Although you may think that a fading memory begins in old age, there are techniques you can use throughout your life to keep your memory in peak operating condition. An excellent memory can be to your advantage in personal, educational, social, business, and financial situations.
Considering the many benefits that a sharp memory can bring you, it's wise to seek out ways to strengthen it at any age.
Try some of these easy tips to boost your memory:
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. You may not relate your general health to memory; however, if you stay healthy you'll be helping your memory in the process.
* Eating nutritious foods will ensure that you're getting plenty of vitamins that enable healthy brain function and reduce free radicals, which can impair memory, as well.
* Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and keeps oxygen levels up. These higher oxygen levels keep you alert and provide you with more clarity in your thinking.
2. Pay better attention. You can improve your memory simply by being more aware of what is going on around you. When someone is talking to you, give them your full attention. You'll have a better chance at encoding their words to long-term memory.
3. Use mnemonic devices. Mnemonic devices can be used to help you remember certain bits of information by relating the facts to an easy-to-remember image, word, tune, or phrase.
* For example, the classic sentence, "Every Good Boy Does Fine," has been used for generations to help people remember the lines of the treble clef (EGBDF) for sheet music.
* Relating the knowledge you want to remember to jokes or rhymes works well, too. These are fun ways to remember facts.
4. Get organized. Have a daily planner to help you organize your day. A good planner reminds you of important events while keeping you from having to juggle too many things in your mind all at once. Too much juggling can result in "scatterbrained" thinking.
* Also pay attention to the way you organize your life. You won't have to remember where you left your keys if you always leave them in the same spot. A great rule to follow is, "A place for everything and everything in its place."
5. Keep your stress level down. Too much stress can make your thinking erratic and cause challenges with your memory. Take steps to calm yourself down and you'll find that you're thinking with a clearer head.
* Deep breathing exercises, meditating, reading, physical workouts, relaxing music, and pleasurable hobbies are all great stress-busters. Do something that relaxes you every day.
6. Play mind teasers and games. These games keep your brain, including your memory, sharp and active. Puzzles also help with attention and concentration. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku puzzles, trivia games, and even video games all exercise your mind.
7. Get enough sleep. If you're sleep-deprived, you're more likely to suffer from poor memory. Go to bed and get up in the morning at established times to help your body form a natural day-to-night rhythm. Relax before bedtime to help you transition into a sound sleep.
8. Rehearse information. If there's something in particular that you're trying to study or remember, try rehearsal techniques. It's a great way to ensure that information is passing into your long-term memory. With rehearsal, you just repeat and study information over and over until you remember it easily.
9. Visualize concepts. Images can be very powerful. If you're a visual person, you might find visualizing more helpful than some of the other techniques. Visual people remember better if they see what they need to remember. It will usually help you to see information in a picture, chart, or graph.
When you stay proactive with these memory techniques, you'll be sharp for a long time to come. Exercise your memory daily and it will serve you well in all aspects of your life!
