Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Boost Your Memory With These Great Tips

Memory loss is a very common cognitive problem among the aging population. It can be very difficult to deal with this problem, both for the elderly and their loved ones. This article contains some helpful tips to deal with memory loss, whether it's you or a family member who is affected.

Association can be a powerful memory aid. An effective method to use is a mnemonic device. Mnemonic devices help you remember ideas by word association. You have a greater chance of remembering something if you associate a term or an item with something that you're familiar with. The most popular mnemonic devices are melodies, jokes or rhymes.

Attempt to create and maintain many different relationships in order to reduce your chances of getting illnesses associated with memory loss. It has become apparent through scientific study that socializing with friends and family often helps keep the memory functions of the brain running smoothly.

A really good way to give your memory a boost is to study something new. When you learn new things, you encourage your brain to create new pathways which keep all of your memories interconnected.

One of the best ways to improve memory function is to make sure that you're getting the proper amount of sleep. Whether you are struggling with memory lapses in the short term or longer term, sleep can make a big difference. A tired mind has greater trouble recalling facts and figures. Just get additional sleep at night and watch your memory improve.

You can improve your memory through games designed to simulate your brain. This concept is much like the way athletes exercise to keep their muscles in shape. Giving your brain exercise really helps it become much stronger, improving memory retention, focus, and concentration. Try brain teasers, crosswords and word searches, for instance.

If you allow yourself to create and abide by a daily schedule that breaks down your task, it will be easier to retain new information. Studying on a schedule will allow you proper time to thoroughly absorb the information you're learning. It has been proven that people who utilize this studying technique will more successfully remember the information compared to others who attempt to absorb all of the information in one quick session.

If you have a hard time remembering peoples' names when you first meet them, associate them with a person you already know that has the same name. You may also do this with a famous person. When you make a connection with a familiar name and a new face, you can more easily remember the name by associating the two.

To keep your mind at its prime, regularly exercise it. Challenge your brain often to keep it and your memory fully engaged. Switching up your routine from time to time helps fight against brain atrophy. Take a different route when driving home, or learn to play a new musical instrument. Using your mind as often as possible will really enhance your memory.

If you want to improve your memory, playing memory games is a great way to stay sharp. A lot of games are both fun and good for your memory skills. These types of games also have the added benefit of improving concentration and focus. There are many fun-to-play memory games available for free online.

Organize your life with memory aids, such as calendars, schedules and to-do lists. Get yourself a daily planner and write down key information. Make a schedule and look at it often. Having these things written, and referring to them, will help your brain. You don't always have to depend on your memory for everything and your planner will reduce the stress about important dates and times.

Stress reduces your ability to remember where things are or retain new information. Whether you are learning something new or are attempting to recall where you have put something, relax. Give your mind the time it needs to remember what is needed rather than stressing further.

Minimize the amount of coffee you drink. The caffeine in coffee can make you dehydrated. Dehydration will cause fatigue, making it difficult to function fully due to the brain's dependence on water. As your brain is so dependent on water, dehydration negatively affects your memory.

When thinking of an older friend or relative, the first thing that usually comes to mind is memory issues. While it can be both unfortunate and heartbreaking, it is also a natural occurrence. Fortunately, this loss of cognitive perception can occasionally be prevented or slowed down. Hopefully, the information that you read in this article provided you with some great tips on how to deal with memory loss.

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