5 Proven Methods to Improve Memory

Unfortunately, when it comes to memory, as time goes on it begins to fade. We live in a world full of moments, and when we miss out on those moments, it’s like we were never there in the first place. While this may sound rather bleak, please let us be the first to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way.

That’s why, today, we’ll be taking a look at 5 proven ways to improve memory. Not only will we show you some pretty easy ways to boost that brain of yours, but we’ll also look at memory retention as well.

We’ll be going over a lot of information today, but everything is broken down into easy to read sections. These sections are:

• Get some more sleep
• Meditation
• Exercise
• Memory games
• Taking care of your body

Now that you know what’s in store, let’s dive right into 5 proven ways to improve memory.

1. Get Some More Sleep

For all of you tired people out there, you’re definitely going to want to pay very close attention. Now, while a lot of people ride the “sleep is for the weak” mentality, if you want to improve memory function sleep is going to be your best friend. This is due to the fact that sleep is your body’s way of rejuvenating itself from a long day.

The human body is designed to run on about 8 hours of sleep every single night, and while you may feel fine with only 6 hours, this is not exactly the case. This is due to the fact that sleep allows your body to recover, and during that recovery period your brain actually works to make short memories into well-remembered long-term memories. Sleep is great for almost everything, but cognitive function is improved greatly if you get adequate sleep.

Sleeping is something that everyone needs, and we doubt that you’ll be bothered by the fact that we’re telling you to grab some more quality sleep.

2. Meditation

Not a lot of people practice meditation, but after reading this section you might definitely want to give it a shot. At times meditation can seem silly, but when push comes to shove meditation provides quite a bit of mental rejuvenation. This is due to the fact that different types of mediation can actually lead to an increase in brain matter (gray matter to be exact), which contains the neurons you need for memory retention.

The reason that meditation can be so helpful, and why it’s able to aid in memory retention, is due to the fact that it can prevent your mind from losing the gray matter it needs. This is due to the fact that as we grow older gray matter in our brains begins to decline, but with mediation, this issue can be managed in a much easier way. So it might be time to turn on your favorite track and drift away. You don’t need to go too crazy, but 15 minutes per day can really go a long way for improving memory.

Please feel free to use any mediation outlets you need, just make sure that you’re giving your brain some solid time to relax whenever you can.

3. Exercise

Exercise is essentially the cure for everything, and people preach this for almost any application. While exercise may be a pain at times -when it comes to improving memory- exercise is going to become one of your best friends. This is due to the fact that exercise will actually boost your brain’s ability to produce neuroprotective proteins. These proteins will help aid you in memory retention, and all it takes is a little bit of movement.

How much exercise do you need?

When it comes down to it, you don’t need to go too crazy. So there is no need to panic quite yet because we’re not saying that you need to run 3 miles a day or anything like that. To help boost your brain function all you really need is a solid 15 minutes of exercise per day. Just make sure that you get your blood pumping, heart racing, and sweat flowing.

Exercise is great for your body in general, but a lot of people overlook the fact that it can actually increase your brain function. If you want memory retention, a little bit of exercise will go a long way -trust us on that one.

4. Memory Games

This might sound silly, but you can actually train your brain to have better memory retention. You can utilize any forms of practice that are proven to work but make sure that you focus on games that really help you improve cognitive functions. Games like puzzles, cognitive enhancement mobile apps, and even some board games can help you improve memory.

Here is a quick list of some great brain training ideas:

• Puzzles
• Action video games
• Strategy games
• Mobile brain training applications
• Board games
• Tetris
• Crossword puzzles
• Word games -even scrabble

Games that help train your brain are really helpful for any type of cognitive function, and the good news is that they’re a lot of fun too.

5. Taking Care of Your Body

The final thing we want to mention is that you need to take care of your body -everything in moderation, right? You don’t need to go too crazy, but you’ll want to make sure that you keep your body in good health. Not only will this improve memory, but it will likely improve your overall health. So let’s take a look at a few ways to take care of your body.

Reduce alcohol consumption

Alcohol may be your best friend at a party, or even to unwind at night, but consuming too much alcohol can actually reduce your brain’s ability to form memories. This applies to both short and long-term memories, but if you drink a little too much you might even forget about the time you drank entirely.

Watch the sugar

Sugar is necessary for our bodies to operate, but as we’ve mentioned earlier, everything should be done in moderation. This applies to sugar as well, and if you have too much sugar you’ll find that it can actually contribute to a cognitive decline.

Weight management

Being overweight is unhealthy in general, but when it comes down to it being overweight is bad for your brain as well. Obviously, being overweight can cause many issues, but recent studies have shown that it can cause some cognitive problems as well. So if you want memory improvement, dropping a few pounds might actually be a solid way to help.

A lot of these health management tips apply at a personal level, but knowing how these issues can negatively impact your memory is definitely important.

Recap

We know that we went over a lot of information today, but we want to make sure that you know all of the tips and tricks to improve memory. In a world where moments matter, it’s best that you remember as much as you can. Luckily, if you follow these 5 proven ways to improve memory, you’ll be remembering things in no time.

If you ever feel a bit lost or confused, please feel free to refer back to this guide. We want to make sure that you always remember the little things, so never be afraid to check back if you need to.