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S A C R E D H E A R T E A U C L A I R E . O R G 3 A STUDY IN 2013 found that people who knit tend to be happier, while a 2012 study found that people who took time to craft were 30 to 50 percent less likely to experience cognitive decline. Getting crafty can also help people focus and reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. "Knitting is a repetitive task, but people have to use their brain to visualize the pattern in three dimensions as they knit," says Karen Wirtanen, MS, CCC/SLP, Speech Language Pathologist at St. Joseph's Hospital. "Knitting in vibrant colors or with different yarn textures can also provide mental stimulation." BUILD NEW BRAIN PATHWAYS If crafting isn't your idea of fun but you want to improve your mental might another way, Wirtanen recommends changing daily details. "Unfamiliar tasks—or doing tasks in a new way—promote new brain pathways, allowing the brain to store new information and memories," Wirtanen says. "These tasks can be as simple as wearing your watch on the opposite wrist or moving your kitchen trash can to a new location." OTHER BRAIN-BOOSTING IDEAS INCLUDE: • brushing your teeth with the other hand • taking an alternate route to work • using a new pattern, fabric, or paint during a crafting project • walking your dog in a different park or on a new path THE HEALING SOUNDS OF MUSIC CAN TOUCH HEARTS, LIFT THOSE WHO ARE LOW, AND INSPIRE US ALL TO LIVE RICHER, MORE FULFILLING LIVES. CRAFTING KNITTING AND SEWING—CREATIVE PASTIMES FOR MANY PEOPLE—CAN BOLSTER BRAINPOWER. Looking for more ways to boost your brainpower? Visit GOChippewaValley.com. Join us as we celebrate 25 years of service at The Healing Place: A Center for Life's Journeys. Call 715.717.6028 to register to attend The Healing Sounds of Christmas. a B etter Brain FEW PROGRAMS EXEMPLIFY this more than The Healing Sounds of Christmas, the annual free holiday concert organized by The Healing Place: A Center for Life's Journeys at Sacred Heart Hospital. Local musicians are invited to share their ministry of music at a free event that is open to the public and designed to help those in need of support during what can be a difficult time of year. This year's concert will be held Sunday, December 14, at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire W.R. Davies Student Center at 1:30 p.m. A POWERFUL TOOL "Healing involves the mind and body as well as the spirit, and music can have a powerful effect on all three," says Amy Segerstrom, MS, LPC, Coordinator of The Healing Place: A Center for Life's Journeys. "For many, The Healing Sounds of Christmas is a way to have their spirits lifted and be reminded they are not alone. This is particularly important around the holidays for those who may have experienced a loss." Christmas