Everyone at one point or another complains about forgetting things. Our memories come into play every day of our lives. The better the memory you have, the more successful you can be in life. Below is a compilation of tips to help you develop and improve your memory.
One of the best ways to store new information in memory is to relate it to something else that you are already familiar with. Creating a logical link between the new information and something else that you already know will increase your chances of being able to successfully recall that information later. The link you create functions as a trigger to recall the new information.
To remember things like turning off the water, place some object that will remind you in a place where you are likely to trip over it! If you have left the sprinklers on for half an hour while you go inside to eat, put your garden gloves in the kitchen sink or some other unlikely place. This will remind you to turn off the water!
Stop telling yourself you have a weak memory. When you say these things you begin to plant the thought in your mind and it becomes a reality. Remind yourself constantly that you have a great memory and you can remember anything as long as you put your mind to the task. You will see an improvement in your recall ability.
To help prevent memory loss, you should regularly spend time socializing with your friends. Interacting with friends and loved ones in a social setting helps to prevent stress and depression, both of which seriously impede memory function. Clear time in your schedule to relax and enjoy your friends. Your memory will thank you for it.
Eat more onions to improve your memory. A few studies have isolated fisetin to be of great benefit in improving the long term memory. You can find beneficial levels of fisetin in onions, strawberries, mangos and other plants. It also is a strong antioxidant so it will deliver other benefits to your body as well.
Try to avoid alcohol if you would like to improve your memory. It has been scientifically proven that alcohol kills the cells from the part of the brain that absorbs information. However, most research seems to prove that having one or two glasses of wine a day is okay for the memory.
When trying to remember something, having patience with yourself will help you greatly! The harder you try to think of something, the more stressed you become, and of course, the more stressed you become the more difficult it is to remember anything! Take a deep breath, relax, and try to clear your mind and before you know it what ever you were trying so hard to recall will pop right up in your mind!
Reducing distractions in your immediate environment will go a long way in helping you to remember something. Phones ringing, children screaming or horns honking are not conducive to memory for anyone so limit the amount of distractions your mind has to deal with, and you will increase your ability to remember!
Use mnemonic devices to improve your memory. A mnemonic device is any rhyme, joke, song, or phrase that triggers memory of another fact, such as the abbreviation Roy G Biv, which tells you the colors of the spectrum. The best mnemonic devices are those which use humor or positive imagery, as you will have an easier time remembering them.
Just like a muscle, with your brain it is use it or lose it. Constantly train and exercise your brain to stave off cognitive decline. Do word searches, sudoku, and crossword puzzles to keep your brain active. In this way you will surely slow down memory loss, and keep your brain’s skills sharp.
A memory technique that works for many people is the listen, write and read method. Basically what this entails is really listening to what is being said. While listening, make notes about the material that is being shared. At a later time, read the notes again. With this technique, you are actually reviewing the information three times which aids in cementing the information in your memory.
If you have trouble remembering words or names, try repeating them out loud. For instance, if you are introduced to a new person, repeat their name back to them by saying something like “Nice to meet you, Susan.” This simple tip will help to cement the word or name in your mind, so you can easily recall it when you need to.
If you are wanting to remember something new, say it! Any new material that you want to remember should be read aloud. When you read words out loud, you form a memory pathway through two of your senses, sight and hearing. This gives two paths of retrieval when you want to recall this information at a future date.
One way to help improve your overall memory is to watch less television. TV really does rot your brain- studies show that people who watch more than an hour of television per day have more trouble focusing and remembering things in the short term. Instead, try playing brain games or having conversations.
You need to actively prepare your mind before you start to try to remember something. In the same way a runner needs to stretch first, you need to visualize yourself learning what you are trying to commit to memory. This can also help you to be more prepared and organized as well.
If you have a visual type of memory, use pictures, drawings and graphs to remember information. If this visual material is not a part of what you need to learn, you can easily create it yourself. Make sure you create clear pictures you will be able to understand later when you go over your information again.
Your brain is a muscle like any other and it requires exercise to keep it healthy and in optimum working order. Make sure that you incorporate the advice given here to start working out your brain and improving your memory abilities. Being “forgetful” isn’t a life sentence and you are able to make a change for the better.
