Memory is a wonderful attribute of being human. It makes us who we are since we use it to retain knowledge about our past experiences. Without it we would not be capable of learning new skills and retaining information necessary to become a productive member of our world. To help deal with the frustrations that come with a declining memory, we have provided some practical and easy tips to follow.
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.
When trying to remember any type of information the key is repetition. The more something is repeated in your mind the more likely you are to keep it in your long term memory. For example, if you meet someone new, repeat their name in your head at least three times while looking at them.
Make sure your attention if focused on the material you want to remember. If you have other distractions going on around you – music playing, the TV on, kids talking, etc. – your mind won’t be able to focus on the material. This will result in it being hard to remember what you’ve studied.
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.
To keep your memory in tip-top shape, practice using it regularly. If you don’t use your memory, it will slowly become weaker and weaker over time. The best way to keep it in shape is by regularly challenging it in your day to day life. This can be something as simple as doing a crossword puzzle or as complex as trying to memorize the names of all of the members of the arachnid family. Just find fun ways to test and challenge your memory each and every day.
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.
The best way to improve your memory is to have healthy habits, such as eating nutritious foods, sleeping plentifully and exercising. Just as athletes need these things, your brain also needs to be cared for in order to perform well. Physical exercise is effective because it increases the oxygen flow to your brain.
When you think about how your memory is, make sure you view yourself in a postivie light. If you think you have a bad memory, the self fulfilling prophecy will come into effect and you will have a harder time actually remembering things. Reward yourself for the things that you do remember, and you will see an improvement quickly.
Attempt to create and maintain many different relationships in order to reduce your chances of getting illnesses associated with memory loss. It has become apparent through scientific study that socializing with friends and family often helps keep the memory functions of the brain running smoothly.
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.
Things are easier to remember if they have a special meaning to you. Think about why you need to memorize the information. For example, if you are going shopping, ask your self why. It could be for your child’s birthday, and thinking about that will help you remember what you need to buy.
Studies have shown that Omega-3 and other nutritional supplements found in fish can increase memory and brain cell development. For this reason, a diet rich in fish and products laced with Omega-3 can help you improve your abilities of reasoning and recall. Make sure your diet is consistent with overall brain health, and try not to ignore fish on the menu.
We all want to have the most accurate memory possible, but as time goes by some of us are affected by memory loss. In addition, Alzheimers disease has become increasingly common, and there does not seem to be an effective treatment at this point. Research has made some advances, but the exact cause is still unknown. Whether you have lost some of your memory as a symptom to an illness or just due to the natural aging process, the above-mentioned tips will help improve or even sharpen it.
