Do you ever feel like you’re struggling to remember things? You’re not alone. Memory skills tend to decline with age, but there are things we can do to improve memory and keep our brains healthy. Let’s discuss a few tips and tools for better memory!
Exercise Your Brain
Like the rest of your body, your brain needs exercise to stay healthy and active. Challenging your mind with mentally stimulating activities can help improve memory, focus, and problem-solving skills. Games such as word puzzles, crosswords, Sudoku, brain-training mobile apps, and even the classic Memory game can offer mental stimulation and improve memory skills.
Learn a New Skill
When you learn a new skill or start a new hobby, your brain is being challenged and working hard to retain new information. This process can help with memory formation and recall. There are infinite options for what you can learn! Choose something you’re interested in, whether it’s learning to play a musical instrument, mastering another language, joining a dance class, learning to code, taking a photography course, or playing chess.
Use Organization Tools
Organization tools such as to-do lists, calendars, planners, and reminders can help you keep track of information and improve memory recall. If you tend to be forgetful, try writing things down or setting alerts on your phone to remind you of important tasks or appointments.
Get Better Sleep
Believe it or not, one of the best ways to retain and improve memory is to get better sleep. When we sleep, our brains consolidate memories and store them for long-term recall. Lack of sleep or restless sleep can affect our ability to form new memories and/or retrieve old ones efficiently.
Exercise Your Body
Physical exercise is beneficial for your whole body—including your brain. Regular exercise has been shown to improve brain health and memory by increasing blood flow and encouraging neuron growth. Even 15 minutes of walking can help improve brain function!
Try Mnemonic Devices
Mnemonic devices are memory tools that help you remember things by associating them with a word, phrase, acronym, or picture. One classic example is the acronym “ROYGBIV,” which stands for the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Another example is the phrase, “Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally” (or “PEMDAS”), which is a way to remember the mathematical order of operations: parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction.
There are many things we can do to improve memory and keep our brains active. Which of these tips are you most likely to try?