Memory Aids That Will Really Work For You

Jul 18, 2012 by Tillyg93

A great tip for improving your memory is to associate something visual with the material you are trying to memorize. This is important because it is a well known way to recall information quickly and accurately. An example would be to color code flash cards into different categories.

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.

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.

When trying to memorize new information, take the time and effort to think about how this unfamiliar material relates to something that you already know and understand. By finding a relationship between new concepts and previously learned material, you will increase the likelihood of committing the new information to memory.

Memory is just like the muscles in your body, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. A way to keep your memory active is to change up your brain’s routine every so often. By doing the same activities over and over, you don’t give your memory a chance to learn something new. By doing this, you will eventually start to lose your memory. Work your memory out by doing different activities including brain-stimulating activities in order to get the most out of your memory.

One strategy to improve your memory that often gets overlooked is exercise. Research has shown that aerobic exercises (like running, bicycling, steps, etc) stimulate brain cell growth in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the area of the brain that is devoted to storing and recall of memory, so having more brain cells in this area helps to improve your overall ability to recall information.

A common trend today is something called “brain training” which is the equivalent of exercise for the brain. Give it a try to improve your ability to focus, remember, and solve problems. The three basics of brain training are memory, visualization and reasoning. Do things that practice those three concepts to improve your brain’s functioning.

Aid your memory by organizing facts into topic sets. Create outlines of study materials that are based on similar topics rather than when you originally learned that fact. Your brain remembers things better if they go together. By grouping similar concepts and topics together, you increase your chances of remembering those items later.

A great tip for improving your memory is to try reading the material out loud. This will incorporate multiple methods of memory storage at one time, and may be the best way for you. Be sure that you deeply involve yourself in the reading and emphasize certain key points with your voice.

If you are trying to remember a large list of items, try placing them in categories. For instance, if you are headed to the grocery store and have a number of items that you want to get while are there, mentally group them into categories such as meat, dairy, produce and grains. Breaking down big lists into smaller subcategories makes them far easier to remember.

It may sound silly, but one way to improve memory is to surround yourself with good friends, and to maintain an active social life. A Harvard study suggests that those who had active and fulfilling social lives, showed rates of cognitive decline significantly lower than their less socially active peers.

Memory has a tendency to become less efficient as you age. The process of aging causes a decrease in the number of cells (neurons) within the brain. Due to this change within the brain’s composition, it may take longer to learn new information. You can take proactive steps to minimize the effects this has on your memory processes. To help keep your memory keen, eat a healthy diet and maintain an active lifestyle. Staying socially and mentally active can also be helpful.

Getting plenty of exercise will help your memory. Exercise improves the blood flow throughout your body, including the brain. This can invigorate your mind and improve its ability to remember. Even a brief walk for ten minutes can increase your circulation. The fresh air wakes up the brain and keeps it alert, which improves its memory capacity.

Fish oil is the new memory fix. Omega-3 deficiencies are known to cause concentrating problems. Studies have shown that people with poor concentration and memories showed great improvement when taking fish oil supplements. If you or someone you know is having trouble with concentration, try fish oil and see if you see improvement.

In conclusion, you know that your memory is an extremely important function of your brain and you need to constantly train it in order to keep it at its peak performance. Use the advice provided in this article and you will find that your memory is operating at or near its peak.

Dante Mazzocco is known as a scholar concerning brain supplements