Memory opens the depths of the past to us. It can revivify former experiences and lost relationships. These are some of the reasons why memory is precious to us and why we struggle to retain memory’s capacity. The following tips are given to help you win this struggle.
If you have noticed that your memory isn’t what it used to be, maybe you aren’t getting enough sleep. You need to be sleeping seven to eight hours each night in order to improve your memory. During your sleep cycle, your brain processes all new information to create these memories for you so you have them to recall later.
To make your memory better, stop thinking about negative and unpleasant things. Studies have shown that people undergoing stress and having negative thoughts are likely to suffer from memory loss. Consult your physician to explore stress relief techniques.
Improve your memory by getting more organized. Sometimes a poor memory is simply a side effect of having too much on your plate and poor organization skills. Try using a day planner to keep track of your schedule. Make to-do lists outlining the tasks that you want to accomplish for the day. Finally, clear up clutter around your house and your work area. When everything is nicely organized and in its proper place, you may find that your memory problems disappear.
It is important that you take steps to keep your memory in shape throughout the years. Diet is crical in this regard. It has been shown that getting enough folic acid in your diet can help fight memory loss. Foods rich in folic acid include many beans and legumes, leafy greens, fortified bread and cereals, citrus juices and more.
Memory can be jogged and improved if you try removing yourself from a typical study environment and find a new one. Changing surroundings reinvigorates the mind, and causes long-term memory to be more efficacious. Your brain will be more alert and more receptive to the information when it is stimulated by a routine change.
Getting more of your senses involved will greatly aid you in remembering! Studies suggest speaking and hearing something will reinforce your memory of it so try reading things out loud to yourself if it is important for you to remember or as a general exercise for your memory. You will see the information, say it and hear it thereby tripling your sensory exposure to it!
A great tip that can help you improve your memory is to make sure you’re getting enough sleep every night. Studies have shown that people who are sleep deprived tend to be very sluggish. All of their cognitive functions, including their memory, are compromised. Getting enough sleep is very important.
Improving your memory may be something as simple as going out for a jog or a bike ride. Recent studies have shown that aerobic exercises can actually cause the development of new neurons in the hippocampus of the brain, which is considered to be the memory store center of the brain.
Carefully focus on what you are trying to memorize. This is especially important when you are studying. Never try to multitask. Turn off the television, turn off the radio. Just focus on what you need to memorize and the knowledge you need to retain. Many things can distract you without you even realizing it.
If you need help retaining a difficult concept or remembering the massive amount of information you studied the night before that big college exam, get up and get moving. The brain, like other parts of our body, requires energy to work, and it gets that energy from oxygen and other nutrients carried through the bloodstream. Spending long, unbroken hours in a chair, pouring over books or staring at a computer screen, causes the blood to congeal and deprives the brain of that needed energy. So get up and go for a brisk walk or a swim, anything to get the blood pumping and moving through your body. It’s a proven fact that the more physically active you are, the smarter you will be too.
A great tip that can help you improve your memory is to review information shortly after you’ve learned it. Doing this periodically will help you recall important things. What you don’t want to do is cram. If you cram you won’t retain as much information as you want.
Keep a positive attitude. If you don’t want to or think you can’t remember something, you probably won’t. Constantly thinking about how bad your memory is can actually make the situation worse. Instead, focus on the good parts of memory and learning, and you’ll quickly see an improvement in your skills.
If you have a list of words that you need to remember, try putting them in alphabetical order. Our society has already categorized many common items into alphabetical lists, so it is a pattern that your brain is familiar with. As a result, when you alphabetize a list of words, your brain recognizes the well-known familiar pattern and has an easier time recalling them at a later date.
A way to improve your brain’s ability to handle tough challenges and remember things better is to spend fifteen minutes to half an hour each day playing brain teaser games like sudoku, crosswords, or electronic brain teasers. These games challenge and stimulate your brain in ways that you often wouldn’t get otherwise.
Try to use all five of your sense when trying to remember things. By using as many of your senses that the situation calls for, you will have a better time remembering it. If it is a location you are trying to remember, picture the way it smelled and the sounds associated with the area.
These tips have shown active ways to exercise and retain memory. Follow the ones that you think will work for you. Come back again for more if you need them. For there is no doubt that the effort to retain memory as we age is infinitely worthwhile.
