Chapter 3

Improving Your Memory — Part I

Your memory is never a stagnant entity. It can always be improved.

Why is it that those things that are most important in our lives get the least attention? If we are to ask many people if they will ever wish to lose their memory for a second, we are sure to get “NO” from everyone.

But yet, people don’t make a conscious effort to treat their memory/brain well. People don’t make enough conscious efforts to eat those foods that help their memory.

In this section, we are going to be learning about various ways to improve our memories and treat them well.

Why You Should Work on Improving Your Memory

You might still not be convinced as to the reason why you should work to improve your memory. If you still doubt the importance of a great memory or you don’t deem it fit to really commit yourself to improve your memory, this subsection is for you.

Below are the various reasons why we think that a great memory is good for you.

1. Great memory simplifies your life

When you work to improve your memory from an average memory to a great one, your life is likely going to enjoy simplicity. A great memory gives you the opportunity to remember those things that are important to you. You no longer need to keep pieces of paper all around because you want to remember a piece of information. You no longer need to interrupt your life with notifications just because you want to pay your bills. Indeed great memory simplifies your life. It really pays to work to improve your memory.

2. Improved memory saves time

Another obvious benefit of an improved memory is that it saves you time. Poor memory usually costs you a lot of time. When someone has a poor memory, you need to document almost everything in your life to remember them. We need not say that documentations take time. In addition, a person with a poor memory usually looks for things every now and then because they don’t know where they kept them.

With an improved memory, you no longer need to look for things every now and then. You no longer need to go back home because you forgot your office key. Try having a great memory and see how much time you are able to save.

3. Improved memory brings you honor and respect

When you have a great memory, people around you love you and honor you. In addition, people will like to be around you. Who does not like to be with a scholar? Definitely, not many people (if any).

With a great memory, you are able to remember crucial information about people. For example, great memory allows you to remember the names of people, where they work, the name of the place they are living, among others. Knowledge like this brings nothing other than love and respect.

4. Great memory makes you are a smarter person

A great memory makes you a smart person. When you have a great memory, you remember more of what happened to you or what you have read. Having more experience in the form of knowledge is likely to make you a smarter person.

5. Improved memory makes you excel others

A great memory will propel you to success fast. When companies conduct an interview, they are usually looking for the most brilliant people. It is practically impossible to be brilliant without having a memory that is more than average.

6. A great memory allows you to live an enjoyable life

You can’t really know how good life is until you have a great memory to store the information you deem important. Generally, people with great memory enjoy life more than people with poor memory. Great memory connects you to a lot of high ranking individuals and scholars, making it more likely to live a joyous life.

We have mentioned six benefits that come with having an improved/great memory, but please do note that the list above is not exhaustive.

If you are still not convinced as to the reason you should work to improve your memory, then try this: imagine a life where you forget to remember those things that are important to you. Imagine living for a single day without being able to remember anything, including your name. It is quite apparent that you will never want to live such a life, even just for a minute.

If this is the case, then why don’t you work to improve your memory today and enjoy the benefits of having a great memory tomorrow?

Why you should work to improve your memory every day and how?

When it comes to improving your memory, please always remember that it is a life-long event. Memory is so important that you can’t afford to leave it unattended to even just for a single day. The best way to have a genius-like memory is to work to improve it every day.When it comes to improving your memory, please always remember that it is a life-long event. Memory is so important that you can’t afford to leave it unattended to even just for a single day. The best way to have a genius-like memory is to work to improve it every day.

Working every day to improve your memory will bring two benefits:

1. It will make you avoid those things that can damage your brain like smoking.

2. It will make you want to put your memory to use every day. 

So how do you work to improve your memory every day?

Basically, you can improve your memory on a daily basis by doing one of these two things. Doing both is better.

1. Avoid anything that can damage your brain. Please read Chapter 2 to know what you should avoid.
2. Every day, do a single thing (even if it is a little thing) to improve your memory. This may be as simple as eating an avocado or berries. It may be as simple as using your brain to store all the names of items you plan to buy when shopping.

In addition, some other things you can do every day to improve your memory are listed below

1. Stop thinking you have a bad memory. You need to stop giving yourself excuses.
2. Avoid excessive multitasking and start paying attention.
3. Recite things aloud whenever you can.
4. Chunk up information to remember them more easily.
5. Exercise your body.

For more information, please read this article found here.

Can You Really Memorize Everything?

Many people want to improve their memory because they think that great memory will allow them to memorize and remember everything. However, this is not true. Having a great memory doesn’t make you infallible. You will still forget even with a great memory.

Generally, you can’t memorize everything that you come across. There are two reasons you can’t memorize everything:

1. You can’t get the time to adequately study and memorize everything you set your eyes on.
2. The truth is that sooner or later, you would forget some of those things you have learned at one time or the other.

