Our memory greatly effects the relationships that we have throughout our lives. Not everyone has a physical memory loss problem to blame. Continue reading this article to find some tips which will help you rebuild your memory and keep it healthy long into the future.
Brain teasers and puzzles are entertaining and effective tools for sharpening your memory and challenging your brain. The concept is similar to the way you exercise to keep your muscles in shape. Exercising your brain regularly helps it to become stronger, which will improve your focus, concentration and memory. Some of the best games for boosting memory include crossword puzzles, word searches and brain teasers.
If this applies to you, try taking a short break from your work or studies once an hour to give your brain a chance to recharge. You will go back to work better able to retain the information you are working on.
Mnemonic Devices
If you want to form lasting memories in the brain, try thinking of mnemonic devices to help you remember things. Mnemonic devices are prompts that aid you in remembering something, just as shorthand aids a writer. You relate an idea with something common, giving you an easy way to remember it.
You want to study all the information you’re trying to learn in different areas, at different times, as much as you can. When you study in one spot, the knowledge can be thought to be location specific to your brain. Mixing the geography makes it more general and a part of you. Simply put, learning things in different locations makes it much easier for your brain to convert information into long-term memories.
Give your full attention to what is happening around you. While you may think you are paying attention, your mind may be wandering and not absorbing information efficiently. Stay relaxed and focused to absorb information more efficiently. Maintain your attention and mentally review what you are learning.
If it is hard for you to remember the things that you need to do, don’t be ashamed to use sticky notes. Put them in places that you know you will frequently look at, such as next to your computer or cell phone. You’ll find that these notes will keep you on track and help you remember tasks and appointments.
To make your memory better, stop thinking about negative and unpleasant things. Research clearly shows that high stress levels are detrimental to memory retention. Negative thoughts have also been shown to interfere with the memory building processes of the brain. Try to talk with your doctor about relieving the tension in your life.
Memory Games
Memory games are a fun way to sharpen up your mind skills. There are memory games out there that can be fun and can help you remember things better. In addition to aiding your memory, these games also boost concentration and attention skills. There are even ways to get games on the Internet at no cost that will improve your memory.
Social activity is critical for optimizing your memory. This will help keep your mind alert and focused, and your spirits lifted. When you feel depressed or lonely, your mind lacks stimulation and brain cells become dormant. Engage in interesting conversations with those around you to keep your mind stimulated.
If you have trouble memorizing information, try making a mental picture of things you want to commit to memory. When studying for a class, for instance, pay special attention to the charts and graphs in the textbook. Also look at the photographs. A great way to get visual aids is to actually draw up your graphs, charts and other images to help you remember.
Teaching others is a great way to keep your memory sharp. For instance, if you have trouble recalling a story about swimming with your grandchild, try telling more people about it. This way, you can, and will, reinforce this in your mind, and make it far more difficult to forget.
Remember that you are a lifelong learner, even after you are officially done with school. If you fail to acquire new types of knowledge, the portion of your brain that governs memory may begin to atrophy. There may be a point in time when you try to rely on your memory, only to find that it is failing you.
Restful and regular sleep is essential to a good memory. There is scientific data that suggests that adequate sleep is required to retain information learned during the day. Not being able to concentrate will lead to trouble adding current events to your long-term memory.
Term Memory
To make your memory better, rehearse or connect what you are trying to remember with what you already know. By associating your new information in short term memory to already acquired information in long term memory, you give it an anchor and help it to become embedded in your brain.
By being consistent with your studying sessions, you can greatly improve the power of your memory. This will buy you some time, and give you an opportunity to store the information. Research has shown that people who have used this method will be able to remember things more easily than those who have crammed this information.
While studying, craft an outline to make it easier to remember what you are studying. Organizing relevant information makes it more accessible, and you will find that it is easier to recall details afterwards. The outline doesn’t necessarily have to be long, because any type of grouping system is going to be helpful.
Thousands of people swear by mnemonic devices as a means of improving memory. To use this technique, pair something you know with the information that you are trying to remember. Mnemonic devices are fun, and they often use jokes, rhymes or songs to help improve your memory and take frustration out of the studying process.
It seems silly to worry about forgetting dates like birthdays or anniversaries, until you do start to forget them. This could be the beginning of memory loss. Use the tips above to keep your memory from slipping away.