Maria’s Memory Tips 2

Memory is like muscular strength so “use it or lose it”! The more you work out your brain, the better you’ll be able to process and remember information.

My mother was in her mid-eighties when she died, however she had a razor sharp mind kept active by crosswords, anagrams, television quizzes, mental arithmetic, daily reading, writing and a general interest in the world around her. She was 85 going on 58!

Have healthy habits:

Treat your body well; it can enhance your ability to process and recall information.

Take Regular exercise:

Increase oxygen to your brain. This lowers the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss.

Reduce stress:

Research shows that the stress hormone can damage the brain; stress makes it difficult to concentrate and remember things.

Sleep like a baby:

Sleep is necessary for memory consolidation. Lack of sleep leaves you tired and unable to concentrate during the day.

No smoking!

Smoking constricts arteries that deliver oxygen to the brain.

Eat well:

A healthy diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains will provide lots of health benefits, but did you know that such a diet can also improve memory? Research indicates that vitamins and minerals nurture and stimulate brain function.

Give your brain a break:

Novelty and sensory stimulation are the foundation of brain exercise. If you change your routine in a challenging way, you will use brain pathways you were not using before.

Activities to help your memory:

• Brush your teeth with your left hand as opposed to your right hand or vice versa. This will activate the little-used connections on the non-dominant side of your brain.
• Or try a “neurobic” exercise that will force you to use your faculties in unusual ways e.g. shower and get dressed with your eyes closed or walk backwards up the stairs (carefully).
• Sign up for a class in a subject you don’t know much about.
• Take up a new strategy game such as poker or scrabble.
• Cook up some menus using unfamiliar recipes. That’s the most effective way to keep your synapses firing… or perhaps that should be frying?
• Learn a new poem or re-learn a favourite one from your childhood.

Finally, spaced repetition is also helpful, so let me reiterate two key points from Maria Memory Tips 1 on September 1st.

1. Consider taking Siberian ginseng with Ginkgo Biloba…I do. There are several hundred scientific studies showing the diverse benefits of these natural herbs and improved memory is one of them….the first challenge is to remember to take the supplement three times a day!

2. Be motivated and keep a positive attitude. Telling yourself you have a bad memory actually hampers the ability of your brain to remember, while positive mental feedback sets up an expectation of success. So note when you do remember things well and congratulate yourself.