How robbing a bank keeps your brain young

As we saw in the previous blog post, performing routine tasks with your eyes closed can be highly beneficial to your brain's health. Of course it may not be so beneficial for the health of various other parts of your body, namely the ones that have to move through space guided only by what you can fell, hear, smell, or run into.

This book I am reading about mental fitness is fond of using this method to strengthen connections in the brain. For instance, it is suggested that you try getting dressed in the morning with your eyes closed. To do this, the authors say you should lay out your clothes the night before, or that you have someone else lay them out for you. ("Your clothes are ready, madam." "Thank you, Rose, that will be all." "Very good, madam.")

With your clothes all laid before you by the thoughtful Rose, your task is to arrange them on your person using only your sense of touch. Rose has gone off to attend to the vacuuming, so you are on your own. Without looking you must distinguish and put on your pants, shirt, socks or stockings, toupee, etc.

This may have been the way bank robbers first hit upon the idea of wearing a stocking over their face. While trying to kickstart his brain, a man with an ordinary office job -- let's call him Bob -- got dressed with his eyes closed, but fortunately looked in the mirror before leaving for work. Aware of the inappropriateness of wearing a stocking over his face to the office, he instantly realized the potential of his appearance for more nefarious activities, and set off to rob First National. Of course this leads one to wonder why Bob was wearing stockings in the first place, but let's be kind and assume he accidentally put on some of his wife's clothes, which Rose had carelessly arranged too closely to his.

Other tasks that can be performed with your eyes closed:

-- Keep a collection of small objects in your pockets, and when you are idle -- waiting for the teller to stuff your bags with money, for instance -- try to identify the objects strictly by touch. (Note: Do NOT try this with the collection of objects in anyone else's pocket, unless you are SURE no one can see your face through the stocking.)

-- If the booty from your robbery includes a substantial variation of coins, place some in a cup holder in your car. At red lights, try to identify the different denominations simply by feeling them. (Note: If you are stopped by a police officer and your vast amount of coins arouses suspicion, simply hand the officer a copy of the book, explain how he can increase his mental fitness with all these closed-eye exercises, and suggest he try it out right there. When his eyes are closed, run.)