In this age of overwhelming information being directed upon our collective senses, it is extremely easy to forget things. Gone are the days when chronic memory loss was a malady known mainly with old people (it almost brought down a US president while he was still in office). Today, we younger people are obviously suffering more from forgetfulness, although our own is probably due to information overload.

But who are we to blame? Perhaps the greatest blame should be on the fact that we are a child of this age of stupendous information availability, where survival seems to depend on the volume of information you are able to consume and put to useful use. In fact, it is the easy availability of extremely detailed information that made you find this InfovoreSecrets article in the first place!

Don’t let us loose track again…

So we were saying that being overwhelmed with information is one of the greatest problems of our own times. That in fact, forgetfulness is no more a problem exclusive to old people again.

However, it has now been proven beyond doubt (this Info age make it obvious) that young people suffer as much absent-mindedness or poor memory problems as old people.

In a recent study of healthy adults of different ages by Dr. Joanna Iddon, a neuropsychologist, it was found that the average number of memory slips, like putting the coffee jar in the fridge, was around six per week, irrespective of age, gender and intelligence. ^[1]

In fact, Dr Iddon’s study discovered that it is now the “younger busier people that were the most absent-minded!” ^[2]

However, our own malady today is nothing pathological or neurological like the likes of what usually cause poor memory in older adults. Rather, our own problem (we younger adults) is majorly caused by our modern lifestyle.

The implication of this is that apart from actively seeking for whatever tricks, or cures, or methods to bring about an improved memory for ourselves, changing some aspects of our lifestyle will be highly important if we want to score any gain in memory improvement.

We think both remedies should go hand in hand, and that is the approach this InfovoreSecrets article is going to take to guide you through tried and tested means of improving your memory.

We are producers of information too – although ours is more highly beneficial and sifted to keep any irrelevant information away from you – and we wouldn’t like to have readers that suffer from poor memory! Because if they do, how will they remember what they read from us? Even this article itself!

So here we have outlined ten little things you can do everyday that will greatly improve your memory (start doing them today):

First of all…

1. STOP THINKING YOU HAVE A BAD MEMORY

You may have heard of the power of positive thinking? If you have not, you will understand it by the time you finish this part.

Sometimes, you turn out to become what you convince yourself you are. Your memory problem may be simply existing because you are one of the people who believe their memories are simply bad – accepting that belief and acting it unconsciously afterwards.

Instead, start convincing yourself that your memory is good, believe in it, and start reflecting it consciously in your actions.

Your perpetually lost keys or your constant forgetfulness to take your medications may simply be as a result of mental laziness on your part brought on you by yourself! Why? Simply because you have believed that you have a poor memory and cannot improve. And so the list of what you keep forgetting grows!

Reverse that trend and start thinking positively about your own memory power. Believe firmly in yourself that your memory is good and you will soon start experiencing less forgetfulness and confusion.

Thoughts are the foundation of actions and good thoughts bring about good actions. A dose of positive thinking may be the first medicine you need that will start taking your memory to task.

And don’t forget to celebrate the little memory achievements that start coming afterwards to keep yourself motivated…

What you are is in your mind! So is your memory problem.

2. AVOID EXCESSIVE MULTITASKING AND START PAYING ATTENTION

You probably don’t know that multitasking used to be an exclusive activity for computers and not human beings? In fact, the term “Multitasking” used to be a term solely used in the computer industry to describe a computer processing several programs at once. ^[3]

Simply paying more attention may be the most powerful, but overlooked, way to improve your memory. It is rare these days for anyone to give a task or person their undivided attention. ^[4]

Do you know why not paying enough attention may have contributed to your memory problem? It is because by not paying sufficient attention to what you are doing, you never processed anything in the first place, and you cant remember what you never processed.

Attention is one of the major components of memory. In order for information to move from your short-term memory into your long-term memory, you need to actively attend to this information.^[5]

Multitasking might appear like it allows you to get things done faster, but research suggests that it actually causes the brain to slow down overall. ^[6]

Multitasking interrupts one task to focus on another which disrupts short-term memory (the capacity for retaining pieces of information for short periods of time). ^[7]

By contrast, paying attention allows you to increase your focus, which improves your memory and speeds the brain up.

According to wikihow.com, we need about eight seconds of focus to commit something to memory.^[8] But when we multitask, we tend to set information aside before eight seconds elapsed, and so we are more likely to forget it. ^[9]

Next time you find yourself trying to complete seven tasks at once, stop yourself and focus on the task at hand.

Remind yourself that you have two gains to achieve by going slower: firstly, to make things easier for your memory in the long term, and secondly, to give each work the attention and focus it deserves.

Afterall, whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. Your memory deserves to be treated well and not to be jangled about. Pay attention!

3. RECITING THINGS OUT LOUD

Reciting materials out loud is a time-tested way of remembering it later. When you recite, you are not only recording the information you are reciting with your eyes, but also with your hearing. So you are putting this information through two neural pathways straight to your brain!

