Memory Games That Are Fun for the Whole Family

There's nothing worse than driving to work, only to realize that you've accidentally left your ID badge at home. We seem to start forgetting things more and more often with age, from car keys to important birthdays. This is no coincidence. As early as age 20 our cognitive capacity begins to deteriorate, especially when it comes to short-term memory.

Working memory, or short-term memory, holds information in your mind for a short period as you complete a task. It’s what allows us to remember a phone number as we type it in, or remember what items we need at the supermarket. As you get older, however, the amount of information that you can store in this space grows smaller. Once you reach your senior years, your working memory functions at just a fraction of what it did in its younger years.

While there’s no way to prevent aging, it is possible to slow the process down. Sleeping, eating right, and working out all help to keep the body firing on all cylinders, both mentally and physically. You can also boost your working memory by engaging in mental exercises each day. While this might sound like a chore, it doesn’t have to be. It’s easy to turn your brain-training sessions into a game night that’s fun for the whole family. Not only are mental training exercises beneficial to seniors, but they can also help kids to improve their performance at school and for parents to function better at work.

Brain-Training Apps

In this world of tablets and smartphones, it’s rare that we find ourselves without access to a screen. You can find countless fun apps designed to stimulate your mind and improve your memory. While some games are designed to be single-player, you can also find apps that include a multiplayer mode. 

Not all brain-training apps are equally effective at improving working memory. There is only one type of game style that’s been shown time and time again to help boost cognitive capacity. “Dual n-back” games give your memory an intense workout by forcing you to concentrate and keep track of intricate patterns for prolonged periods of time.

Card and Board Games

Always a classic, card and board games are an excellent way to stimulate your brain in the company of loved ones. Games that rely on visual memory are particularly good at helping to sharpen short-term mental skills, including family favorites such as Uno, Go Fish, Battleship, and more. These games are easy enough for young players to grasp but complicated enough to give your brain a quality workout.

Puzzles

Another time-tested classic, puzzles of all varieties can help you to expand your mental capacity. Traditional puzzles not only work out your visual memory but also help to build your concentration. If you're into wordplay, you can get the family to help out with puzzles such as crosswords and word searches, or for families with older children, challenge everyone to a Sudoku competition. Better yet, puzzles are cheap and portable, so you can bring the fun with you wherever you go.

Improving your working memory as you grow older doesn’t have to be a solitary activity. You can make things a little bit more exciting by getting the whole family involved and turning your brain-training exercises into games that are fun for all age groups.

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What To Consider When You Are Buying An Awning

You need to ensure that you have a suitable amount of shade when you are sitting out in the garden. This is going to stop you from overheating. Also, you are going to protect your eyes from glare and your skin from harmful rays. 

What are you going to consider whilst you are buying an awning?

How Much Shade Is Provided?

You need to think about the amount of shade that is going to be provided by the awning. You can get the exact measurements of these folding arm awnings in Melbourne before you buy it. Once it has been installed, you are going to be able to sit in the shade and cool down at the same time with a refreshing drink. 

You can have a larger awning installed if your existing one is not providing you with enough shade.

How Stylish Is This Covering?

You want this covering to be functional. However, you also need to think about how stylish the covering in. They are available in a wide range of different colours and styles. You may want to match the style of this covering to the style of the brickwork that your home is made out of.

You can have several different styles installed over different windows around the outside of your home.

How Easy Is It To Operate This Awning?

You are not going to have to waste any energy when you are using this covering. You should buy an awning which can be operated with a remote control. When you make your way out into the garden, you just need to point a remote control at the covering. It will then extend so that the area underneath will be shaded.

Is The Awning Resistant To Rain?

The awning needs to be resistant to rain because you might be caught in a sudden storm whilst you are sitting out in the garden. You should check the specifications of the outdoor covering to make sure that it is not going to be affected by rain or any kind of moisture.

Is The Awning Resilient?

You need this outdoor covering to be resilient. Debris can sometimes fall onto the awning, such as branches. Animals such as birds might also land on the covering. This means that the awning should be resilient enough so that it is never going to rip or tear.

This is one of the first things that you should consider when you are buying an outdoor covering. You can inspect awnings that are made from different materials.

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The covering that you buy is going to provide you with some shade when you are sitting out in the garden. The awning has to be stylish and it also has to be able to resist any debris that lands on it. This covering should also be waterproof so that it is never going to be damaged by rain, no matter how heavy the downpour. 

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Travel Tips - Things to Do in Melbourne, Australia

The Melbourne CBD in itself is a great place to visit. However, there is so much more to Victoria than the business district. You can go on a road trip and go surfing on Torquay or explore the awe-inspiring 12 Apostles.

You will discover so many wonderful things when you go on a Melbourne road trip. From the golf courses, beaches, food and coffee, there are a lot of incredible things to experience see and taste. You might forget to get your car service in Perth and immediately hop on your vehicle to start your adventure!

