I feel like, since I left university, my brain has slowly turned to mush. I don't have the immediate recall of quotes and references I used to have. I'm hazier on details when it comes to areas that I used to know inside out. When it comes to debates and arguments I'm more easily swayed and less precise on my own points. I'm struggling to make it through any books that aren't easy reading, or watching arty films when there's some trashy reality programme on.

I guess that ideally your job would help keep your brain stimulated and active, but most people these days have non-jobs, and coming up with mum jokes on a semi-popular indie music forum doesn't quite push you in the same way.

So how do you keep yourself sharp? Have you ever noticed yourself declining, and taken steps against it? Do you force yourself to read new books, play penoid games, learn languages or instruments? I need to get the old synapses firing.