5 Tips for Keeping Your Memory Sharp

Everyone forgets something now and then. Who hasn't misplaced their keys or accidentally forgotten to bring their lunch to work or school at least once? Common causes of forgetfulness in the average person include distraction, stress and lack of focus - all of which are extremely common in our society. Additionally, there are several types of memory loss that are completely normal such as simple absentmindedness due to lack of attention, blocking - when something is on the tip of your tongue, confusing key details, forgetting as time goes by and retrieval problems when new information bumps old information out of short term memory. There are also several causes for memory loss that are reversible which include head trauma or injury, certain medications, alcoholism, depression or mental health disorders, tumors and hypothyroidism. When the condition is treated and/or reversed, memory is restored. However, aging is one natural cause of memory loss that can't be reversed. The good news is there are several different ways you can help prevent memory loss associated with aging such as stress management, healthy diet, adequate sleep and regular physical exercise. Mental exercise is also an important factor. Try the following tips and techniques to exercise your brain and help keep your memory sharp:

1. Learn new things. Lifelong learning is associated with better mental functioning in old age. If you have a job that challenges you mentally, great! If not, consider volunteering for a project requiring a skill you wouldn't normally use. Fox River Nursing & Rehab Center recommends exercising your brain by taking a class, learning to play a musical instrument, playing games such as bridge or chess, reading, joining a book club or writing your memoir. Learning any new skill will help exercise your mind and keep your memory sharp.

2. Engage all your senses. According to Harvard Health Publications, studies revealed that involving more senses while learning something causes more of your brain to be involved in retaining the information. For instance, when shown an image paired with a pleasant scent, adults did a better job of recalling those images. To make this work for you, try a tactile hobby such as sculpting or spinning pottery. Alternatively, when trying a new dish, really think about the way the food smells and tastes, challenging yourself to guess the ingredients used.

3. Believe. Our beliefs shape our world. People who believe they can improve their memory actually perform better on memory tasks than those who feel negatively about memory and aging. Keeping your memory sharp can be as simple as believing you can.

4. Budget your brain use. If you can reduce the amount of mental energy required for routine tasks such as remembering where you put your keys, you can actually increase your focus in other areas that require more concentration such as learning new things or remembering important things. Make remembering the routine things easier by using organizational tools such as calendars, lists and planners to help with daily tasks and routine information. Always put items such as keys, wallets or purses in the same spot so you won't have to remember where you put them.

5. Repeat strategically. If you want to remember something you just read or heard, say it out loud or write it down. Ask for information to be repeated, if necessary. In order to help lock that information in, don't just repeat it once. Repeat the information every few hours and then every day. Spacing the repetition out over time helps improve recall.

About the Author: Beth A. Stevens is a contributing author and a memory game aficionado. She enjoys learning about memory from the professionals at Fox River Care Center.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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