Mindful Ways To Maintain Your Memory

March 19, 2020

There’s a lot to take in as you get older. Whether it’s looks or thinning, grey hair, it’s not nice when you don’t remember the image staring back at you in the mirror. Of course, it’s more than your appearance that has this effect. Your memory is one of the first things to go, yet it often lurks under the radar until it’s too late.


The inability to recall names and faces won’t only make you feel old - it will ruin your lifestyle. After all, losing your memory leads to stress, which intensifies negative emotions. And then you’ve got the link with Alzheimer’s, which is very scary. Your best bet is to ensure that your mind stays as sharp as ever, even if you don’t think you’re near the age where these things happen. Keep in mind that they can take place at any time, not only when you reach your golden years.


With that in mind, here are four memory hacks that you’ll never forget.


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Train Your Brain


Your brain is similar to a muscle in the sense that it atrophies. The process is heightened when it sits idle, doing nothing for long periods. Sure, it’s always hard at work behind the scenes, but there are levels to activity. The trick is to make sure that it’s taking part in things that are challenging, such as crossword puzzles, sudokus, and reading. Anything that increases brain volume is a winner in this regard.


Also, you can train your mind to remember stimuli. According to Memorials.com, this can be as easy as putting an urn on your mantelpiece, if you’re that way inclined. If you aren’t, alternatives include looking through old photos and linking dates and times with occasions. By doing this, the brain has assistance and doesn’t have to rely on small fragments that are pieced together.


Stimuli are memory joggers that get the wheels turning and encourage your mind to delve deep into its banks.


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Use All Of Your Senses


The senses are stimuli, but they are natural. There is no need for a photo album or an urn on the windowsill to kick your brain into action. Instead, breathe in and use your nose to take your back through the years. Health.harvard.edu quotes a study which proves people who use their sense of smell have better memories than those you can’t tap into it. This is because the piriform cortex is activated.


Your nose isn’t the only organ that is capable of helping you to remember events and periods. Everything from touch to sight to sight and hearing is a memory tool that you should try and exploit. The next time you’re struggling to recall a piece of information, try to picture where you were and what was happening. Can you hear the sound of the waves crashing on the beach? Is there a distinctive taste in the air?


The odds are you’ll remember more when you bring your senses into play.


Get Enough Sleep


A link between poor memory and a lack of sleep has been around for decades. And, it’s quite easy to spot if you can remember being tired. If you’re exhausted, you can’t be bothered doing anything, mental or physical. Therefore, attempting to encourage your mind to be productive is out of the question. This ncbi.nlm.nih.gov report backs up what you’ve known for a while.


How do you make sure that sleep is long and fulfilling? Going to bed with plenty of time to spare is an excellent start. You need at least seven hours, but it can take thirty minutes to one hour to drop off. Another option is to remove electricals as they interfere with your sleep, causing you to wake up more often.


The most basic hack is to swap blinds with curtains so that less light gets into your bedroom.


Repeat Information


Drilling the info into your brain will reduce the chances of you forgetting it in the future. Repeating information, while dull, is a fantastic tactic that works in the majority of situations. Say you meet a person for the first time, for instance, be sure to use their name in conversation to enhance the connection.


For those who don’t trust their memories, a trusty pen and paper combination never fails. All you need to do is to create an organized filing system for when you require the info the next time! 


How do you maintain your memory as you get older? Do you have any tricks you would like to share?

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