How to Keep Your Mind Alert and Educated on Long Road Trips

We've all been there. Sitting stiff in an uncomfortable car seat, your legs, arms and upper torso slipping into an unbearable arthritic condition with every passing second, your mind slowly suffering under the weight of overwhelming boredom, and slipping uncontrollably into sheer delirium with nothing to entertain its fading thoughts and attention span. OK, so maybe your lengthy road trips are not this bad. And while this description may entirely be a satirical and sarcastic one, countless travelers across the nation and around the world experience mind-numbing boredom every day. Here are a few things you can do to keep your mind intellectually active and enlightened.

1. Learn or Engage in a Game of Chess

For untold centuries the game of chess has been at the forefront of intellectually-stimulating entertainment activities, due in part to its strategic nature and diversity of moves - such as the Sicilian Defense, Queen's Gambit, the Two Knights Defense or the Latvian Gambit. Since its modern development in 15^th Century Europe, having evolved from the Indian game Shatrajn, chess has held captive the minds of countless players.

If you're an avid chess player, you may be wondering how this classic game of strategy could be accomplished while cruising at 70 mph down a busy freeway. But alas, you have not heard of magnetic chess sets. That's right. Now you can engage in an intense game of chess while on the go without the slightest possibility of pieces falling off the board because of bumpy roads. Available in many sizes, wood grains and travel sets, from the tiny 5"-square boards (capable of fitting in the palm of your hand) to the full-size 12" and 18" sets, there's no end to the myriad of options at your fingertips.

Although magnetic chess sets have come a long way since their inception, having gained and implemented advanced computer technology, the basic concept has remained the same. Much like any magnet you would place on your refrigerator, magnetic chess pieces will stay firmly in place, yet easily moveable, as you bounce over unpaved roads, speed bumps and the ever so frustrating and unpredictable curb. And they're also perfect for travel on other forms of transportation, including trains and airplanes.

2. Read an Educational Book

While reading a book on the road may seem like a no-brainer (no pun intended), there is much to be said for specifically and intentionally reading an educational book. Many travelers tend to pack their favorite fiction novels, magazines, etc. However, if you truly want to keep your mind stimulated with an all-out brain workout, you should instead pack a more intellectually-challenging piece of literature. Here are a few ideas:

• Before your trip, check out the History and/or Science sections at your local library. You might be surprised at what you find. Books on the history or science of your particular interests may be more exciting than you think. Interested in a sport? Read about its early history or origins. Like using a certain piece of technology like your laptop? Check out books on the scientific history and technology of such a device.

• Have you always wanted to be a better writer? Do you have to write business memos, papers and other documents at your job? Check out a book on writing strategies and techniques. You may learn some valuable information with which you can enhance your writing skills.

• Perhaps you've always wanted to learn a foreign language. Scour your local libraries for a Spanish 1, French 1 or even Italian 1 textbook. Odds are it will come with an interactive computer or listening CD-ROM for enhanced learning options. When it comes to learning a foreign language, repetition and aurality are everything.

3. Watch an Educational DVD

With car, SUV and minivan standard on-board technology incorporating the use of fold-down flat-screen monitors and DVD players, it's now easier than ever to watch an educational documentary while on the go. Keep your mind educated and alert with a History Channel or Discovery Channel special. Look for films documenting historical battles, wars, various animal species, science and technology, etc. While books are great, visual stimulation in the form of educational DVDs is a great way to learn while on the road.

4. Listen to Classical Music: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc.

Years of research and study on the effects of various forms classical music, particularly those from the Baroque, Romantic and Renaissance eras, have been proven to relax the human heart beat and pulse and even "affects the frequency and amplitude of brain waves," (http://www.cerebromente.org). History records that many of the great minds of Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein and other intellectual men were influenced by classical music.

Did you know that, according to the Center for New Discoveries in Learning, "learning potential can be increased a minimum of five times by using this 60 beats per minute music [found in much of Mozart's works and pieces from the Baroque era]?" Renowned Bulgarian scientist and psychologist Georgi Lazonov even utilized certain pieces of classical music to increase the learning and memorization potentials of his students. His pupils were recorded to have learned up to one half of their semester terminology and vocabulary, which amounted to well over 1,000 terms.

5. Visit a Local Museum or Science Exploreum

If you will be traveling through a town or city with a local museum or science exhibit, take the time to stop, stretch your legs and make a visit. Many science exploreums canbe both exciting and educational for children and even adults. With interactive features and big screen science films, there's something for everyone. And don't forget local museums or historical sightseeing opportunities. You just may learn a thing or two about the state you're in.

So as you travel to visit extended family and relatives this summer or take those relaxing vacations, remember that you can stay alert, focused and even a little educated while on the road. Why admit mental defeat to the effects of boredom when you can immerse yourself in one or all of the aforementioned forms of learning? Take the initiative and develop good habits of self-education.