Brain surgeons have discovered that we retain a memory of every sensory impression received in our lives. But as we age, we may have increasing difficulty in bringing these memories to the surface when we need them. We know the information is stored in our brain. Here are some tips to help tap into this reservoir.
For memory improvement, rid yourself of unpleasant or negative thoughts. People who entertain negative thoughts or undergo lots of stress will have a greater inability to remember things than people who are positive or are less stressed. Speak to your doctor for advice to relieve your stress.
Mnemonic devices can be a great way to help you memorize information. Mnemonics are simply a way to remember facts by associating them with some familiar image or word. For example, each element of a list could be associated with a flower that starts with the same letter, or you could turn the list into a memorable rhyme.
Try to avoid alcohol if you would like to improve your memory. It has been scientifically proven that alcohol kills the cells from the part of the brain that absorbs information. However, most research seems to prove that having one or two glasses of wine a day is okay for the memory.
A good tip to help improve your memory is to be more social. Studies have shown that our brains respond much better to socializing than if we were alone. People who socialize regularly will enjoy the benefit of a slower memory decline. Try being more social to improve your memory.
A great tip that can help you improve your memory is to seek help if you’re suffering from depression. Depression can do a number on your brain. It can make it hard for you to concentrate and remember things. Getting proper treatment can help you improve your memory.
When trying to commit a long list of information to memory, it is usually better to arrange the information in chunks or smaller units and categories to help make the information easier to remember. As an example, it is easier to remember a telephone number as three units of three, three, and four numbers rather than a long string of ten numbers. The same tactics work when remembering social security numbers and computer passwords.
A great way to help you improve your memory is to start taking alternative driving routes. Taking different routes will keep your mind active by keeping you guessing and alert. Keeping your mind active like this can go a long way in improving your ability to remember things.
Get enough sleep. Research has demonstrated that the amount of sleep you get is one factor that impacts memory. When you’re unable to concentrate, it’ll be hard for your mind to transfer the events of the present into your long-term memory.
Meditating is a good way to get rid of your stress and improve your memory skills. If you’d like to meditate, all you need to do is go to a quiet, relaxing place, paying attention to nothing but your breathing. For maximum results, you should try to meditate from 30 minutes to one full hour daily.
If you are a student studying for a test, it is important not to over study. Of course it is natural to want to remember information on the test, but by studying too much you are actually overworking your brain cells, which in turn could cause you to not remember anything.
For important things you have to remember on a certain day, use a pen and write the information on your hands. This is a technique that has been used for generations and it works because you know the information is on you at all times. Just make sure you do not wash your hands!
If you have a bad memory and you are on certain medications, you may want to get a pill organizer. This way, you will remember to take your medicine at the time you need to. Also, if you have forgotten whether you have taken your medication or not, you can always look at your pill organizer.
Try using mnemonic devices to aid in recall. A mnemonic is a way to remember information. One mnemonic is word association. Think of a word or phrase you are familiar with to remind yourself of the thing you wish to remember. Rhymes, songs, and humorous images make good mnemonics.
When you need to remember new information, relate it to what you already know. If you use proper memorization techniques, you should have what you already know memorized under a certain structure. Add the new information within the same structure if you can, or add new categories to your organization.
We hope these tips will be helpful to you when you go fishing for information in that great reservoir of memory. These are tips others have been able to put to use effectively. You may come up with some of your own. Here’s to a long life and a vivid memory!
