Keeping your memory sharp and effective can be a big concern as you age. Realizing that you’re starting to forget things can be very worrying, even if they are just little things. Fortunately, there are ways you can fend off memory loss. This article will teach you some effective techniques.
According to studies, material is better memorized if you go over it a number of times during regular study sessions. This gives your brain adequate time to process the information. According to research, students that had established regular study sessions recalled material much better than those who crammed all the material into one marathon study session.
We are more likely to remember something that happens to us when we are around other people than when we are alone. People are drawn to others, as a result we remember our time with them, rather than when we are alone. That’s why study groups work so well.
Organize the information you’re trying to study. Studies have shown that your brain stores similar information in the same spot. So to maximize your studying effort, you want to try and group similar things together when you’re studying. Using an outline to group subjects or sub-topics together can be beneficial in the long run.
Keep your social life active. It is proven that those with an active social life have a better memory. Talk to your friends and family, either in person or over the phone, because it will stimulate your brain. Having an active social life will slow your memory from fading.
Organizing your immediate environment will make it easier for you to remember things! Keeping your keys, wallet, cell phone and other frequently used articles all together in the same place will prevent you from having to remember where they are. Since scent can improve memory, keep your favorite scented candle in this same central location! All of this will improve your memory and save you much stress and hassle.
It is important that you keep a daily routine if you want to improve your memory. By doing things at different times of the day, you may forget certain obligations. Try to stick with one routine for the weekdays when you are at work and one routine for weekends when you are home.
Improve memory with mnemonics. Use an acronym to remember lists of related things. For example, ‘Homes’ is used to remember the names of the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior. The first letter of the words in a sentence can represent a list of letters that you have to remember. For example, “Every good boy does fine” can be used to memorize the notes on the lines of a treble clef: E,G,B,D and F.
Avoid cramming. Work in regular study sessions that you have set out on a schedule. Having a set time to study will help your brain remember the facts you present to it. Cramming simply presents your brain with too much information to remember at any one time, and so you will forget much of it.
One way to improve memory is to employ mnemonics. For example, when musicians learn the treble clef they learn “every good boy deserves fudge.” This simplifies the learning of the notes on the lines of the treble clef without overly burdening the memory. Simple mnemonic device make learning new things much easier.
Eating foods rich in protein will actually help your memory as well as provide good fuel for your body! Foods like fish that have large amounts of protein are high in amino acids which aid your body in the production of neurotransmitters and these neurotransmitters are invaluable to brain performance so eat well to remember better!
Getting plenty of sleep is very important. Studies show that people who regularly get enough sleep are able to retain memories more effectively. Impaired concentration then means you will have difficulty transferring present events to long-term memory.
When trying to remember something, it is important to relax. Memorization of information is better when one takes the needed time to store and recall concepts. As you age, you will find that it will take a bit more time to both cement information in your memory and to recall those memories. If you cannot recall something immediately, do not panic since that will make it even harder to recall. Memory always works better when one is relaxed and well-rested.
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.
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.
If someone you know is suffering from Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, or another illness that effects their memory, try showing them pleasant pictures from the past. By looking at pleasant memories, the memory of these patients may improve. Be sure not to bring up unpleasant memories as this could cause them a setback.
Sleep is vital to maintaining mental clarity and memory. By avoiding sleep, you make your senses and mind foggier, hurting your ability to focus and piece together information. In addition, during sleep, your brain forges pathways that lead to memory. Getting good sleep (and a good amount of it) will improve your memory.
As you’ve seen, just because you are growing older does not mean that you are doomed to lose your memory. Exercising your brain and applying the techniques you have learned will help keep your brain sharp and active. Just use the tips from this article, and you’ll stay mentally active for years to come.