This also applies when you teach it to others. You will have come to notice that some of your old grade school teachers have memorized almost every word in their favorite textbooks.

This is because they have been reciting it out loud repeatedly to many sets of students over many years.

This method works very well, and you only need to look around a little more closely and you will see real life examples of its applications.

To put this method into action, try to join study groups and volunteer to be the “explainer” after reading their study text. You might be surprised to see how your power of recall will gradually increase after each session of your “explaining” what you have read out aloud.

Reciting information out loud was said to be Abraham Lincoln’s favorite memory technique .^[10]

There’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of in being the president (pun intended) of loud reciters so long as it helps your memory!

4. USE ASSOCIATION TO REMEMBER FACTS

Everything you have ever forgotten is associated with something else. One of the memory mistakes we make is excessively focusing on what we want to remember while neglecting giving a thought to other things associated with it (if we can remember them).

But before this will happen again, now always try to memorize information you think you might likely forget by using other things associated with it. For example, try to associate the image of an injection syringe with an image of your farm animals to remember to take them to the vet as at when due.

Also you might like to tie your shoelace to your toe at night to remind yourself that you need to jog the following morning or associate the image of a necklace mentally with that of your wife to remember to buy her a new necklace!

5. CHUNK UP INFORMATION TO REMEMBER THEM MORE EASILY

Break down information into smaller bits so you can more easily memorize them. This is especially useful for remembering numeric information like phone numbers.

‘Chunking’ is when you are given a long number like for example 3568741294871945 and you break it down into smaller groups to easily make sense of them and memorize them. For example, the number above can be chunked up into groups of four digits instead: 3568 7412 9487 1945. This makes it more quicker to memorize and easier to remember.

Dr Moulin, from the University of Leeds even went so far as to suggest chunking numbers according to something you find meaningful, like the age of someone you know, an address or a famous date.^[11]

6. INCREASED PHYSICAL EXERCISE CAN HELP YOUR MEMORY

Regular and vigorous exercise have long been known to be good for enhancing many bodily functions. Now it has been shown to be good for your memory too.

There’s now scientific evidence that suggest that walking (a popular example) not only clears your mind, it actually builds a bigger and sharper brain. ^[12]

Walking increases oxygen, encourages the growth of new brain cells, offsets brain shrinkage, and promotes connectivity between brain cells. ^[13]

But at the basic level, physical activity increases blood flow to your whole body, including your brain. So, it should be an expected fact rather than a surprising one that your memory will also benefit from exercises in the long term.

Perhaps, what may be causing your memory problems might simply be because you are not having enough exercise, and the hippocampus part of your brain, which is responsible for storing short-term memory, is deprived of sufficient rejuvenating oxygen.

For most healthy adults, the United States Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity, such as jogging — preferably spread throughout the week. If you don’t have time for a full workout, squeeze in a few 10-minute walks throughout the day. ^[14]

7. EMBRACE A NEW HEALTHY DIET THAT WORKS FOR YOUR MEMORY

The Mediterranean diet is widely considered the healthiest diet of all. This is a diet that is high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while low in red meat and processed fat.

Apart from its general bodily health benefits, it has also been shown specifically to boost memory and attention and slow the rate of age – related cognitive decline.^[15]

However, that is not all. To make what you eat translate into an improved memory, there are some laid down rules to follow in choosing exactly what to eat and what to stay away from among foods.

Firstly, if you want to eat proteinous foods, choose low-fat protein sources, such as fish, beans and skinless poultry.^[16]

Secondly, foods containing antioxidants — broccoli, blueberries, spinach, and berries, for example — and Omega-3 fatty acids appear to promote healthy brain functioning.^[17]

Thirdly, drink a lot of water. It isn’t just what you eat that affects your memory, it’s also what and how much you drink. Water might just be the best brain tonic. Your brain is 73% water and it takes only 2% dehydration to diminish your memory, attention, and other cognitive skills. ^[18]

You should also avoid sugars and grain carbohydrates since these foods can negatively affect your brain. Saturated fats and high-calorie foods are similarly believed to hinder your memory, especially in the long term. ^[19]

Fourthly, any kind of smoking is bad for your memory, either of cannabis or tobacco. Avoid it totally. This includes abstaining from alcohol and other stimulants. They do far more harm than good to your brain and memory.

In addition, several independent studies have discovered that people who drink more milk, eat chocolates and/or drink green tea all appear to perform better cognitively and memory-wise than those who don’t take any of these foods.^{[20] [21]}

And finally, you may not believe chewing gum may do a lot of good for your memory. As unbelievable as it sounds, research has shown that the act of chewing gum increases the flow of blood to your brain. Researchers have shown that people chewing gum are able to concentrate more intently and remember new information better. ^[22]

However, chewing the gum appears to only work at the point of your need. It doesn’t mean you have to be chewing gum when you have no memory or concentration challenge to overcome.

However be it, adopting chewing of gums may be your fast way to a better memory!

