Improving Your Memory
Excellent Suggestions

by
M. Chris Wolf, Ph.D

A great tip for improving your memory is to try to reorder the way that information is being presented to you. This is important because studies have shown that content in the middle of a subject is the hardest to understand and recall. If you reorder the content then you provide yourself with different ways of recalling it.

Saying what you're trying to remember outloud is a fast and easy way to boost your memory. Though it may feel silly at first, saying things outloud is a great tool for improving your memory. When you re-read something over and over again to try to memorize it, you may start skimming. Saying it outloud forces you to read and listen to the whole thing each time.

Although it is a fact that many people do not know, chewing gum can improve your memory. Medical professionals have found that the motion of chewing gum slightly increases your heart rate. Even the slightest increase in heart rate can help supply more oxygen to the brain, thus improving memory.

Make a word or phrase out of the initials of the terms you are trying to remember. A classic example is Roy G. Biv. It is made up of the first letters of the colors in the rainbow. Red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo, and violet are always there in your memory not just by name but by order as well!

Make sure your attention if focused on the material you want to remember. If you have other distractions going on around you - music playing, the TV on, kids talking, etc. - your mind won't be able to focus on the material. This will result in it being hard to remember what you've studied.

Break complex information down into smaller, more memorable pieces. This simple trick is regularly used to help people remember large numbers for improving your memory. For instance, your credit card numbers, phone number and social security number are all broken down into smaller, hyphenated sections to make them easier to remember. You can do the same thing with any complex data that you are trying to recall.

Get sufficient sleep. Getting enough sleep is important to keeping your memory sharp. When you are asleep, your brain disposes of unnecessary memories and forms more storage for new information. If you fail to get enough sleep, your brain doesn't have enough time to recharge. You will find you have trouble focusing.

Just like the rest of the body, taking care of your brain is very important, especially as you age. Keeping your brain active will maintain its health and capacity to remember things, while improving your quality of life. You'll be surprised how much more you can remember if you apply these simple tips and methods.

Return to Brain Fitness

or

Return to Memory Loss Facts