Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Staying sharp academically without sudoku.

135 replies

DoItTooJulia · 02/02/2015 21:27

I'm 35. Im busy, with demanding career, kids yada yada, and I just feel a bit, well, I don't know, is it bored? sluggish of brain? Out of the loop?

Basically, I miss having interesting stuff to learn about/get into.

Part of my problem is a reading drought, I'm just not reading for fun like I used to and I miss it, but I do read some journals like New Scientist and the New Humanist. I do get the odd London Review of Books, but tbh, I've found it a bit impenetrable at times. I'm not hugely cultured (theatre is a huge turnoff for me). I read the news, I'm interested in politics, but still this feeling of brain lethargy persists.

What do you do to stave this off? What can I try?

OP posts:
dotty2 · 05/02/2015 15:57

I felt like you and did a PhD, which may be a rather extreme solution. (And now it's over, I miss it - it's left the mental equivalent of the feeling I get when I haven't run for a few days). But I second or third the Futurelearn suggestion. I recently did the one on cognitive poetics, which was only 2 weeks. Didn't quite finish it, but really loved the bits I did.

I want a brainy book club too, and am toying with starting one, but can't quite think how to advertise it/recruit to it - anyone have any suggestions?

tumbletumble · 05/02/2015 15:53

For me, it's reading. I was going to come on and recommend the 50-book thread, but I see Remus got there first! Lots of great recommendations for different kinds of books. My job is intellectually stimulating too.

GentlyBenevolent · 05/02/2015 15:53

Cryptic crosswords.

clangermum · 05/02/2015 15:41

I agree Whoishillgirl even the dullest job is ok if listening to something interesting. I've just discovered I can search my kindle purchases to see which can have the audible upgrade. So I can switch between listening and reading. Some are expensive but someone on here recommended Susan Hill's Simon Serallier series and the first one was £2.99 to upgrade. Plus I just listened to Bring up the Bodies, free from the library via my tablet. And then there are podcasts - loved Serial.

Whoishillgirl · 05/02/2015 15:28

Start your own book club if you don't like the one you went to, make it a non fiction one if you like. Start a discussion group.
Radio 4 is brilliant. I don't know where this idea that domesticity is dull came from! Not with radio 4 on it ain't!

cherrylola · 05/02/2015 15:15

Fab thread, following with interest and seeking inspiration. I'm thinking this is the year I need to make some changes and dare I say I put down the iPhone once in a while!

I'd suggest signing up to local museum/gallery mailing lists so you get invitations to private view evenings and get kept up to date with events. Try and go to something once a month perhaps?

Shetland · 05/02/2015 15:01

Stack The Countries - someone recommended this on here so I got the app and I love - so thank you, whoever you were :)

MollyMaDurga · 05/02/2015 14:41

If you like philosophy there's some fabulous podcasts.. Like the History of Philosophy without any Gaps.. It does as it says, taking it up from far in the past with the classics and then onwards. Very good.
Bit more loosely styled and American is the Partially Examined Life. Also very good, most of them about 1.5 to 2 hours on a specific subject or person. In depth, funny at times, very good too.
Philosophy Bites is pretty good too, though I prefer the PEL podcasts... Nigel Warburton however can read me the back of the oatcake packet and I am fascinated..
In Our Time is fabulous for a whole range of things and pretty bite sized. Love Melvyn Bragg, he is great. Almost always has a woman on without being told to by the BBC because it's been like that forever?

givemushypeasachance · 05/02/2015 14:06

Definitely second Radio 4 - there are always documentaries about all sorts of fascinating and obscure subjects, and science discussion type programmes (Infinite Monkey Cage, Inside Science, etc), amongst the current affairs/news, afternoon plays and seemingly constant re-runs of The Archers. Just take a look here for some examples of what's available on iPlayer: www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/programmes/genres/factual/scienceandnature/player

Full-on Open University courses are expensive these days, but they do lots of shorter free courses and have "taster" segments on their website: www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses

JohnFarleysRuskin · 05/02/2015 13:44

Book club.

Mumsnet feminist chat.

Learning piano.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/02/2015 22:10

Come and join us on the Fifty Books thread, Julia. Grin

Listen to some Ted Talks podcasts, maybe? Some of them are good.

Tokelau · 04/02/2015 22:06

DoItTooJulia, look up USA States wood puzzle on the App Store, that's what I used to learn the states and capitals, and I retest myself now and again with this, piki.org/quizzes/usa.html .

Original poster
DoItTooJulia · 04/02/2015 21:42

I like that, learning the states and their capitals. I'm going to do that.

I just feel a bit, dare I say, Midlife crises-ey.

I thnk the ipad helped kill my reading passion and struggling to find stuff I really liked. Ds2 is 2 now, and I have read probably just 3 books in the two years since he was born, compared with the one a week I got through before he came along. That kept me sharp!

OP posts:
TheFirstOfHerName · 04/02/2015 19:45

Sightreading music works for me.

Tokelau · 04/02/2015 19:45

Learn a new language.

Learn to play an instrument.

Learn all 50 states of the USA and their capitals, it's a challenge!

TwoNoisyBoys · 04/02/2015 19:38

Watching with interest.....one of my new year promises to myself was to return to reading! I used to read 1-2 books a week easily, but that slid and I was spending too much time internet surfing ??
I've also enrolled on an evening course that's starting in April, but I'm looking at the futurelearn online courses too.

Original poster
DoItTooJulia · 04/02/2015 18:34

Sorry, RL got in the way!

I laughed out loud at the learning things by heart idea: I'm too obsessive for that, but it's a fabulous idea. And I do love history. How much do you know by heart velour?

There are some great ideas here. Thank you all Flowers

OP posts:
JustAnotherControlFreak · 04/02/2015 00:20

Learn a language that interests you. On top of many books available, plenty have accompanying CDs which could be transferred to iPod etc, or download some free apps until you're sure of which styles suit your learning type

velourvoyageur · 04/02/2015 00:17

Books & films about them and by them :)

mammmamia · 04/02/2015 00:11

What do you mean about the Mitfords, velour?

OneLittleLady · 04/02/2015 00:01

cousera is basically the same as future learn but based in america and has hundreds of short courses you can sign up for. some of them you can receive accreditation/validation for as well for a fee

invisiblecrown · 03/02/2015 23:49

I play chess!

AuntieBulgaria · 03/02/2015 23:48

I like the Infinite Monkey Cage radio 4 podcasts and the RSA (royal society of arts) podcasts for thinking about new things whilst walking.

velourvoyageur · 03/02/2015 22:57

Esperanto
2048 (developing strategies)
Keep a drawing/collage/photo book
Map quizzes online (e.g. lizardpoint)
Anything to do with the Mitfords!
Guitar
Following something in the news

I like learning things by heart :) like history dates

Shallishanti · 03/02/2015 22:50

I second the FutureLearn suggestion, am half way through my first course, it is challenging! (but not scarily so- you can engage at a level your comfortable with)