If you’re finding that your mind doesn’t work quite the way it used to, you’re not alone. As we age, keeping our minds sharp and our memory strong requires a bit more effort than before. But, keeping your memory strong and your brain sharp is important to staying healthy and strong in body and mind as we get older. Following are seven things you can do to help keep your mind and short term memory in top shape.
1. Exercise – Exercise improves your overall circulation, which means that the circulation to your brain is improved, too. When brain circulation is improved, mental cognition and memory improve.
2. Play mind games – Crossword puzzles, chess and card games can improve your memory and mental alertness. There are also some computer games designed specifically to improve memory. Learning a new skill, like a new language is also a great way to stimulate your brain, improving its overall function.
3. Get enough sleep – When you’re sleep deprived your memory fails, so it’s important to get the right amount of sleep each and every night. Most people need seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
4. Eat right – Science has proven that certain foods can improve your memory. These include many fruits and vegetables that are high in anti-oxidants, which are great for your overall health, too. Some of the best foods to choose are cantaloupe, blueberries, asparagus, black currants, kale and sweet potatoes. You should also include fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, like sardines and salmon. Many people note that they can see a marked improvement in short term memory by simply increasing their intake of oily fish to 3 times per week.
5. Make a conscious effort – Often we don’t remember things because we aren’t trying to remember them. For example, if you have trouble remembering people’s names, make it a point to concentrate on a person’s name at first meeting. Repeat it back to them two or three times during your first conversation and, if possible, associate their name with something familiar, such as someone else you know with the same first or last name.
6. Practice memorizing things – Force yourself to memorize something, like the periodic table of the elements, or a very long poem. The more you practice, the better your memory will become.
7. Practice yoga or meditation – Research has shown that people who are able to relax and clear their minds through mediation or yoga actually have better memories. It has been shown that regular meditation thickens the cerebral cortex of the brain, increasing blood flow to this region. This is believed to improve memory.
As you can see, these tips are fairly simple and can be used by anyone who wants to improve their memory and mental cognition. If you practice these suggestions regularly, you should see an improvement in your short term memory within just a few weeks, and your memory should continue to improve if you keep up the techniques.
Phyllis Zerkle is a blogger and enjoys writing about medical career topics, such as how to
become an x-ray technician, job and education tips, and more.