Go Surfing

Once you’ve had your fill of Melbourne CBD, you can begin your road trip by taking the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay. Drive leisurely from Melbourne to the official start of the Great Ocean Road, Torquay. 

After an hour of driving, you will discover some of the best-known surf beaches in Australia. Visit Surf world and experience the area’s surfing culture. After that, head out to Bell’s Beach where the Rop/Curl Pro is held every year.

Play Golf

You can make a quick stop at the nearby Anglesea. If you do not want to do a quick 9 holes, you can practice your skills on the driving range or just drive around and spot some kangaroos usually spending their time under the trees.

Fish and Chips for Lunch

In the next 30 kilometres, while you drive down the Great Ocean Road, you will see the stunning coastal views. If you’re famished, make a quick stop at Lorne and enjoy a serving of fish and chips by the beach. You’ll definitely have a chill and relaxing lunch.

Spot the Koalas

As you drive further along the coastal road, you will see the Kennett River which is known for its local koalas and friendly birds. Walk up the Grey River Road and spot the koalas sleeping in the trees. Don’t forget to get some bird seed if you want a picture with the king parrots!

Enjoy the Picturesque Views

Drive further along the coastal road and as you draw near Apollo Bay, you will see the stunning views of wild beaches, cliff tops and lush greens. Do not forget to get off your car and take a stroll along the beaches. You are sure to find spots that are Instagram-worthy.

For your last adventure for the day, from Apollo Bay, drive along the Great Ocean Road and go to the Cape Otway light station. The drive may take you about an hour, but you’ll be able to see the longest standing lighthouse in mainland Australia. Remember to climb to the top of the lighthouse so you can see the spectacular views of the Southern Ocean and the Bass Strait.

Enjoy a Gourmet Dinner

Once you’ve enjoyed the stunning sights from the lighthouse, you can drive back to Apollo Bay and stay there for the night. Enjoy a delectable gourmet dinner at Chris’s which features the stunning cliff top views.

If you want a mini adventure before going to bed, ask people around about feeding the sugar gliders. They’re so small and cute that you can feed one on the palm of your hand. It’s definitely a memorable activity to cap off your Melbourne road trip adventure!

There you have it – a whole day Melbourne, Victoria road trip itinerary. While we only featured a few activities, they are still enjoyable and memorable. You will definitely remember this road trip even when you get a car service in Perth.

Author Bio:

David Giltner is a content writer for European Prestige Auto Service. In between writing blog articles, he enjoys reading travel itineraries online. He’s always planning his next travel adventure.

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LED Grow Light Myths You Probably Believe

What makes plant grow? It sounds like an open question, one with multiple answers. We all agree that light is necessary for healthy growth of plants. For the outdoor plants, sunlight might be just enough to meet the photosynthesis needs. If you are practicing indoor gardening, however, there is need to invest in a quality light system to ensure sustainable growth.

LED grow lights have proven great for indoor gardens. However, many people still have doubts regarding their efficacy as far as hydroponics is concerned. Probably, that is what stopping you from embracing indoor gardening. Let’s demystify these myths.

Image:pinterest.co.uk

LEDs contain hazardous elements

It stands as one of the greatest myths as far as LEDs are concerned. Some people believe that LED grow lights have hazardous materials such as lead and mercury. This is far from the truth. LED lights are considered safe. A recent research published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal reveals that nearly no LED lights are harmful.

With the exception of low-intensity red LEDs, which contain small traces of lead, the rest are purely safe. However, even the lead leak present barely goes beyond the normal regulation. As such, it is nothing to worry about. The fact the LEDs are fully recyclable makes them great for the environment and humans as well.

Switching to LEDs is costly

Some people believe that LED grow lights are more expensive compared to other lights. There might be some truth in this but it does not reveal the whole picture. At the onset, LED grow lights are costly compared to other alternatives like fluorescent grow lights. However, their long-term costs are much less compared to other common bulbs.

You can get quality LED grow light bulbs from a grow shop Dublin with a lifespan of 50,000 hours. This is equivalent to over ten years of average use. This is far better in comparison to fluorescent lights that have a lifespan of 20,000 hours. Even more, the money you will save on electricity bills will soon offset the initial ‘heavy’ investment on LED grow lights.

LED lights operate completely cool

Another common myth being peddled is that LEDs do not give off any heat because they can stay cool even after several hours of usage. This is far from the truth. You should observe that many LED grow fixtures do not emit infrared lights beyond 730nm like the other types of bulbs. But that does not stop them from emitting some heat. The heat emitted is just enough to keep you from worrying about the burning effects of artificial lights on your plants.

LED lighting is not dimmable

Many people know LEDs for their brightness. That is why some people believe that LEDs cannot be dimmed. It is true that certain LED grow lights are not designed for dimming. However, some LED lights are designed for dimming. This makes it possible to adjust the brightness of the LED grow light to provide optimum light to your plants.

Choosing the right grow light for your indoor gardening needs is a sensitive issue. If you are going to settle on the best choice, you must be in a position to separate myths from facts.

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