So, if you can’t memorize everything, can you memorize everything that is dear to you? The short answer is yes! You can!

With the right tool, you can easily memorize important information. You will learn more about this before you finish reading this guide.

Before we conclude this section, we will like to point out that memorization directly or indirectly helps your memory.

If we consider memorization as a form of mental exercise, then we can say it (memorization) has a tendency to help your memory. We have made this claim because mental exercises have been shown to benefit the brain^[8].

Generally, the more you memorize, the more you become good at it (especially if you are using memory techniques). Please go to Chapter 8 to learn more about memory techniques.

In a nutshell, it is not out of place to say that more memorization helps the memory.

Why Your Memory is Good and not Bad

If you ask people whether they have a great or bad memory, many are sure to say that they have a bad memory. This reason for this is probably because they seem to forget things easily.

What many don’t understand about memory is that great memory is more of a skill than neurons. By following some set of steps, almost anyone can transform their memory from a dull, boring object to a fantastic machine.

In addition, how do you know that you have a bad memory?

Many times, people use the excuse of having a bad memory to justify their mental laziness.

People always claim they forget to recall facts when they have taken little or no time to memorize or understand the fact in the first place.

Before you can claim that you have a bad memory, you must have made conscious efforts to put facts in your memory with adequate attention and focus.

In this current chapter, chapter 4, chapter 5, and chapter 8, we are going to be discussing various ways to greatly improve your memory.

Simple Ways to Improve Your Memory Right Now!

Improving your memory is not a complicated endeavor and should not be treated as such. In this section, we are going to be introducing you to little things you can do to greatly improve your memory. Let’s get started

1. Spending time in nature

Going for a walk in a natural environment is a cool way to refresh your mind and improve your memory. We have already written an extensive article on this; please read it here.

2. Drinking to improve your memory

We will recommend you drink berries juice. Berries are good for memory ^[1].

Natural walnut and avocados juice can also help. Both walnut^[2] and avocado^[3] have been said to help the brain.

We recommend you also drink more water. Drinking plenty of water helps hydrate the body. We need not say that the brain is part of the body.

However, if you have certain health conditions like thyroid, kidney, liver, or heart problem, please contact your doctor before you increase your water intake.

3. Work to improve your span of concentration and attention

It is practically impossible to have a great memory without having a great span of attention/concentration. Practically, you can’t remember things for long if you are unable to pay attention to them.

Some of the best ways to improve your span of concentration are:

a. Mind your business at all times and avoid multitasking as much as possible.

Multitasking has been shown to lower efficiency and productivity^[4].

It may be difficult to increase your concentration while multitasking.

Minding your business at all times will let you focus your energy on what matters most.

b. Avoid interruptions from notifications.

Digital distractions can affect your ability to concentrate and pay attention, and it is better to avoid them as much as you can.

You can use tools like Do Not Disturb on your smartphone to prevent it from distracting you.

c. Stress

Any form of stress can drastically reduce your attention or concentration span. As much as possible, you should strive to limit stress and stressors in your life. Doing so will not only improve your focus but may also help your body.

d. Medications

If you are on medications, you should consult your doctor to see if the medications can interrupt your focus or ability to pay attention.

For example, anti-anxiety drugs like clonazepam or cardiovascular drugs like digoxin and propranolol can interfere with your attention or memory.

e. Drug use and alcohol

If you abuse drugs or take alcohol, you may have a hard time paying attention. In addition, both drug abuse and alcohol can negatively affect your memory. It is a good idea to stop both drug abuse and alcohol if you want better attention and focus.

If you are having a hard time stopping drugs or alcohol, please seek external help.

f. Poor sleep

We can’t probably overemphasize the importance of sleep to attention. It is practically impossible to focus and boost your concentration and attention span with poor-quality sleep. If you want a greater attention span, please work on your sleep.

g. Avoid eating too much and control your weight

If you don’t embrace healthy eating, you are more likely to be obese, and obesity can adversely affect your attention. This is probably because obesity can negatively affect your sleep quality, and we all know that good sleep is an active ingredient of every great attention.

So, if you want a great attention span, eat a healthy diet, and don’t eat too much.

h.  Avoid all forms of head injuries

Head injuries (whether visible or not) can cause damage to your brain and can affect both your memory and attention span. As a rule, avoid any sporting activities or exercise that may cause head damage. If you must involve in a risky sport or exercise, always wear proper clothing, including a helmet.

4. Eating your Way to the Right Memory

Love it or hate it, what we eat affects our memory, and any attempt to improve our memories must necessarily include food.

There are several types of food in the world today (going to hundreds if not thousands), and it is quite a daunting task picking the best ones out. However, any attempt to pick out the best food items from the others worth it, and more studies should be done to make this feat possible.