8. GIVE YOUR BRAIN A PUZZLING TASK

Regularly “exercising” the brain keeps it growing and spurs the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory. By developing new mental skills – especially complex ones such as learning a new language^[23] or (in a milder form) tackling puzzles – the brain is kept active and its physiological functioning is improved.

Giving your brain a puzzling task force your mind into concentration mode and this can be helpful in improving your memory since it makes the brain form new nerve connections.

The puzzling task could be in form of learning a new language or solving a word problem. There are several of such tasks freely available on the internet today.

Doing this everyday is enormously beneficial to the overall health of your brain. Don’t forget an healthy brain is an healthy memory. Start exercising your brain!

9. GET ADEQUATE SLEEP. IT HELPS YOUR MEMORY

Research has shown that taking a nap after you learn something new can actually help you learn faster and remember better. In fact, one study found that sleeping after learning something new actually leads to physical changes in the brain. ^[24]

Sleep helps new memories to ‘stick’ in the brain – a process scientists call memory consolidation. This happens when connections between brain cells are strengthened by proper rest. ^[25]

It plays an important role in helping you consolidate your memories, so you can recall them down the road. Make getting enough sleep a priority. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a day.^[26]

10. AVOID SUBSTANCES/MEDICATIONS KNOWN TO CAUSE MEMORY LOSS:

Probably the most destructive activity on the health of a brain is smoking. Any kind of smoking is bad for your memory and general brain health. Avoid it totally. We have mentioned it earlier.

However, some beneficial substances have also been shown repeatedly to cause memory loss, especially when they are abused. A large study has shown that over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines, pain relievers, sleep aids, and other similar remedies may be detrimental to your brain health over a long time. ^[27]

In fact, an entire group of medications known as anticholinergic drugs cause memory loss by blocking acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter of memory and learning. ^[28]

Trying to get a good memory while abusing substances is like working against your own efforts. These substances do not just end as part of our urine component, but they may have left a permanent damage on the brain before they are even exited via that means. Please take drugs and other medications only on doctor’s prescription.

So now, we believe if you start incorporating all of these ten tips into your daily life henceforth, a sound, better and healthy memory power is not beyond your reach again.

Thanks for reading!

References:

1.How to improve your memory fast – top tips to train your brain and increase concentration – https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/improve-your-memory-fast-tips-1864549 (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

2. Ibid.

3. The origin and meaning of Multitasking by Online Etymological Dictionary – https://www.etymonline.com/word/multitasking (Retrieved 11-3-2019)

4. 36 Proven Ways to Improve Your Memory. Deane Alban and Patrick Alban (February 2019) – https://bebrainfit.com/improve-memory/ (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

5. 11 Methods for Improving Your Memory. Kandra Cherry (November 2018) – https://www.verywellmind.com/great-ways-to-improve-your-memory-2795356 (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

6. How to Improve Your Memory – https://m.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Memory  (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

7. 36 Proven Ways to Improve Your Memory. Deane Alban and Patrick Alban (February 2019) – https://bebrainfit.com/improve-memory/ (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

8. How to Improve Your Memory – https://m.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Memory  (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

9. Ibid.

10. Quick Memory Tips – https://www.memory-improvement-tips.com/quick-memory-tips.html (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

11. How to improve your memory fast – top tips to train your brain and increase concentration – https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/improve-your-memory-fast-tips-1864549 (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

12.  36 Proven Ways to Improve Your Memory. Deane Alban and Patrick Alban (February 2019) – https://bebrainfit.com/improve-memory/ (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

13.  Ibid.

14. Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory – https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/memory-loss/art-20046518] (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

15. 36 Proven Ways to Improve Your Memory. Deane Alban and Patrick Alban (February 2019) – https://bebrainfit.com/improve-memory/ (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

16. Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory – https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/memory-loss/art-20046518] (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

17. How to Improve Your Memory – https://m.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Memory  (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

18. 36 Proven Ways to Improve Your Memory. Deane Alban and Patrick Alban (February 2019) – https://bebrainfit.com/improve-memory/ (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

19. How to Improve Your Memory – https://m.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Memory  (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

20.  Ibid.

21. How to improve your memory fast – top tips to train your brain and increase concentration – https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/improve-your-memory-fast-tips-1864549 (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

22. Quick Memory Tips – https://www.memory-improvement-tips.com/quick-memory-tips.html (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

23. How to Improve Your Memory – https://m.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Memory  (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

24.  11 Methods for Improving Your Memory. Kandra Cherry (November 2018) – https://www.verywellmind.com/great-ways-to-improve-your-memory-2795356 (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

25. How to improve your memory fast – top tips to train your brain and increase concentration – https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/improve-your-memory-fast-tips-1864549 (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

26. Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory – https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/memory-loss/art-20046518] (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

27.  36 Proven Ways to Improve Your Memory. Deane Alban and Patrick Alban (February 2019) – https://bebrainfit.com/improve-memory/ (Retrieved 9-3-2019)

28. Ibid.