There is an adage that teaches “you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.” However, the human brain has a fantastic ability to adapt and change at whatever age you are. It was believed that the brain function peaked during adulthood then gradually declined as we age, leading to memory lapses. Now it is known that the modern lifestyle contributes significantly to the cognitive decline. A poor diet, exposure to toxins, stress, lack of sleep and many little and ignored factors are some of the examples of an unhealthy lifestyle. The flip side also holds true in that a healthy lifestyle will support your brain health and can even encourage the brain to grow new neurons. A strong memory depends on the vitality and health of the brain. There are lots of tasks you can do to improve the strength of your mind, and therefore, your memory.
Adopt healthy eating diets and habits
The types of food that you eat and also the ones that you ignore play a crucial role in improving and maintaining memory. A diverse diet consisting mainly fruits, vegetables and healthy fats are essential and will do the brain a lot of good. Increase your Animal-based omega-3 fat intake and avoid sugar and carbohydrates.
Give your brain a workout
Regularly exercising your brain maintains its growth and can even spur development of new nerve connections that will help improve memory. Exercise encourages the brain to work at an optimum level by stimulating nerve cells to multiply, thus strengthening their interconnections and protecting them from damage. Memory, like muscular strength, requires you to exercise it for the best functioning. The more you use your brain, the better you’ll be able to process and grasp information. Challenge your brain with puzzles and games and try new challenging tasks that will make you flex your brain muscles.
Physical Exercises
Mental exercise is essential for brain health, but also so is physical activity. Exercising helps the brain to stay fit and sharp. It increases oxygen circulation to the brain and reduces risks for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes. Exercising reduces stress to both the body and brain. It also plays a significant role in growth and stimulating new neuronal connections.
Get adequate sleep
The number of minimum hours required to sleep varies depending on age and activity. Sleep impacts directly on learning and memory. Sleep is essential for memory consolidation, with the key memory-enhancing activity occurring during the deepest stages of sleep.
Avoid Stress
Stress is part of life and cannot always be avoided due to the world’s overwhelming demands. However, stress has severe effects on the brain and body. Chronic stress makes you emotional and forgetful as it kills brain cells. You can try stress-reducing activities such as exercise, relaxation and hobbies. These will reduce stress and help your brain to be sharper and increase your ability to remember things.
Stop multitasking
Multitasking is the ability to do a number of activities simultaneously. Multitasking slows you down, makes you prone to errors and more forgetful. If you are doing multiple things at the same time, the brain finds it difficult to choose which information to store and which to ignore.
Use of these supplements
Much has been made about the use of supplements to improve memory. And none is better than Nu Skin’s BioGinkgo. BioGinkgo is an extract from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba, and it helps to improve memory, concentration and overall circulation of blood to the brain, arms, and legs. It also reduces cases of absent mindedness. One tablet a day with a meal should do the trick and help you improve your memory.
Master and try out a new skill
Think of something new that you have always wanted to learn, say skating or playing the guitar or even speaking a different language. These activities stimulate the neurological system, counter the effects of stress, reduce the risks of dementia and enhance the brain’s health. They help improve your memory, so long as they keep you engaged and challenged.
Laugh
They say that laughter is the best medicine, and indeed, it is. A good laugh engages multiple regions in the brain and activates areas of the brain vital to learning, memory, and creativity. Hop on Netflix to find a comedy or read a good funny book and get chuckling.
Use mnemonic devices
Mnemonic devices are memory tools that help you to remember information and concepts. They help organize information into a format that is easier to remember, such as the use of acronyms, rhymes, visualization and breaking information into smaller chunks for easier remembrance.
If you are serious about improving memory and cognitive function, the above ten techniques will offer a cheap and easy-to-do solution.
Featured photo credit: Ed Gregory/Man Feeling Happy Outside via stokpic.com
The post 10 Ways to Help Boost Your Memory appeared first on Lifehack.
Source: Lifestyle
