Increasing Memory Power

Memory is an important function of our everyday life. We are taught that as we get older our memory power lessens, and forgetfulness sets in. What do you do in order to keep your memory in tip top shape? Read below for the best tips I have come across.

Pay Attention.

You need to pay the utmost attention when you are learning something new. How can you remember something you haven't learned yet? Make sure you listen intently to the teacher/speaker and repeat important points in your head a few times.

Discover your own Learning Style and stick with it.

Some people are much better visual learners. That is they learn better by seeing what they need to know by reading textbooks or otherwise. Other people are auditory learners who learn and remember much better by hearing what they need to know. It is sometimes beneficial for auditory learners to record something and listen to it again and again.

Involve as many senses as possible.

Try to relate information to colors, smells, tastes and textures. Sometimes you can train your brain to remember something by re-writing it down on paper again and again. If you are a visual learner you can read it out loud to yourself repeatedly to make it stick.

Use Organizers and Date Books

A good idea if you want to go this route, is to invest in a palm pilot (if you can afford to). These things are compact and hold a ton of information. You can put anything you need to remember in a Palm Pilot and have it alarm you at specific times. If you do not want to get that high tech, invest in a day planner that has the each day broken down hourly. That way you can write down everything you need to remember and the times it needs to be done. The only drawback to a date planner is you need to remember to check it all the time.

Understand and interpret complex information in your own words

For more detailed information, try focusing on the basic ideas instead of memorizing isolated details. Try and put it in your own words. As if you were telling someone else. We often have more difficulty remembering the words that we don't use regularly.

Maintain a positive attitude.

Keep telling yourself that you want to learn what you need to remember and that you can learn and remember it. Don't get down on yourself about having a bad memory. This may actually hamper the ability to remember. Giving yourself positive mental feedback will increase your desire to remember.

Healthy Habits that can help increase memory

Get regular exercise. By excercising regularly, you are getting more oxygen to your brain, and reducing the risk of diseases that cause memory loss, such as diabetes and heart diesese.

Learn how to manage stress effectively. Stress can make it difficult to concentrate, as well as damage the area of the brain called the Hippocampus.

Practice good sleep habits. Sleep is what our brain and body needs to refuel. Maintain a regular sleep schedule and practice relaxtion techniques to help you get to sleep. Insomnia or sleep apnea cause tiredness and therefore lack of concentration.

Stop Smoking. Smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict, causing less oxygen to reach the brain.

Most people can improve their memory drastically by making a few minor changes in their lifestyle. Its worth giving a try to say goodbye to forgetfulness!