For this activity, you will need a pencil and paper to jot down your thoughts and ideas. Staying mentally sharp is not only about solving puzzles and brainteasers, although there is a place and time for these activities. Rather, consider it to be a lifestyle choice. You are choosing to stay mentally active because it is enjoyable, healthy and satisfying, fulfilling important needs such as contribution to society, personal well being and satisfaction, relief from boredom, enhancing friendships and community ties, satisfying your curiosity, desire to learn, or perhaps the need to achieve. This guide will lead you through three steps: making a self-assessment of interests, then researching topics of interest, and finally drawing up an action plan.

The first step of the process is to sit down and make a personal assessment/inventory of yourself, such as your skills, hobbies, likes and dislikes, what do you enjoy doing the most, and what you have a yearning to do next? Keep a diary or jot down during the day on a sheet of paper any ideas you have about this. Do you have any unfulfilled dreams? Were projects set aside because other things took precedence? Pay attention to the feelings you are experiencing when imagining yourself engaged in the activity. What needs do these activities satisfy for you? For example, let's say as a child, you learned how to play a musical instrument, but gave it up during your working years. What do you imagine you would feel if you were to take it up again? What do you look forward to when getting up in the morning? The notes you take are clues, a window into your soul, as to what might be mentally stimulating for you.

You may like to try some online tests geared to assessing your interests. One of the most general is the Myers Briggs type indicator test. There is extensive research that people with particular personality types tend to enter particular fields. After identifying your personality type, see if your type and chosen interests match. For example, if you are an introvert, perhaps you may not enjoy a field involving a lot of personal contact. Nothing is cast in stone. Perhaps your longing is to be a better public speaker or actor and its satisfactions may outweigh any discomforts you might experience. Often it is the context you are in plays a critical role in success or failure so seek out supportive environments, people with similar interests and outlooks.

Narrow your list of possible activities down to a manageable number, say two or three top picks, using the tools mentioned above if necessary. Then do a little more research on these particular interests. Look at the Mahalo How to pages for ideas on how to enter a particular field of interest, be it a hobby, a construction project, or a new professional role. Be curious. Large departures from what you used to do, can be very stimulating for the mind. Starting a new hobby is like traveling to a new country where the customs, and language are different. You will never know what you will find.

From your research, construct an action plan for yourself, noting things that can be done to further your interests. Ask questions at Mahalo. Join groups that share your interests, be it sewing, gardening, playing chess or a musical instrument, inventing, or counseling. Seek out supportive communities, join clubs, talk with friends, take classes, or do it as independent study. Take a leadership role and share your knowledge with others. The main thing is that you are now thinking about it, dreaming, and taking your first steps. The steps need not be large. You want them to be doable in the here and now, rather than being some overwhelming task to get discouraged over. Take pleasure in small accomplishments. It is not about the destination, but enjoying the process of getting there. Be like a young kid, enjoying your new activity like a child enjoys feeding a hungry duck. Good luck and happy travels!