Memory loss is common in the elderly. This condition has a negative impact on everyone involved, and can seriously decrease quality and enjoyment of life. Here are some useful tips to help you deal with your own memory loss.
Mnemonic Devices
One of the most popular ways to commit information to your long-term memory is to utilize one of many different mnemonic devices. Think of mnemonic devices for memory in the same way shorthand writing works for writers. You will associate information with another word, you will be able to relate it and have a map to that memory.
There is a ton of information you should learn and keep in mind, and it will help you study at a lot of different places. This allows you to create a visual link with a set of information, making it easier to internalize. You basically want to encourage your brain to be able to learn information anywhere possible so that the more you practice learning, the easier it becomes to do anywhere you are.
Focus on anything or anyone you really want to remember. Although you might think that you’re paying attention, you might have your mind wandering, in which information is not absorbed efficiently. When someone is communicating important information, make a concerted effort to give them the full force of your attention. Think about what you’re focusing on and help ingrain it into your memory.
One of the most beneficial things you can do for your memory is exercising. Exercise brings better circulation, which means more oxygen to keep your brain functioning well. Memory is one of the main functions of the brain and a fit body and mind is conducive to greater memory retention. A healthy, active person is also less likely to develop diabetes. As many diabetics will attest, this condition can significantly impair memory.
Include fish oil in your diet every day, through supplements if necessary. Low levels of omega-3 could be the cause of your poor memory. Boost your diet with pills or tablet supplements containing Omega 3.
Connecting things that you need to memorize, with humorous images or words can help you remember the information when needed. If you use a little humor, the information will entertain you more, and it’ll be much simpler for you to remember it later on.
Use visualization to jog your memory and help with remembering the ideas and thoughts that are important to you. Professional educators are well aware of that fact. Consider, for example, the frequent inclusion of illustrations and charts in textbooks. These are included to help the student visualize the information being presented. Memorizing can also become easier by drawing your own graphs and other memory aids.
Teaching others goes a long way in helping improve your memory. As an example, if you talk about a beloved story, you will be more able to remember it more clearly. This also allows you to properly encode the memory into your brain, making it much easier to call upon when needed.
Speak out loud as often as possible (without embarrassing yourself!) Anytime you learn a new name, repeat it verbally. When you repeat new information loud enough for your brain to get the information again, it will help to cement it in your brain for retrieval at a later time. You can say it loudly, when you are alone. If you don’t really care what people think, you can still repeat it in front of others.
Healthy Fats
Feed your brain with the food it needs to stay focused so that you see improvements in your memory. Healthy fats are important for brain health. Avoid trans fats, and instead focus on sources of healthy fats such as fish, nuts, and flax seed and olive oils.
To better your memory, try listening to classical music if possible. Music that is soothing assists in relaxing the body and mind, which results in improved memory. Take a bath, or do something you enjoy while listening to this music.
Take daily fish oil supplements to enhance or maintain cognitive abilities. There is evidence to suggest that the omega-3 fatty acids that are naturally abundant in fish oil can boost memory. Ask your doctor how much you should take based on your diet and body type.
Make your own outline to assist you as you study, as it can help you to retain the information you want to learn. If you keep the information organized into related parts, you will find it easier to remember. The outline does not need to be especially long or short, but just enough for you to grasp and recall easily.
Make yourself a memory tree. The trunk of the tree is the general subject. Focus on this first. The bits of detailed knowledge are like limbs extending from the tree trunk. The smaller details and examples represent the leaves to each branch. Organizing the relative importance of information can help you remember details better.
Healthy Mind
Strengthen your memory by doing regular exercise. A healthy body means a healthy mind, and a healthy mind can learn and remember information more easily. In addition, when you are exercising you will increase oxygen flow to the brain, and reduce your risk of developing a disorder. Exercise activates brain chemicals which assist in protecting brain cells.
This a great method for recalling things you have recently learned. If you need to remember something new, see if you can connect it to facts already in your knowledge base. Linking the new item to other items in your information network allows you to bootstrap recall by leveraging previously learned information.
Memory Loss
When considering aging friends or family members, memory loss is one of the first things that come to mind. This is an unfortunate symptom of age but part of the natural stages of life. There is hope, though, and memory loss does not have to be accepted as inevitable. The article below offers some simple and effective ways to do this.