5/04: Socialization

Welcome to Week 13 of our Online Brain Fitness Class

Socialization Lesson

Socialization? How can we even think about that during this time of "social distancing"? Maybe we'll find out it is even more important that we remembered it was. Maybe we'll be able to figure out new ways to socialize while distant. If you’re not convinced that it’s important to your health, this lesson will change your mind! Read this lesson and then send it to someone you know. Discussing it over the phone, or via Zoom, would be a great way to share your thoughts and socialize. This lesson will remind you of how important your friends are, and maybe more importantly, just how important you are to them! Enjoy the lesson! You’re sure to look forward to the end of "social distancing" even more after you read it.

Your Lesson: Socialization is a staple of brain health. We could just eliminate this reading and tell you that for a fact. However, you might want some proof. So this week, we have an extensive handout which describes all of the benefits of socialization. The online version includes some videos. The final 15 minute video is well worth your time, to learn about social pain. (Yes, there is such a thing.) Click here to view the reading online. If you want a print handout, click here. Here is the PowerPoint summary of the lesson.

Take the Quiz.

The BrainHQ Connection

(Please refer to your interactive lesson for how to apply social distancing ideas to these recommendations)

This excerpt is from the BHQ Website: “Countless studies [as Mary’s lesson has confirmed] have shown that maintaining rich, meaningful relationships and social interaction is a key ingredient—along with physical exercise, nutrition, brain training, and lifelong learning—in the recipe for cognitive sharpness. [And] socializing doesn't just help prevent mental disease, it can also help us remember more and think more clearly.” Read: Social Life and Brain Fitness to learn more, and to find links to other interesting articles about socialization. In the article Memory Loss is Not an Automatic Side Effect of Aging; Becoming a Social Butterfly, makes the list of top lifestyle changes recommended to improve memory. Check it out to find out why.

Not the social type? Do you find it uncomfortable to make new friends or keep in touch with old ones? Since socialization is an important part of living a brain-healthy lifestyle, we have an exercise routine for that. The BHQ Program has created a special personalized training “focus” to help us with our social skills. It’s called: Focus on People Skills and it was designed to exercise your brain's social cognition skills. Try this challenge for a week or two to improve your social skills. As you learned from Mary’s lesson – it’s never too late to improve your cognitive abilities through socialization.

Zoom Session

Zoom Session: Join us this Wednesday, May 6th. This week our actually pretty related, in an interesting way. Take a look at the titles below and consider logging in for both. Here’s our schedule of events:

6:30-7:00: For ALL! Q&A time about any of the BHQ exercises or the class website.

7:00-7:30: We will focus on the Weekly Basics Lesson - Socialization and the Brain.

7:30–8:00: We will focus on the Weekly Topics Lesson – The Healing Power of Laughter

Just click here to follow the instructions on the Home Page by scrolling down to Weekly Zoom Sessions. Or you can go directly to the Zoom site by clicking here.

First time on Zoom? Just follow the instructions on this Home Page to learn how. Returning students click here to connect directly. Try getting on the site early to see how easy it is to get it set up. We begin our BHQ Zoom at 6:30, so try getting on at about 6:15 and call if you have any trouble. You can participate by video and audio, or just listen in by phone. Please let us know if you need help! Call Pat’s cell at 619-818-3953. If you’ve been on Zoom before, you will appreciate this new Zoom Video that Mary created to help you learn about some of the features available to you while on the site. See you on Wednesday.

Enjoy the lessons, and have a brain-healthy week.

Contact Us

Need help? Contact us at:

Pat Mosteller (pmostell@sdccd.edu) Cell 619-818-3953 - Online classes

Mary Burns (mburns@sdccd.edu) - Online classes

Debbie Flores (dsflores@sdccd.edu) - Cell 619-608-9001 --Online classes & Wednesday AM and PM classes at the Kroc Center

Janet Blair ( blusdbits@gmail.com ) - St Pauls Plaza. Contact for Support and Lesson Review

Yael Lorberfeld (ylorberfeld@sdccd.edu) . Mondays at the Kroc Center, Wednesdays at the College Ave Senior Center (Temple Emanu-El), and Friday mornings at the La Jolla JCC.

Marilyn Kessler (marilynk@ifssd.org) - Mondays at the College Ave Senior Center (Temple Emanu-El)