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Can You Remember?
Tips for Improving Your Memory!
As I get older, I tend to forget things more and more. Actually
my wife says I have always been forgetful!
I know I don’t really need to remember the name of my third
grade teacher, but it would be nice to know where I left my
keys. If you feel the same, like your memory is slipping away
from you, here are a few tips to help you remember.
Prevention is the best cure. If you’re starting to forget
things, you can take simple steps to kickstart your brain and
improve your memory. This can not only help you remember things
from days gone by, but also keep your from losing new
information you are feeding into it.
* Give your brain a workout. Your brain is just like your body;
to work properly, it needs regular exercise. Take a short time
every day to do a cross-word puzzle, play a quick game of
sudoku, or learn a new skill. Even many games, such as chess,
cards, etc will help you exercise your brain. It only takes a
few minutes, but it will make a world of difference.
* Stay in shape. Your brain is an organ just like any other.
If you keep yourself in good physical condition, it will help
improve brain function. You don’t need tons of exercise, a
daily walk is enough.
* Reduce your stress. Stress causes our bodies to produce more
cortisol which has been shown to impair your ability to
remember. Relax by taking baths or trying yoga. You should
also get plenty of rest; sleep deprivation also increases
cortisol levels.
* Get emotional. Hiding or obscuring your emotions takes
constant mental energy. If you express what you’re feeling, you
have more brain power available to devote to memory.
* Believe in yourself. If you doubt the fact you’ll remember
something, you’re more likely to forget it. Instead of
immediately thinking that you’re going to forget something, have
confidence that you’ll remember it.
These actions can help improve your overall memory capabilities,
but what about remembering things your need to know now? Here
are a few techniques you can use to keep yourself from
forgetting specific things.
* Pay attention. Most memory problems are caused by not paying
attention in the first place. Make a conscious effort to get
information into your head. Instead of just throwing your keys
down, tell yourself “I put my keys on the kitchen counter”
as
you do it.
* Make up a song. Close to 15 years ago, my teacher made us
memorize all the Presidents of the United States by singing
their names to the tune of “Ten Little Indians”. To this day,
I
can still recite every one. Try putting things you need to
remember to, like phone numbers to a tune you already know.
You’ll find it will make things a lot easier to remember.
* Connect what you don’t know to stuff you do. For example, use
your body to remember lists. Associate the first item to your
feet (I’m kicking my way through laundry detergent), then the
next item to your knee (cantaloupe is shaped like my knee) and
work your way up the body. Another method of this is by using
the first letters of things you need to remember to make a word
or sentence. For example: My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up
Naming Planets helps us remember Mercury Venus Earth Mars
Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto.
* Write a story. Find a way to connect things you need to
remember in your head. You can come up with a funny story, or
just make a picture in your head involving what you need to
remember. Remember, the more creative you are, the better
you’ll remember.
With just a few of these simple suggestions, you can have a
memory like an elephant - or at least keep your spouse off your
back for forgetting your anniversary!
Jack Zenert
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