Remembering things the way we used to is always a challenge. Like anything else, maintaining a good memory is only possible if you apply the right techniques and do the proper research. This article contains a number of suggestions on how to improve and maintain your memory for years to come.
Exercise your brain. Using your memory and other thought provoking functions of your brain daily, will help keep your mind and your memory sharp. Do puzzles, drive a different way to work and memorize something every day. You will see an improvement quickly and less of a decline as time moves on.
Take at least a five minute break for each hour you work or study so that your mind can rejuvenate itself. This will then allow your brain to absorb the information better.
Help protect your memory for years to come by making sure you are getting plenty of vitamin B-12 in your diet. Studies have linked low levels of B-12 to dementia and poor cognitive function. Food sources rich in B-12 include liver, eggs, fish, poultry, meat and milk products. If you don’t eat a lot of meat, you may need to take a daily B-12 supplement to help prevent deficiency.
Regularly challenging your brain can help you improve your memory. Learning new, complex tasks such as a foreign language or how to play a musical instrument will help your brain stay active. Remember the old saying “Use it or lose it?” The same thing’s true for your mind!
If you constantly have trouble remembering certain things, find ways to eliminate the problem once and for all. For instance, if you can never remember where you placed your car keys, put a peg by your front door where you can hang your keys the minute you enter your house. Make a list of the items you most frequently forget and then figure out a simple way to remember each of the items on your list.
Take the time to relate information you are trying to memorize to information you have already committed to memory. Making a strong connection to information already in your memory greatly enhances the likelihood that you will be able to recall it for a long time. This not only helps you retain memories, but also speeds up the process of memory retention.
Write important appointments or events on a calendar, and make sure that you look at the calender every day. If you are a cell phone owner, most cell phones have a daily reminder or calendar in which you can program upcoming events.
A good tip to make your memory better is to begin a routine where you exercise regularly. In other words, exercise is as good for your mind as it is for your body.
A good tip to help improve your memory is to be more social. Studies have shown that our brains respond much better to socializing than if we were alone. People who socialize regularly will enjoy the benefit of a slower memory decline. Try being more social to improve your memory.
A great tip that can help you improve your memory is to start limiting how much alcohol you drink. Drinking too much alcohol can destroy many brain cells over time, which can severely impair your cognitive functions, such as memory. Limit your alcohol to only one or two drinks a day.
One tip for helping to remember things is to associate words and phrases with images. For example, let’s say you have to do something at three o’clock. It’s difficult to remember just three, but if you associate the memory with the three little pigs, you’re more likely to remember what time it was that you had something to do.
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.
Reduce distractions in your environment while you’re trying to learn. Your brain can really only focus on one matter at a time. The more individual things competing for a piece of your attention, the less you can focus on what you’re trying to learn. Being able to focus is central in transferring information to memory.
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 fun way to help keep your memory sharp is to play brain games, such as puzzles and logic games. These types of games will help improve attention span, concentration, mental flexibility and memory. To keep your brain in top shape, it is recommended that you play brain games at least 15 minutes each day. According to recent research, playing brain games can even aid in the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease.
The ability to recall things can become strained during times of mental stress. Remain calm and relaxed as you study or when trying to recall the location of a lost item. Be patient with yourself. Wait for as long as necessary for facts to come back to you. Don’t get angry at yourself or conclude that you can’t remember things.
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.
As this article has stated, memory is something that is very difficult to maintain, particularly as we age. However, memory maintenance and improvement is much easier for people who have educated themselves and listened to the proper advice regarding memory. Use this article’s advice and be on your way to a better memory.
