Shortly before Christmas, most of us get terribly stressed because we still have to buy those last-minute Christmas presents and can't think of anything suitable. Usually, it ends up being some book, a tie, or a cologne. But why not give something that's truly good for us? Something that keeps our body and mind fit. Here are some suggestions that you can still get at short notice and that are, above all, healthy for the brain and promote mental performance – meaningful gifts for your loved ones and, of course, for yourself too.
1. A brain-healthy cookbook
We've reported here several times on which foods are particularly healthy for our brains. There are also cookbooks that specialize in this topic. For example, "Brain Food - Eat Intelligently" by Irma Häberle and Ruzha Yordanova or "The Top 100 Omega-3 Recipes: The Best Protection for Heart, Vessels, and Brain" by Penny Doyle and Audrey Deane. You can also give a pretty bottle of an omega-3-rich oil, such as linseed oil or hemp oil, as a gift.
2. A homemade nut and fruit mix
Fill a pretty tin with various nuts and dried fruits and decorate with a ribbon. Nuts are true brain food: rich in magnesium, vitamins B1, B6, and E, and the important omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are particularly important for the nervous system. Particularly valuable are walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, unsalted peanuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, and cashews.
3. A favorite cereal
Muesli is known to be healthy for the body and brain, and you can find it in every supermarket. But why not create your own personal favorite muesli? Mix oat flakes, various dried fruits, nuts, seeds, or chocolate shavings and pack it in a pretty bag or jar. At www.mymuesli.com, you can create your own favorite muesli from over 80 organic ingredients. That makes 566 quadrillion muesli variations! The site also offers useful mixing tips and ideas.
4. Puzzles, memory and other board games
Puzzles, memory games, and clever board games also stimulate mental performance and keep our brains sharp. You can find beautifully designed memory games on the following page, for example, and various board games here. At Ravensburger, you can have your own memory game or a personalized puzzle with up to 1,500 pieces printed from your own photos.
5. Juggling equipment
Juggling isn't just for clowns; it's truly a perfect workout for the brain. Studies have shown that juggling boosts intellectual abilities and supports attention, coordination, and processing speed. So, if you give someone—whether a child or adult—a juggling set, you're not only doing something for their brain health, but you're also helping them perform a cool trick at the next party. Information about juggling can be found at www.jonglieren.de or www.jong.de.
6. A brain-training game
There are a whole range of apps for smartphones and tablets offering brain-training exercises. The games from NeuroNation (www.neuronation.de) are recommended in German-speaking countries, for example, but in our penultimate blog post, we introduced some other scientifically based exercise tools.
7. A voucher for an activity that keeps the brain fit
Gift vouchers are usually given when you're at a loss for something else. But with some gifts, it's inevitable. Take trial vouchers for exercise classes, for example. A voucher for a yoga class, or an hour of music or language instruction, might encourage the recipient to continue with such a course, and that would certainly be excellent brain training.
8. Some relaxation
We all hate stress, and studies indicate that the physiological effects of stress are also detrimental to our cognitive functions, even leading to long-term negative consequences for our brain health. So what could be more natural than helping our loved ones reduce stress, for example, with a gift certificate for a massage, a wellness day at a spa or sauna, or simply a relaxation CD.
9. A magazine subscription
Sports, crafts, art, travel, cooking... a hobby stimulates the mind, and there's a magazine for just about every hobby. Give a subscription! And pick up the first issue at a newsstand. And for computer geeks, you're sure to find the perfect one among 5,500 online magazines at zinio.com.
10. More time with friends
It may sound simplistic, but the greatest gift is often just yourself. Give your loved ones—especially the elderly—a little more time with you, because studies show that social interaction is incredibly important for the mind and memory. A longer visit, a dinner invitation, an outing, a trip to the movies or an event—anything that provides an opportunity for social interaction is good for the brain.
11. A performance package from BRAINEFFECT
A weekly or monthly supply of BRAINEFFECT makes a wonderful and meaningful gift. BRAINEFFECT is active in the areas of concentration, energy, sleep, and well-being, offering products that support mental performance—something we all certainly need.
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