Losing your memory is not a sign of the natural aging process. Many seniors’ memories are as clear and vivid as any young persons. If you are a senior and are beginning to become overly forgetful it may be a medical condition rather than just getting older. This article will guide you towards figuring out whether it is something medical, or just normal forgetfulness.
Make sure that your diet has good sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. Most commonly found in fish, these fatty acids do a superb job of keeping your brain on its toes. Numerous studies have shown a positive benefit to the brain when the diet contains omega-3’s. Try adding pink salmon, walnuts and flax seed, so you can get this essential fat.
In order to improve your memory, try doing more aerobic exercise. Recent studies have shown that high intensity cardio workouts can actually help you grow more brain cells in your hippocampus, the portion of your brain responsible for memory. Some exercises that you may want to try include running, biking, kickboxing and swimming.
Try to get more quality sleep time. You may not know it, but the amount of sleep that you get can play a large role in your ability to retain information. If you feel tired, remembering anything will seem difficult. Sleep longer at night or get some naps to improve your memory.
When you need to learn something, practice it repeatedly. The more times you practice something, the better recall you will have. This is a way of coding something into the part of you brain that is responsible for long-term memory. If you do not practice, the new information will remain in short-term memory and will be easily forgotten.
Build consistent study times into your schedule. To build your long-term memory, you need to fight the urge to cram. Cramming information will place it in your short-term memory, and it will easily fall to the wayside once the information is used. To really commit something to your memory, develop daily sessions where you study it with real focus. Keep it consistent, and you will soon find the information is with you for the long haul!
If you have a large amount of information to commit to memory, a good strategy is to break the information down into many separate pieces. It is much easier to remember things in parts, than to remember them as a whole. As a simple example, when trying to memorize a standard United States phone number, you can memorize it as three separate parts consisting of area code, first three digits, and last four digits, as opposed to all ten digits together.
Pay attention when you want to memorize something. Clear your mind completely and focus on the subject and avoid outside distractions such as noises and images. Persons with focusing difficulties should find a silent, remote location to improve focusing and speeding up the memorization process. Use pleasant music to enhance your focusing.
When trying to remember something, incorporate as many of your senses as possible. The more sense you use when making a memory, the easier it will be to recall at a later date. You can see this process in action every time a familiar smell reminds you of something from your past.
A great technique to help you memorize new material is to read the information out loud. Research has shown that this simple act significantly improves the memory of this material. Research has also divulged that teaching a new concept to others will also increase understanding and recall of the information.
When you are trying to commit something to memory, it’s important to stay in the current moment as much as you possibly can. Try to avoid the urge to focus on the past or the future as you are learning. Make every effort to focus your attention on the material at hand, and you will retain it better.
A good tip that can help you improve your memory is to make sure that you’re keeping your stress levels in check. Too much stress has been shown to severely impair memory functions. Take some time to relax and unwind if you are looking to improve your memory.
You should always try to learn more new things. If you do not allow yourself to pick up new skills and knowledge, you are neglecting the area of your brain that is linked with memory. There may be a point in time when you try to rely on your memory, only to find that it is failing you.
Keep lists and write things down but do it in the appropriate place. Keep your addresses and phone numbers written down in a contact book, but keep your shopping list on a specific notepad on the fridge. The act of writing the list will help you remember those items, while knowing where the list is will keep you from forgetting that too!
If you have a list of words that you need to remember, try putting them in alphabetical order. Our society has already categorized many common items into alphabetical lists, so it is a pattern that your brain is familiar with. As a result, when you alphabetize a list of words, your brain recognizes the well-known familiar pattern and has an easier time recalling them at a later date.
As was stated in the beginning of this article, losing your memory is not a sign of the natural aging process. Everyone is forgetful from time to time which is perfectly normal. If it is becoming more than occasional, it may be a medical condition. Apply the advice from this article to help you explore which one it may be.
