Everyone sometimes has gaps in their memories, from time to time. Where are your glasses? You could have sworn you put them at the counter. Here are some simple steps that will help keep our brains sharp and help to preserve memory.
Eat Healthily
Eating a healthy diet is always good for your brain. Improve your memory function with a nutritious diet. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, fish, whole grains and legumes, healthy fats, and herbs or seeds can help to boost memory function.
Socialize
Card games and reading clubs also keep you socially active and are another plus for your brain. Social interactions help mood and thus help memory.
The more social connections someone has, the better they can maintain their mental function and memory.
Sleep Properly
Sleep is one of the most important factors in memory. Getting enough rest helps your brain process information that you’ve learned when you wake up, and sleeping after learning can help consolidate those memories, allowing them to be stored in your brain.
Although you may not be able to control the factors that interfere with sleep, you can develop habits that help improve sleep. Start with these simple tips.
- Create and follow a sleep schedule
- Avoid heavy meals before you sleep
- Set up a peaceful environment for resting
- Limit daytime naps
Reduce Stress
Being under stress is very bad for your brain. Cortisol, a high-level stress hormone, makes it difficult to extract information from the memory of the brain. Try different relaxation options such as meditation, yoga, and massage.
Check Your Medications
Many prescription and over-the-counter drugs can interfere with or cause memory loss. Possible medications include antihistamines, antidepressants, anxiolytics, sedatives, muscle relaxants, sleeping pills, and post-surgery painkillers.
Investigate and treat these problems and consult your doctor to check all medications.
Learn Memory Tips and Tricks
If you have a daily memory problem, it helps to know some tricks on your sleeves. Personally, every time I learn a new word or name, I say it out loud or associate it with something I already know to remember better.
For example, my new neighbor’s dog is called Winter. It is easier to remember Winter when I think of its soft, fluffy white fur that resembles the snow during Wintertime.
Stop Smoking
Smoking accelerates memory loss with age. If you are a habitual smoker, it can be tough to quit at first but the benefits you will reap are far more rewarding.
Smoking not only affects your memory due to small strokes it causes on the brain. Try nicotine replacement, dosing, or therapy to break these bad habits.
Start Exercising
Walking for 15 to 45 minutes every day is one of the best things for your body for your muscles and mind.
Stimulate Your Brain
Apart from physical exercise, it is good to engage your mind with mental exercises as well. For starters, you can play board games, do arts and crafts, or watch a soccer match with your friends. Mentally challenging activities, such as Sudoku puzzles, will help keep your mind in tip-top shape.