That said, there are foods that have been scientifically proven to aid the memory directly or indirectly. It is a clever idea to strive to include at least one of these food items in our diet every day. Please go to Chapter 4 to learn more about food that helps the memory.

5. Leverage on the time that the brain works best

One of the best things you can do to improve your memory and remember more is to fix your study time to the time your brain works best.

The best time for your brain tends to depend on the individual. Underlying health conditions might also be a factor.

For many people, their brain seems to work best in the morning.

This may be because we usually have little or no stress early in the morning. Since we are just waking up, our mind is usually less cluttered and more settled.

However, some peoples’ brain seems to function best at night. This may be because they have attained their goals during the day, and their mind is settled to work on their chosen tasks.

In conclusion, we will recommend you study yourself and choose the time that works best for you.

6. Using Memory Techniques

It is quite interesting to know that you can learn how to improve your memory just like you learn how to sew a cloth. Memory has techniques, and you can turn your memory around within a short time by learning and using these techniques. Please go to Chapter 8 of this guide to learn how to use memory techniques like a pro.

 7. Increase Oxygen in Your Brain

When your brain gets enough oxygen, it will perform optimally. One way to increase the oxygen supply to your brain is to exercise regularly.

Research has shown that people who exercise regularly have an increase in the number of blood vessels that bring oxygen-rich blood to the brain^[5][6][7].

This research suggests that we may be able to increase the oxygen in our brain by engaging in regular exercise.

8. Have adequate sleep

Adequate sleep should always be on your agenda when working to improve your memory. The importance of sleep to memory is discussed at length in chapter 5 of this guide; please refer to it for details.

9. Exercise Regularly

One thing that can help brain functions and memory is regular exercise. Exercise has been shown to help the brain^[8]. If you have not started exercising already, we will implore you to consider doing so. However, please endeavor to consult your doctor before starting any exercise session if you have any underlying health condition.

Improving Your Short-Term Memory

One aspect of memory you need to focus on improving if you want a great memory is the short-term memory.

Short term memory only lasts for a few seconds to minutes, and it is often used to store information temporarily before it is either discarded or moved to the long-term memory.

Generally, to improve your short-term memory, you need to work on your focus/attention. Setting your attention on what you want to store in your short-term memory should help.

For example, you can increase the chances of remembering a phone number (in your short-term memory) by giving it adequate attention. Interruptions usually adversely affect short-term memory.

Also, paying attention helps your brain move information from the short-term to long-term memory. We have already discussed the various ways to improve your attention and focus in the preceding section.

It is crucial to point out that the body has a natural way of converting short term memory to long term memory.

Generally, sleeping helps in building our memory. In fact, according to MIT News “experts have long suspected that part of the process of turning fleeting short-term memories into lasting long term memories occurs during sleep” ^[9].

However, this does not necessarily mean that your short-term memory will automatically become a long-term memory whenever you sleep.

It is crucial you make conscious efforts to remember what you want in your long-term memory before you sleep.

Throughout this guide, we have mentioned various ways to improve your memory (including short-term and working memories). Please keep reading this guide to learn more.

References:

1. Njaes.rutgers.edu. (2019). Eat Berries to Improve Brain Function (Rutgers NJAES). [online] Available at: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/sshw/message/message.php?p=Health&m=350 [Accessed 3 Dec. 2019].
2. Publishing, H. (2019). Foods linked to better brainpower – Harvard Health. [online] Harvard Health. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/foods-linked-to-better-brainpower [Accessed 3 Dec. 2019].
3. ANR Blogs. (2019). Eat More Avocados. [online] Available at: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=24995 [Accessed 3 Dec. 2019].

4. MSU Extension. (2017). The myth of multitasking: Research says it makes us less productive and increases mistakes. [online] Available at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_myth_of_multitasking_research_says_it_makes_us_less_productive_and_incr[Accessed 13 Nov. 2019].
5. Publishing, H. (2019). 12 ways to keep your brain young – Harvard Health. [online] Harvard Health. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/12-ways-to-keep-your-brain-young[Accessed 23 Nov. 2019].
6. Thomas, A., Dennis, A., Bandettini, P. and Johansen-Berg, H. (2012). The Effects of Aerobic Activity on Brain Structure. Frontiers in Psychology, 3.
7. Godman, H. (2014). Regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory, thinking skills – Harvard Health Blog. [online] Harvard Health Blog. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110[Accessed 17 Nov. 2019].
8. Center for Brain Health. (2016). Mental, Physical Exercises Produce Distinct Brain Benefits – Center for Brain Health. [online] Available at: https://brainhealth.utdallas.edu/mental-physical-exercises-produce-distinct-brain-benefits/[Accessed 14 Nov. 2019].
9. Deborah Halber, P. (2019). Sleep helps build long-term memories. [online] MIT News. Available at: http://news.mit.edu/2009/memories-0624 [Accessed 14 Nov. 2019].