Improving Your Memory

Do you ever feel like your memory is a little…shaky? As a parent, you rely on your memory for lots of things: what your kids said five minutes ago, where you left your keys, and whether or not you actually turned off the oven (hint: you probably didn’t). We’ve all had those moments where we worry that our memories just aren’t what they used to be. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Memory loss is a natural part of the aging process, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to improve your memory! In this blog post, we will discuss scientifically proven ways to improve your memory and remember things better.

We all know people who have an incredible memory, and I am sure you have met someone with a photographic memory. These people have such a great capacity to remember everything they learn, hear or read. Other people have a hard time remembering a name they heard 10 seconds ago. The human brain is amazing, and at the same time, it is such a mystery. The use of our brain is essential, and we spend a great deal of time and money trying to figure out the brain.

In fact, between dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and autism, we (as a society) are constantly trying to make sense of the brain! But, we will just focus on scientifically proven ways to remember better.

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Scientifically Proven Ways to Remember Better

Short Term VS Long Term Memory

First, let’s define the difference between short-term and long-term memory.

Short-term memory is the being able to hold a small amount of information for a short time. For example, someone tells you a phone number, and you remember it long enough to get a pen and paper to write it down. Usually, short-term memory means your hold onto a piece of information for 15-30 seconds.

Long-term memory is a memory that is held indefinitely. For instance, your address or your family members’ names. Also, recalling a special event such as a graduation or wedding or your job skills are all examples of long-term memory. Usually, these memories are part of your life, and you retain that knowledge or memory until you die or develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Long-term memory is divided into recent and remote.

More About Scientifically Proven Ways to Remember Better

When we are talking about improving our memory, usually, we would like to improve our long-term memory. In other words, we want to know the best way to gather new information and remember it for the long term. Here are scientifically proven ways to remember better.

Lucid Dreaming Hypnosis

If you’re looking for a way to improve your memory that’s a little bit out of the box, why not try lucid dreaming hypnosis? Lucid dreaming is a state of consciousness where you are aware that you are dreaming. This can be an incredibly powerful tool for improving your memory, as it allows you to literally practice and rehearsal what you want to remember in your dreams!

Mnemonic Devices

A Mnemonic device is a tool that helps us store information by associating it with something easier to remember. For example, the acronym “ROY G BIV” is often used to help remember the order of the colors in a rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet). By remembering the first letter of each word, we can easily recall the information. There are many different types of mnemonic devices, so find one that works best for you and the information you’re trying to remember!

Repetition

One of the oldest and most effective memory tricks is also one of the simplest: repetition. When you repeatedly expose yourself to the information you’re trying to remember, it increases the likelihood that you will be able to recall it later on. So if there’s something important you need to remember, don’t be afraid to keep repeating it to yourself until it sinks in!

Visualization

Another great way to improve your memory is through visualization. When you try to picture the information you’re trying to remember, it can help trigger your memory and make it easier to recall later on. For example, if you’re trying to remember where you put your keys, visualize the last time you had them in your hand. Or, if you’re trying to remember a list of grocery items, visualize yourself putting them in your cart at the store.

Chunking

Chunking is a memory technique that involves taking smaller pieces of information and grouping them together into “chunks.” For example, instead of trying to remember a long string of numbers like 1234 5678 9012 3456, it would be much easier to take smaller chunks into groups like this: 1234-5678-9012-3456. This makes the information much easier for your brain to process and remember.

The Method of Loci

The Method of Loci is a memory technique that dates back to Ancient Greece. It involves associating the information you want to remember with different locations in a familiar place, like your home. So if you’re trying to remember a grocery list, you might picture each item in a different room of your house. This method works because it’s easier for our brains to remember images and locations than it is to remember abstract concepts.

This method is also called a memory palace or a mind palace. Loci is actually the Latin word for locations. The memory palace technique is known to help build a list for the grocery store and other types of lists.

The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management strategy that can also be used to improve your memory. It involves working on a task for 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break. This Break can be used to do something active like stretching or walking, which has been shown to improve cognitive function. The Pomodoro Technique is a great way to improve your focus and concentration, which will, in turn, help you remember information better.

Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to keep your memory working in tip-top shape. In fact, there are game shows that have the participants sleep-deprived before they actually perform tasks or answer questions. Watching these people perform tasks or answer questions almost seems like watching someone who is intoxicated.

Sleep deprivation results in slowed thinking, reduced attention span, mood changes, and poor memory. For better memory, get enough sleep.

Physical Activity

Exercise helps to boost your memory and thinking skills. Fitness is good for the brain. In fact, one workout can improve your recall. As we age, we fall victim to memory decline. Is this because we become less physically active? Include regular exercise and physical activity in your daily routine to improve the capacity of your brain!

Research has shown that participants who engage in a light-to-moderate activity such as walks have better episodic memory. This is the ability to remember details such as your first day of school or going to a friend’s house for the first time.

However, people who performed more intense workouts, such as running, have increased spatial memory. This means that if you are always losing your car keys, intense workouts may improve your ability to find them.

Check Your Diet

Foods can help improve your memory, and other foods can decrease your memory. Foods such as sugar, vegetable oils, sodas, fried foods, alcohol, and trans fats can all decrease your memory. While fresh fruits and vegetables may help your brain stay healthy. Other brain-healthy foods include fatty fish such as trout, salmon, and tuna, turmeric, dark chocolate, nuts, and eggs.

Having a healthy diet can help improve your memory.

Play Fun Memory Games

Do you remember playing memory games as a child? When of my favorite games was: I went to the store and bought an apple. The second person bought something with the letter B, and so on. But each player had to remember their items and all the previous items. This was a fun game to play, but the human brain has always done best when it is being used.

Therefore, playing memory games helps increase your memory. Also, working on jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, and other word and number games is said to help your memory. (Plus, they are just fun to play).

Learn New Words

Learning should never stop. As a society, we have equated learning with education. Instead, we need to be learning.

One scientifically proven way to remember better is to learn new information. Keep your brian working! Each year get a calendar with the word of the day or download a list of words and use a new word a day. Learning the meanings of words can improve your memory and boost your brain power. Words help the brain’s visual areas. But using the right memorization techniques is important. When learning new words, don’t just learn the meaning of the word.

Furthermore, learn the word’s origin and the root word (this will help you remember other words, too), and use the word in a sentence. Listen to the word said out loud (there are plenty of online videos for this – simply type in “pronunciation of ______” and you will find a video).

These are just a few of the many different techniques you can use to improve your memory and your brain health. So if you’re looking for ways to remember things better, give some of these a try!

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