Memory is one of the things we take for granted in life, until we begin to lose it. Many degenerative diseases can take hold of us and seize our ability to do one of the most basic actions in life: remember. This article provides some tips and tricks to coping with memory loss and help improve your memory.
It is easier to remember information if you organize the material into related groups, before trying to commit it to memory. Making an outline is another good way to organize the material to be studied. This is similar to how your brain organizes information and will make recall simpler.
Try to stay away from pills that promise to help improve your memory. Most of the time, these pills are not effective and could cause you physical problems. Instead, you may want to look into supplements like Niacin, Thiamine, and Vitamin B-6. They all help to improve the part of the brain that deals with memory.
Consuming foods that contain flavonoids has been proven to be an effective way to maintain your memory. This is because flavonoids interact with your body to improve the flow of blood to your brain, create new neurons, and benefit enzymes and proteins related to memory. Some examples of foods that include flavonoids are grapes, tea leaves, and cocoa beans. Incorporate some of these into your diet.
Try to memorize things in sets of 7. According to studies, the human capacity for Short Term Memory, or (STM) is 7, add or minus 2. This is why humans memorize things best in groups of 7. This is also why, for example, your phone number is seven digits.
A good tip that can help you improve your memory is to participate in activities that can challenge you mentally. When it comes to memory, if you don’t use it, you lose it. Pick an activity you’re not familiar with so that it’s a good challenge for you.
Try not to keep memories in your head that are unneeded, such as information that you know you will never lose. It has been medically proven that getting rid of useless information frees up space in the brain for information that you are actually going to get use out of.
Pay attention to the environments that pop up in your memories. These locations may enhance your learning abilities. Return to these types of locations, or replicate their effects, in order to bring about the memory-enhancing effect of those places. Many people find that a certain level of background noise, for example, is vital to their learning.
The next time your memory fails to help you remember where you placed something, be sure to jog your memory. Try to remember where you last placed something and how long ago it was. From now on, try to keep your items in the same place so you do not forget where they are.
Say things out loud. When you come across something to remember, like a name, say it out loud. Repeating things where you can hear it is a great way to ensure that you remember that bit of information at a later date. If you don’t mind being heard, do this several times for best results.
Scent has a huge impact on memory. If you keep something that you enjoy smelling right next to where you keep things, you will have an easier time recalling where the object is. For example, if you keep a plug in air freshener right next to where you keep you wallet when you are home, you will have no problem remembering where it is.
If you are having a hard time remembering where a certain location is, do not be ashamed to use a map, that is what they are there for. Perhaps looking at a map to jog your memory one time can cause the location to stay in your mind for the next time you need to go there.
When you are studying, you should completely focus on what you are studying. For humans to truly remember something, it must be stored in their long-term memory. The way to ensure that what you want to remember gets implanted in your long-term memory is to be free of outside distractions.
Try not to rely on the internet. The internet is wonderful, and search engines are incredibly useful tools. However, if you are constantly looking things up on the web, your mind is far less likely to actually commit them to memory. Your brain gets out of the habit of remembering things.
Get sufficient sleep. Getting enough sleep is important to keeping your memory sharp. When you are asleep, your brain disposes of unnecessary memories and forms more storage for new information. If you fail to get enough sleep, your brain doesn’t have enough time to recharge. You will find you have trouble focusing.
It never hurts to learn more than the very minimum. The more you know about a subject, the more you will remember. For example, if you need to know a word and its definition, also read a longer description of the term.
Make friends and talk with them often. Interacting with others keeps you from feeling unhappy and stressed, which are two factors that contribute to memory loss. Take every available opportunity to get together with friends and family members, even if it is just to grab a bite to eat or hang out and watch television. This is particularly important if you live by yourself.
Using your senses is a great way to help you remember things. This helps because it is as though you are experiencing these things and they stick in your mind. Authors also use this technique to make you feel more involved in their stories. The more senses involved in your memorizing, the more effective you will be.
Whether you have a memory loss disorder, have suffered an accident, or are dealing with Alzheimer’s, losing the ability to remember simple things is difficult. Hopefully this article has provided some helpful and thoughtful insight to help you not only cope with memory loss, but also assist you in re-gaining memory.
