Memory loss or impairment does not have to be something that you have to accept. There are steps you can take to fight it. You can use many effective methods that will maintain and increase your memory skills. Here are some great ideas.
You can improve your memory by playing brain-challenging games. This works in the same way as exercising to keep your body in good shape. Your memory will increase and your brain will be stronger with regular exercise. Examples of good games that boost your memory are crosswords puzzles, brain teasers and word searches.
If you need to commit a set of facts to memory, try studying that information in many different environments. You don’t want to limit yourself to associating certain information with certain areas. Instead, you want to keep your brain fresh. This means that when you learn information from several different locations, it’s more likely to stick to your long-term memory.
If you want to form lasting memories in the brain, try thinking of mnemonic devices to help you remember things. Mnemonic devices are used for memory in a way similar to how shorthand writing is a useful device for taking dictation. You take a bit of information and pair it with an everyday item or word, which creates a correlation that helps you better remember the information.
Stress Levels
Your brain is like a muscle; you have to work it out to keep your memory sharp. Research has documented that puzzle playing wards off senility.
Stop focusing on the negatives and your memory will become faster and clearer. 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. Your doctor may be able to recommend relaxation techniques to improve your stress levels and outlook.
If you’re trying to remember something, associate it with a funny image, song or phrase. Humor makes learning more fun and you will find it is easier to remember things later.
Play some memory skill games to hone your memory. You can find plenty of memory games via the Internet, at most stores, and even in some newspapers and magazines. Such exercises sharpen concentration as well as memory. Search online to find websites that provide free memory games that you can play on your computer.
When you learn something new, link that information with something you already know. When you build ties between new and old information, it will help you retain the new information in your memory. Plus, when you do this, you also speed up your ability to remember things as well.
If you need to be able to recall and remember something, try incorporating it into a humorous song, image or mnemonic phrase. Adding a silly twist to memory exercises makes it easier for your brain to store important facts and figures.
Improved memory is just one of the many benefits of regular exercise. Just a small amount of exercise every day can be beneficial.
A helpful tip to boost the information in your memory is by visualizing the concept that you desire to recall and memorize. If you want to remember information you are learning about in a textbook, use photographs or charts as visual stimulus for committing it all to memory. Memorizing can also become easier by drawing your own graphs and other memory aids.
Not matter what age you are, you should always stretch your mind and learn new things. If you aren’t learning new things, you’re not using an essential part of your brain that will help strengthen your memory. So, you may find it is difficult the next time you need to remember something.
Memory Loss
Maintain healthy relationships to help prevent memory loss. Many studies show that being around people you love, for as little as a couple of hours per week, helps you to keep the area of your brain which helps you to recall memories, strong and healthy.
As a person gets older, one of the saddest things that can happen to them is memory loss. There are prescription medicines that can slow, but not halt, memory loss, particularly in patients with dementia.
You can help maintain or enhance cognitive abilities by taking a supplement of fish oil every day. The oils found in fish contain Omega 3 acids, an excellent tool for building your memory. Getting the right dosage is important, so consult you doctor prior to taking this supplement.
Try to exercise regularly to help your memory. You do not have to spend hours working out, a few minutes of activity should be enough.
If you have trouble remembering names, try associating the person you have just met with someone you are acquainted with who has the same name. The mental connection can be with a famous person, not just someone you know personally. Associating an unfamiliar face with a familiar name will make it easier for your brain to make the connection between the two.
Don’t overload yourself with too much information at one time. If committing something to memory is essential, take the time to establish planned sessions in which to study. It’s best not to try and learn everything at once. Your mind won’t be able to keep track of everything, and before long, you’ll forget the things you worked to learn. Sit down for regular short sessions to allow your brain to get used to studying.
One way to get the most out of studying is to free yourself from distractions. Pick a quiet area for study. You have to get the information from your short-term memory and into your long-term memory instead if you wish to recall it at a later time. The only way to do this is to focus on it hard enough and long enough.
Learning shouldn’t be limited to school or college; it’s a lifelong process. If you do not acquire new knowledge, the memory-storing part of your brain isn’t stimulated. So, if a time comes that you are required to remember new things, you may find that it is much harder to do so.
Make an outline so you can remember the important points of the study material. By putting the material in related sections, you have a greater chance of being able to recall it at a later date. You do not have to specifically make a long outline, really any kind of grouping system will work.
Losing memory capacity doesn’t have to be a sure thing. Try some of the advice given above and you may find yourself with a better memory than ever.
Remember important information with the use of mnemonic devices. With this technique, you must pair something you’ll be forced to remember along with something you already know extremely well. Mnemonic devices are often songs, jokes and rhymes and make memorizing information fun. They can also cut down on frustration that studying may cause.