Strengthen your cognitive skills and learn valuable tips for increasing your memory capacity. While it may seem that there is nothing you can do to strengthen your memory as you age, there are actually a number of strategies you can adopt. This will ensure that your mind stays sharp, no matter what situation faces you and no matter how long you have lived.
Try playing fun, brain-challenging games to boost your memory. This works in the same way as exercising to keep your body in good shape. With regular brain exercises and fun stimulation, you can enjoy greater mental elasticity and improved memory, along with many other helpful benefits. Good memory games are crossword puzzles, brain teasers or puzzles, and word searches.
Writing items down is always a good way to assist you in remembering. Writing something down yourself helps you remember by stimulating blood flow throughout the brain, most specifically to the areas of the brain that deal with memory. Students have been acing exams for years by taking notes, and you too can apply this technique to recall information. Just keep a diary, take thorough notes or even keep things cataloged in your PC’s Word program.
You should rest each hour for about 5-15 minutes during study or work sessions, so your brain has time to relax. This break can help your brain absorb information more efficiently.
Try paying attention to better your memory. Sometimes you may think that you are listening, while your mind is wandering and letting important information slip through. Clear all other thoughts from your mind and give your full attention to what is being discussed and presented. Use any downtime in the information stream to think over some of the ideas and commit important ones to your memory.
Sticky notes left in prominent places are a great way to jog your memory if you are having problems remembering things you have to do or purchase. Post your notes in all the places that you use frequently, such as by the phone or to the side of your computer screen. These stickies make sure you won’t forget important things.
Negative Thoughts
Avoid unpleasant or negative thoughts to increase your memory. Studies have shown that stress and negative thoughts hinder the memory. Talk to your doctor about techniques to relieve stress.
Memory games can help hone your memory. You can find plenty of memory games via the Internet, at most stores, and even in some newspapers and magazines. Along with memory, these games may better your attention and concentration. You can play these for free online.
If studying of any kind is a common activity for you, then one tactic you can do to boost your memory is to change your studying location and environment. This type of change can rejuvenate your mind, and improve your memory skills. Your brain wakes up when it detects any change to your routines, and when the brain is awake, it can take in more information.
To keep your memory strong, stay socially active. Social activity keeps your mind alert, and improves your outlook on life. If you don’t have enough social support or feel down, your brain will be under-stimulated, which means memory performance suffers. However, if you engage in interesting conversation with others, your mind will remain sharp, as will your memory.
Memory Loss
Memory loss is one of the most tragic things that happens to the aging mind. Prescription medication is often used to help fight off signs of memory loss and dementia.
Imparting memories to other people can actually help you to remember them yourself. If you have a memory that you find you are forgetting, like when your grandson was playing at the park, discuss it with others, remembering as many details as you can. This will help to commit the details to your mind, making it harder to forget.
Don’t try to cram tons on information into your brain. If you need to remember something, create study sessions for yourself. Try not to learn and memorize things all at one time. Your mind can only absorb so much at a time, and you will simply lose most of the information you have tried to learn. Engage in study sessions on a regular basis to adapt your brain to the practice of remembering.
Although you may have left the classroom far behind, you should never stop trying to learn new ways of thinking. If you do not acquire new knowledge, the memory-storing part of your brain isn’t stimulated. Unless you keep your mind sharp, you may find it more difficult to recall information when you need it.
You can fix your memory for your studies if you create a schedule, stick to it, and learn what you need to know over time through different sessions. Studying on a schedule will allow you proper time to thoroughly absorb the information you’re learning. Studies have proven that those who utilize this method are better able to recall the information.
The procedures outlined here can help your brain stay active and improve the quality of your life. Your memory is useful for developing and maintaining personal and professional relationships. When you become more involved and use the information that you’ve learned here, you’ll become a more productive person.