If you want to give your brain a workout, you may want to make your way to the closest LEGO store you can find. While some may scoff at the thought of developing an interest in LEGO, believing that it is an activity for kids, then why do some LEGO sets have for 18+?
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Loving LEGO as an Adult
You might be surprised at just how wide the adult market for LEGO is. LEGO is now actively targeting stressed-out grown-ups as part of its new marketing campaigns, urging them to reconnect with their inner child and escape from the stress of daily life. Not only is it a form of entertainment, but studies prove that building with LEGO is a sure-fire way to simulate brain activity, regardless of what age you are.
What Does LEGO Do to Your Brain & Why Is It Good for It?
Helps You Practice Mindfulness
Over the past few years, LEGO building has been highly beneficial for adults practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is a therapeutic practice designed to help people who are struggling with varying levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. When one practices mindfulness, it can help them manage feelings of distress and anxiety. This is because mindfulness is a form of meditation that emphasises being aware of what is happening to the individual at a particular moment, in terms of their surroundings, body and mind. By partaking in mindfulness, you are noticing and acknowledging all the feelings and sensations in your body without judging them. Therefore, if you want to wind down after a hard day, it is a good idea to try building a LEGO set. This way, you will have the ability to relax while keeping your brain active.
Increases Your Concentration Span & Attention to Detail
LEGO is great for your brain as it builds your concentration span. This is because the more immersed you are in an activity, the more your ability to focus develops. Interacting with LEGO bricks is a highly relaxing activity which also requires a level of mental engagement. This is because you are working with your hands engaging in a repetitive action, which will keep you occupied and contribute to a sense of mindfulness. Furthermore, when working with all the little LEGO bricks of all shapes and sizes, you are forced to pay closer attention to detail. When people are engaging in activities that require an elevated level of concentration, such as building LEGO, it can have further therapeutic effects as it limits anxious self-reflection.
Improves Your Hand–Eye Coordination
When putting together your LEGO bricks, you will have to use your hands continuously to manipulate the pieces. The more time you spend on building, the more you train your eyes and hands to work together. In addition to this, you also practice bilateral integration, where the two sides of the body learn to work together.
Promotes Your Creative Thinking
The best thing about LEGO is that there are no fixed rules. You are completely free to create designs of your own at any given time. Since LEGO has sets from different movie franchises, like Star Wars and Harry Potter for instance, world-building can be an exciting and fun activity. You can get creative with your displays and add more attachments and memorabilia to your sets, thus making it your own. The sky’s the limit, so let your imagination fly!
Improves Your Critical Thinking Skills
When putting together elaborate LEGO sets, you will have to work with several different shapes of bricks and work out where and how they fit together. Through interpreting the instructions or creating your own designs, you will be required to find solutions to accomplish the task of building your masterpiece. This sort of thinking and planning makes for improved critical thinking skills.
Boosts Your Confidence & Improve Your Mood
When you successfully complete a LEGO structure, a sense of accomplishment and pride washes over you. When you have your set on display to see it every day, it becomes a constant reminder that you can accomplish anything, even the little things. In addition to a confidence boost, you will also find that LEGO building can significantly improve your overall mood. It is not surprising when you consider that you have managed to successfully build a whole set. When you step back and look at your beautiful creation, you are bound to feel a sense of joy.
Promotes a Healthier, Smarter Brain & Improves Your Memory
When you solve puzzles, it helps reinforce connections between your brain cells. As a result, you will notice an improvement in your short-term memory. Furthermore, as problem-solving activities stimulate brain activity, you can potentially raise your IQ. Along with these benefits, you will be happy to know that keeping your brain busy and active can help reduce the risk or delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. This is because keeping your mind active helps reduce brain cell damage. So, spending some time building with LEGO is even great for your health!
Unlock Your Full Potential With LEGO
If you want to further utilise your brain power and get the most out of your LEGO building, there are some tips and tricks you can try.
Challenge Yourself
A challenge is always a great brain exercise. The harder the puzzle, the more your brain is stimulated. So, push yourself by trying out different types of LEGO sets or by investing in more complicated kits. It may take you more time to finish the project, but the end-result will be worth it.
Another way to challenge yourself is to try building the set without the use of a LEGO manual. The focus should instead be on the process of building. Rather than planning meticulously, allow yourself to choose and connect bricks without thinking about where you are going. You may be surprised at just how creative you can get.
Build With Company
Group projects are great ways to encourage brain activity. Not only are you required to find a solution for the problem, but you are required to work together to arrive at an acceptable situation. Therefore, building LEGO sets with your friends, family or partner can be a wonderful way to increase the flow of creativity and have fun bouncing ideas from one another while building.
Find Amazing LEGO Sets at TRK Toys!
If you are looking to get into LEGO building and want to get your hands on some impressive sets, TRK Toys is your go-to LEGO store! TRK Toys has a wide range of LEGO kits, as well as rare and hard-to-find LEGO sets and accessories. Whether you are into Star Wars or Harry Potter, or are simply looking to get creative, we have got a little something for everyone! Get your creativity flowing and find yourself a LEGO set at TRK Toys today!
