Balance is an important part of a healthy life. You may try to eat a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, break up your screen time with gardening or walking outdoors, and exercise to counteract time spent on the couch.
But you may be forgetting one key habit: training your brain for balance. To work on brain balance, consider adding brain teasers to your daily routine. Do a mix of different types of puzzles to work out different parts of your brain.
Here’s how doing a variety of puzzles can help stimulate different areas of the brain and strengthen an array of skills:
- Word games like crosswords and sudoku can give you a workout in the language centers of the brain. In fact, doing word games may help to improve your judgment, executive function and memory.
- Numbers games like cross sum and math riddles can exercise the parts of the brain responsible for planning, organization and logical thinking. Plus, solving math problems can help improve your cognition and memory in everyday life.
You may be drawn more to one type of puzzle over another, and you may even consider yourself either a “words person” or a “numbers person.” But erasing these distinctions and playing both kinds of games can help you get more of a mental challenge and move out of your comfort zone. Just as cross training works out more of your muscles, combining different types of brain exercises can give you a whole-brain workout.
You can get started right away with our two brain teasers, the numbers game “In the Balance” and the word game “On Target.” In the first one, you’ll look at scales that are holding different colored shapes and determine how many green triangles it will take to perfectly balance the final scale. In the second game, you’ll come up with the missing letter that goes in the middle of each target to create three six-letter words in each circle.
Were you able to solve it? Click here to double check your answer.
Were you able to solve it? Click here to double check your answer.
Did you balance your brain by trying our pair of puzzles? Leave a comment below and let us know which type of puzzle you prefer and which ones are harder for you—the numbers games or the word games.
I got them both. Makes you think logically. It also encourages an indept look into your vocabulary. I like these puzzles very much,
Love the puzzles, but the “click here” answer checks never work.
Only got the double gg
I find the number puzzles easier, in fact, I was disappointed how easy it was. Still haven’t got the word puzzle.
But when I create puzzles for publication (for example. Celtic Knot), it’s easier for me to make word puzzles. I don’t know why.
I did both puzzles. I prefer the number games. The word games are more difficult for me. Thank you.
Numbers were easier.
These puzzles were challenging but fun. I was happy to find that my brain still works, as I solved them both. Thank you!
We’re glad you liked them, Jackie! Thank you for commenting.
Love these brain teasers. I got it! I got it! Thanks
That’s great to hear, Janet! We’re glad you like them.
Numbers are harder but I like them all.
On Target was fun. I was an English/Literature teacher for many years. I automatically gravitate to crosswords and other types of word puzzles.
Thank you!
You’re welcome, Carolyn!
Got them both. The math problem was harder.
Got both, but it took a little time to work each out.
Those were great! I think I got lucky with the triangle. I am unsure whether I knew what I was doing when I decided it was 2 triangles. The words, it took me a bit to figure out the instructions and what I had to do. Once I did, I got those letters correct on both. It certainly was challenging, and I look forward to more numbers and letter games.
I forgot to comment I did get both the math and puzzle also.
I prefer working out puzzles.
Got bot of them. Love word games.
Love them all. Bring on more.