5 Ways to Improve Your Memory
By
in
I think it’s frustrating when you’re being introduced to somebody and literally moments later you completely forget their name. I kind of have a problem with that, but the reason I think it’s so frustrating is because of all the sleepless nights trying to remember that person’s name. OK, maybe it’s not that bad but still. I like to keep my mind as sharp as possible on a day to day basis because it’s pretty nice to be able to remember stuff. Don’t worry if you have a bad memory because no matter how bad you think it is, there are plenty of ways to improve it! Below are just a few ways…(hopefully you remember them) 
1. Use mnemonics
Do you want to impress someone who gives you a list of around ten things? I love using this technique because it’s quite easy and it is highly effective. Say you need to pick up a few things from the store for someone and they give you a list. What if you could just look it at for a short while, remember the items, then hand them the list and leave? It’s pretty cool.
Memorize this list:
- Bun
- Shoe
- Tree
- Floor
- Five
- Six
- Heaven
- Gate
- Swine
- Hen
You probably noticed that they rhyme with their corresponding number. This is a type of mnemonic. It’s a tool that helps you remember something. Mnemonics make it easier to hold things in your memory. Say you have these three things that you want to remember. A wrench, a banana, and a pencil. I know, three things are easy to remember, but this is just an example. You can expand the list yourself to practice this technique. So here’s what you do; picture item number one somehow interacting with the first mnemonic. For example, picture a sub sandwich bun with a wrench inside it, like a wrench sandwich. For the banana, picture your foot with your shoe on, slipping on a banana peel. Take the pencil and imagine it growing on a tree and you going to pick it when it’s “ripe.” Whenever you need to recall those items in the list later on, simply recite the mnemonics in your head and you will remember the corresponding interactions that you made up.? When you say “bun” you’ll picture your wrench sandwich, when you say “shoe” you’ll picture the shoe slipping on the peel and so forth. Try it with more items and get a little creative.
2. Use it or lose it
If you turn off your mind and decide not to use it very often, it will degrade over time and you will have less of a capacity to learn. That’s why it’s always good to exercise it. Your mind is not much different than your body when it comes to need to exercise it. Just like you need to exercise your body to stay in shape, you need to exercise your mind to keep it in shape as well.
Wake up just a tad earlier every morning, maybe five or ten minutes. Some people have an extra few minutes before they leave to work anyway, so use that time to do a quick crossword puzzle or even do a couple of simple math problems. Maybe find other memory games that you like and play those for a few minutes. Making it a habit will do wonders for your brain.
Take it a bit further and pick up a hobby that exercises your mind and is fun, like learning a musical instrument. While you are playing an instrument or studying music you use the same part of your brain that you use to do math problems. So you’re improving your memory by playing an instrument.
3. Socialize
Being more social increases your mood. When you’re out with friends you forget your problems for a while, which reduces your stress level, and you’re having a good time. When you’re stressed out and focus on the problems in your life, you are actually doing bad things for your memory. High stress leads to memory loss later in life. So whenever a friend calls you up to hang out, go and hang out! If you haven’t hung out with friends in a while, pick up the phone and make the call! Just try doing things that will keep your stress levels as low as possible.
4. Keep organized
I consider myself an organized person. I like to keep things in folders and stack up my papers nice and neat. I like to keep my desk area at work and at home as clean and clear as possible. This makes me feel like my mind is clear so that I have room to remember. I’m sure you’ve heard “a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind.” This is true because your mind is sort of a reflection of your environment.Keep things fairly neat and you will improve your memory!
I also like to write things down and use a calendar. When you write things down you forget less. Keep and use a to-do list and make sure to keep up with it. Cross things off when you get done with them. This not only gives you a sense of accomplishment, but it also feels like that’s one less thing on your mind, which means more room to remember things and improve your memory.
5. Focus on one thing at a time
It’s very difficult for us to focus on one thing at a time because of how busy and hectic our lives are. We feel like we have to get so many things done in the shortest time possible. But when you can, focus on one thing at a time. If you try to focus on one that you’re trying to remember, you’re a lot less likely to forget it later. Focusing on one things also clears your mind of clutter and makes your mind more effective.
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You are what you think, and remember. Improving your memory requires a bit of work, but there are very many ways to exercise and use your mind. We all use so little of our minds, but imagine the things you could accomplish if you use your mind to its potential. So take a little extra time every day and focus on improving your memory. You’d be surprise at the things your mind can do.
