Improving memory is possible through adequate sleep, exercise, and a good diet. Minimizing distractions, reducing stress, and attaching meaning to information can also help. Medications can prevent or slow Alzheimer’s.
Many people believe that they only have bad memories and that there is little or nothing they can do to improve their sieve-like minds. This is actually not true. There are many ways to improve your memory, to enhance it and to compensate when your ability to remember seems inadequate. It should be noted that sudden memory loss, especially among the elderly, could indicate conditions such as Alzheimer’s and you should consult a doctor, as there are medications that can prevent or slow the onset of this condition.
If you simply want to improve your memory, there are three main things you need to improve brain function: adequate sleep, exercise, and a good diet. These are much cheaper than the many purported brain-enhancing tools on the market, some of which may work up to a point, others most of which aren’t worth their price. Any other type of device or strategy you use will be less effective without the big three.
Anyone who has ever had to stay up for a full 24 hours will likely notice that they quickly start forgetting things. In fact, a recent study of students preparing for tests suggested that those who regularly spend “all nights” before taking an exam generally have a lower grade point average than those who get adequate sleep before taking tests. where “adequate” is defined as at least eight hours per night. Some people may require more, up to nine or ten hours.
As far as exercise is concerned, aerobic exercises such as walking, cycling, swimming and dancing are usually the most beneficial. These improve your ability to remember by giving you more oxygen, and oxygen is what brain cells, as well as all cells in your body, thrive on. A good diet refers to eating foods rich in antioxidants, getting plenty of fiber, sticking to healthy sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and making sure your blood sugar stays stable.
To help kids in school, skip the cold cereal or toasted pastries in the morning and consider serving protein instead. Eggs and toast, for example, can improve not only your memory but also your ability to concentrate in class. Yogurt smoothies made with soy or whey protein can also give kids and adults that extra boost to keep their minds at their peak.
Once you learn the three basics, there are other things that can help. It can help minimize distractions while working or studying. Soft music to drown out background noise can be helpful: think classical and not rock. Reducing your stress levels is also very important, as when you are stressed, you won’t remember as much or as well. Many suggest meditation both to focus the mind and to reduce overall stress; prayer can work equally well.
When you’re trying to memorize things like phone numbers, math formulas, and the like, these can be very difficult. The best methods include making sense of them. For example, a phone number might contain numbers that have special meaning, like your date of birth, a special anniversary, or something similar, or they might have sequential numbers. Spend some time attaching meaning to the number in whatever way works for you, and repeat the number verbally and write it down many times to help you remember it.
Anything can be remembered better when meaning has been attached to it. If you’re having trouble with names, try making up little rhymes about people you’ve met. Jot down a few notes about their physical description or associate a name with someone you’ve known in the past. If you happen to forget, ask again and keep trying to keep that name in focus.
While your brain isn’t a muscle, it often functions like one. You have to keep using it, stretching it and testing it to keep your memory sharp. Give yourself tests and challenges, such as memorizing short poems and information. Keeping nightly diaries that catalog the day’s events can also help you remember the day and keep your mental abilities at their peak.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
