Age is frequently blamed for a failing memory but advancing years are not always the cause. Like a muscles, the brain needs a regular exercise or it will become flabby. So regular mental exercises will help. The next time you find yourself at a loss in the grocery store, consider the following:
Make an Effort.
If you need to remember something, take notes. Seeing something in writing will get your brain into gear.
Conjure up a clever mnemonic.
After all, we all remember “Never Ear Shredded Wheat” for the points of a compass. It also helps that this particular mnemonic has the added extra of rhyming, which is another excellent memory tool.
Use the link method.
This ingenious technique is perfect for remembering lists. The theory is that you link each item on the list to the next by way of story.
Think visually.
The majority of people remember things best with a visual picture. Create your own.
Have a good nights sleep.
Countless research has proven that if you are not well rested, your memory will be all over the place. Please see “The Amazing Benefits of Sleep” and “40 Amazing Facts about Sleep” to get insight on how important sleep is.
Repeat yourself.
Learning a subject parrot-fashion used to be the preferred teaching method in schools, and for good reason. Repetition ingrains on the brain.
Eat well.
Supplement your diet with ginko biloba, a traditional Chinese medicine extracted from the leaf of the ginko plant. And stay away from alcohol — to much booze will make your memory more holey than Swiss cheese.
