A decline in cognitive abilities, commonly known as memory loss, is typical in elderly people. The condition can cause a lot of emotional upset for the sufferer and their friends and family. This article contains some helpful tips to deal with memory loss, whether it’s you or a family member who is affected.
One excellent and fun way to help improve your memory retention is to play games that are designed to provide a challenge. It’s similar to how exercise keeps your body in shape. Regular mental exercise can result in improved memory and the increased ability to concentrate and focus. Some great games for your brain are brain teasers, crossword puzzles, and word searches.
Sticky Notes
Use sticky notes if you find yourself forgetting about your tasks. Place them in locations you will look at all the time like next to the computer or your phone. These sticky notes can jog your memory.
To improve your memory, get rid of negative or unpleasant thoughts. Research has shown that people who regularly experience negative thoughts are subject to more stress, which can also lead to poor memory skills. Consult with a physician to find healthy methods of stress relief.
One of the most beneficial things you can do for your memory is exercising. The increased blood and oxygen flow to your brain will help to keep your brain healthy. Memory occurs in the brain, and keeping your body healthy keeps your brain healthy, so keeping your body healthy will help your memory. Exercise has the added advantage of lowering your risk of diseases, like diabetes, which impair memory as a secondary effect.
Try to get plenty of good sleep. Getting enough sleep at night can greatly impact your long and short-term memory. The more tired your brain is, the harder it will be to commit anything to memory. Get a full nights rest every night and try not to interrupt your sleep routine.
Study in a new place, or redecorate your study area to help you remember what you’re studying. Changing the environment in which you are studying will often refresh your mind, and makes it easier to remember things for the long-term. Brain cells record new environments or circumstances which brings them to life, thus, enabling the absorbtion of new thoughts.
If there is something you must recall at a later time, attempt to associate the thought with a funny phrase, melody or visual imagery. Jokes and humor make things easier to remember in your mind, as the area reserved for humor in the brain is the same area used for learning.
When mastering new information, connect it with something you already know and can access easily. For instance, your birthplace or your mother’s maiden name. Synthesizing these related thoughts together will greatly increase your ability to file new bits of information into your memory. These exercises also make it faster and easier to create new memories.
Memory Loss
Memory loss is something that we assume is a common occurrence among our aging relatives or friends. Although it may be frustrating and difficult to cope with, there are many others who have been in the same exact place. That said, there are things you can do to slow your own memory loss. The above article gave crucial tips for anyone looking to end memory loss.
