How To Improve Memory and Concentration
Our memories are an essential part of our lives - it influences the quality of daily life a lot more than people tend to realize. Suffering from bad memory or lack of concentration isn't something that is limited to older people; it can happen to anyone, and there are many reasons for it.
Bad diet habits, lack of exercise, and stress are a few of the factors that can make the difference between remembering a name or idea or completely failing to do so.
The memory isn't a fixed thing - it can be made better or worse. This is good news because that means with the right habits and some exercises, you can restore your memory and feel better about it too.
Memory is especially crucial for students who need to pass exams to finish their studies. Contrary to what we make ourselves believe, studying hard cannot and will not guarantee you better grades. Learn more about that (and more) at the Get Better Grades Now website.
You can spend an entire night cramming data into your head and still fail your test the following morning. That's because your memory and concentration can be influenced by the stress of passing as well as your lifestyle.
If you're a student trying to find information on how to improve memory and concentration, stay tuned, you'll find several ways of doing that here.
Natural ways to improve memory and concentration
Sleep
By making sure that you catch enough ZZZ's at night, you'll be giving your mind a way to process everything it learned during the day, and improve your mental ability to concentrate and recall information.
Try your best to keep to a healthy schedule (those 8 hours everyone keeps going on about) at all times - even weekends. Plus, avoid sleeping in, even when you had a late night. Wake up at the same time every day - your brain needs the routine.
Sugar
Sugar is a foe to humans for so many reasons. One of them is cognitive decline. Too much sugar will have a negative impact on the way your brain works, causing problems like bad memory. Additionally, it can cause issues with your hormones, which can, in turn, cause memory and concentration problems.
Try to follow a healthier diet that cuts out refined sugar and too many sugary treats and drinks, and replace those with plenty of water, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy, lean protein sources like chicken, fish, and nuts.
Consider a fish oil supplement
Fish oil is rich in Omega-3 acids that are important, not only for the overall health of your body but also your mind. In addition, these good oils can help to relieve stress, a known cause for bad memory and lack of concentration.
Other ideas on how to improve memory and concentration
As a student (of any kind), it is important to know how to wipe out bad study habits and achieve academic excellence. This can be looked at closely on the Get Better Grades Now website for some great advice.
There are several things you can do that will help better your memory and concentration. Of course, nothing happens overnight, but trying out these ideas as soon as possible will help you achieve better memory and concentration as quickly as possible.
Get into learning something new
If you practice your memory, it becomes stronger - much like a muscle. However, your brain is picky - it needs to be challenged all the time, and the same kind of repeated routine won't be of much use to it.
Here are a couple of ideas on what to learn to better your concentration and memory:
- Learn a new kind of dance like the salsa or tango
- Dive into mind games like chess or Sudoku
- Learn a new instrument like the guitar or flute
- Learn a foreign language
- Try your hand at pottery or painting
Get your senses involved
It's a known fact that smells and sounds can trigger memories, so why not use these to help you retain information? Don't limit yourself to these two though, get your other sense involved too - get creative with it.
Be organized
More organized people have better memories. This is because your brain uses methods of organization to store and recall information. Someone who is continually organized has a mind better trained at being organized as well.
Train that brain
Your brain flourishes when it gets enough stimulation. Consider finding brain games to help with this - there are countless options available on the internet for you to explore.
Be social
This is probably the last thing that comes to mind when thinking of how to improve memory and concentration. However, a life filled with friends has many benefits. Now, this doesn't mean you should throw all your books out the window and attend every party you hear about. On the contrary, that's an easy way to mess up your brain's abilities! Instead, maintain a healthy social life in which you spend quality time with your friends and relax.
Manage your stress levels
Of course, this is always easier said than done. Managing stress often feels impossible, and it more likely feels like stress is managing you. But, there is hope. There are ways to better deal with stress and cope with it in such a way that it won't affect your brainpower as much.
- Take regular breaks throughout your day
- Be realistic about your expectations
- Say 'no' when you need to
- Don't bottle up your feelings
- Have a good balance between relaxation and work
- Don't be pressured to multi-task, instead, do one thing at a time
Conclusion
If you're worried about the state of your memory, don't despair. There are several ways to better your poor concentration and memory.
You can follow a better diet and sleep more while trying out new activities such as learning a new language or a new instrument. You can even add supplements to your daily food intake and practice your memory with brain games.
Whatever you choose, keep in mind that nothing happens overnight. You will have to work these new habits into your life and stick to them if you want any results.
But once you have, you will soon be surprised to find that you have figured out how to improve memory and concentration without going to any strange extremes.