I no longer play it, ha.
    xx

    mysmallrayofsunshine.blogspot.com

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  5. Ooh!! I need to download these apps ASAP! I bought my mom the brain age game for Nintendo ds a few years ago and I've played that to stay on my toes. I try to argue that candy crush is working on my strategical and deductive reasoning skills but its probably not.

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  6. just went ahead and downloaded the lumosity app. just not enough time in the day....

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  7. My boyfriend absolutely loves flow!! He plays it all the time.

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  8. This is so interesting! I'm going to try all of them :)x

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HEY! Thanks for dropping by. xo KB