With a large family in tow at the age of 52 there’s so much to remember. Lately, I can’t seem to fit all of the information into my brain without it promptly slipping back out. I used to be able to retain lots of appointment times and other info about my family which used to help me get through the days and weeks without too many blunders. However, that seems be waning. So, at my last doctors appointment with one of my kids, I asked him for a few tips for boosting memory. He was good enough to take a few minutes to help me out.
Mneumonic Devices and Brain Exercises
Using techniques like mneumonic devices, such as image visualization, wherein you associate a word or name with a visual image, is very memory friendly for all ages. Another brain boosting exercise is chunking. You can remember lots of long numbers and other info by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable chunks. Acronyms are always a helpful tool. If you can take the first letter of all the key words which you’re trying to remember and then create a new word that represents those things, you can improve memorization skills too.
Improving Sleep
As a peri-menopausal woman, it’s fair to say I’m sleep deprived. My doctor said it’s not at all uncommon for women my age, who are lacking sleep from this hormonally influenced time in their lives, to experience memory loss as a part of their symptoms. Doing my best to sleep my best will help to improve my memory throughout the day for better memory recall.
Managing Stress
Minimizing stress levels helps to make room in your brain for peace and tranquility, two things which are always memory friendly. The doctor suggested to exercise, eat right and manage stress by prioritizing, and finding solutions to obstacles and problems which will free up room in your life and your memory. He explained, if we’re always thinking about stressful things, and in situations that are stressful, our brain tends to be in survival mode and less able to retain things.
Brain Boosting Food
Of course my doctor included talking about memory’s link to nutrition. If you’re eating food that’s useless to the body and void of nutrients, you can be assured that your brain function will be compromised as well. He made the recommendation for using omega 3’s to fuel the brain well and maintain memory function. You can get this oil from foods like fish and all the superfoods like leafy greens and any brightly colored living food. My doctor thought the juicing I do was a bonus and a great way to get these nutrients quickly.
Digestive Enzymes
As a senior, my doctor suggests doing what I can to maximize my nutrient absorption. This can be accomplished with digestive enzymes to facilitate maximum breakdown of food and the nutrients within it. Nutrients can only be useful if they are first absorbed by the body..
Source: Personal Experience