Improving Your Memory
While occasionally forgetting where you left your car keys isn’t necessarily cause for concern, we could all take steps to keep our memories sharp. Especially us “middle” aged folks. So, here are 5 simple things anyone can do to keep those mental files organized.
First, use your brain! Train yourself to memorize the facts and figures that cross your desk everyday. You can also give yourself a good mental workout by doing some challenging word puzzles, the harder they push you the better. Also, because nobody should ever stop learning, if you’ve been thinking you’d like to learn a new language, take up an instrument or even go back to school, do it.
Next, exercise regularily. Any kind of physical work keeps the blood flowing to and through your brain, as well as through all those vital organs. Also, regular exercise helps you stay calmer under stress, and that relaxed state gives you a better chance of retaining strong memory functions.
Speaking of relaxation, you’ll want to figure out exactly what your greatest stressors are (everybody’s are potentially different), and then do what you can to reduce or eliminate them. Anything that keeps you agitated keeps you distracted, and you’re likely to have a harder time remembering anything other than what’s upset you.
A healthy, varied diet is also beneficial. A well nourished body just works better, and once again that includes your brain as well as the other organs. Berries of all types, spinach and brocolli are specifically recommended.
Lastly, try to maintain a well organized home and work space. “A place for everything” may be too much to consistently hope for, but you’ll stress yourself out less (thereby creating less memory blocks) if you know where your keys are in the first place.
Unfortunately, the loss of brain cells over time is a fact of life even without artificial assistance, and it certainly doesn’t get better as we age. But, everything we do to keep ourselves healthy and functioning properly should bless us with a healthy brain too.
