changeyourbrainOnce the holidays are over, shake off that eggnog-induced fog and exercise your mind this January.

1. Start a club with your friends. Set a standing date with some of your favorite people and host a club based on your common interests, like indie foreign films or vegan cooking.

2. Play on your phone. Instead of patrolling Instagram, try a brain-boosting app to make good use of your down time. The Math vs. Brain app features multiplication brainteasers to help keep you sharp (free on iTunes).

3. Visit the museum without leaving your living room. Say goodbye to long lines and rowdy class trips with Artkick, a free app that lets you stream museum-quality works of art on your television.

4. Get out of your comfort zone. Whether you sign up for French classes or take a stab at tie-dyeing, picking up a hobby that doesn’t come naturally to you has been scientifically proven to improve your focus.

5. Recommit to your workout. Like an Angie’s List for private sports trainers, the newly launched CoachUp helps athletes of all levels search for and meet local coaches who fit their needs. All you have to do is plug in your zip code and sport of choice (swimming, jujitsu, etc.) and you’ll see a selection of nearby coaches who will take you on and hold you accountable to your sessions. [Visual is a woman at a light-filled yoga studio practicing her downward-facing dog]

6. Plan a winter staycation. It’ll be nice to have something to look forward to after those holiday parties end. Schedule a movie marathon with your friends, and ask everyone to bring a favorite flick; you supply the cozy flannel blankets and popcorn.

7. Give back. Want to be philanthropical but don’t know where to start? Check out Goodsearch, a little-known search engine powered by Yahoo. Sign up and designate your favorite charity (anything from the American Cancer Society to your local soup kitchen), and whenever you use the site, Goodsearch will donate 50 percent of the search advertiser revenue to your designated worthy cause—about a penny per search. Pretty genius.

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