Helpful Tricks to Improve Your Memory
All of us forget things from time to time. As we grow older, some of us become more forgetful, making it difficult to recall information, such as where you left your keys, and it might take longer to learn something new. These changes as we age are symptoms of mild forgetfulness and are not signs that you have a serious memory problem.
The good news is that there are many things you can do to help your memory stay sharp and mentally keep you on your toes. Try some of the tricks below to help assist your memory:
Keep your mind active. Just like physical activity helps your body stay in shape, mental activity keeps your mind alert and able and may help prevent forgetfulness and memory loss. Read a book or newspaper, do crossword puzzles, play games like card games or Scrabble, or even watch trivia shows, like Jeopardy, on TV.
Get organized. Memory tools, such as big calendars, personal planners, to-do lists, and notes with reminders to yourself help us keep all of the information we need to know handy so that we can reference them when we need to.
Concentrate and focus. Too many distractions make it even more difficult for us to remember the things we want to. If you’re studying or reading a book, for example, be sure to do it in a quiet place where you can really focus on the information. This way, when you try to recall the information you’ve read, you won’t be confused with any of the other distractions you were experiencing at the time you were reading.
Keep personal items in the same spot every day. Things that you use frequently, such as your wallet, purse, keys, glasses, and other personal items should be placed in the same location every day so you know where to find them when you need them.
Visualize information. If you’re heading to the grocery store to stock your refrigerator, the best thing to do is to make a list. If you only need a couple of items, however, you might be able to skip the list by visualizing yourself in the store picking up the items you need one by one and placing them in your basket. When you actually get to the store, you might be more likely to remember what you need because you have a visual aid of yourself purchasing the items in your memory.
Repeat a person’s name when you meet them. If you have trouble remembering names, try repeating the person’s name after you’re introduced. For example, if the other person says, “Hi, I’m Peter. It’s nice to meet you,” respond by saying “Hi Peter. It’s nice to meet you, as well,” and you are more likely to remember Peter’s name later on.
Break up information into chunks. If you have a long grocery list, for example, try thinking about the items you need in terms of the different sections they’re located in at the grocery store instead of trying to remember the whole list. We often do this with phone numbers, dialing the number in three sets of smaller numbers instead of the 10-digit number all at once.
Create visual cues in your environment. Much like post-it notes remind us to do something, setting up visual cues in your house or at work can serve as reminders as well. For example, place items you need to bring somewhere by the door so you don’t forget them when you leave. If your dog has an appointment with the vet, hang the dog's leash on the door knob so you won’t forget about the appointment.
Practice, rehearse and repeat. The more you use the information you know, the more likely you are able to retain and recall it. Otherwise, we face the familiar dilemma of “use it or lose it.” If you’re giving an important speech, be sure to rehearse it as many times as you need to beforehand so that you feel comfortable. Also, repeating something you’ve learned to someone else makes you much more likely to remember the information.