Memory and some tips to improve it

Memory has a very vital part in our life. Each day how many of us face this problem of not remembering a important thing or day and later have to suffer and compensate for it.You may have forgotten your dear ones birthday or a date with your lover or some important work assigned to you from your boss and then feel for it saying “OMG how did I forget that?”. Each one of us become a victim of this low memory power which can  make a huge difference in your life. Because the neurons in our brain are responsible for memory loss over time, we tend to forget things much easier as we age. Although this is an unfortunate reality we all face, there are a multitude of lifestyle activities you can engage to slow this degenerative process. 

They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but when it comes to the human brain, scientists have discovered that this old adage simply isn’t true. The human brain has an astonishing ability to adapt and change even into old age. This ability is known as neuroplasticity. With the right stimulation, your brain can form new neural pathways, alter existing connections, and adapt and react in ever-changing ways.Interaction with other humans fires a different set of neurons than working alone, and collaboration can vastly increase your memory.  Make a habit of joining forces at work and in your personal life to keep the brain more fruitful.

Let’s compare human brain to a CPU(Central Processing Unit) of a computer.If the processor is built in with the best RAM and superfluous Hard disk we will be able to store more data and files to our computer and also enjoy a good usage.But if it’s the opposite,then we need to be very more cautious and selective in storing data else we will naturally get irritated while using it.Similarly first we have to know how much our brain can sustain or store before storing  data or informations into it.Once you are aware of that you can try to improve your memory power gradually.For students who face the problem of not remembering a whole lesson or an essay in exam is because they try to burden their brain with more than it can take.So an easy way is to minimize the data by dividing a whole data into small parts and remembering them one by one.

Like we human beings  vary  in our physical appearace,we vary in our mental appearance also.Not all will have the same memory power.One may have a good one and the other a low one.But they can change as the human brains have an ability to change.So if one has a low memory power he can improve it also.

Here are some effective methods you can integrate into your life to maintain a great memory for as long as possible:

Teach Others what you know

By Teaching, it implants knowledge in your brain in a different manner than regular learning, and is excellent practice for increasing memory (it also helps if you are genuinely motivated to share the knowledge)

Write About  what you want to remember

An effective way to increase memory capacity is to write about the things you want to remember.  Keep a journal, or enter it in a piece of paper or your personal laptop/PC,  write detailed emails, or start a blog to improve your capacity to memorize. 

Try to convince yourself

Convince yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve. Too many people get stuck here and convince themselves that their memory is bad, that they are just not good with names, that numbers just slip out of their minds for some reason. Erase those thoughts and go for it. Celebrate and enjoy every little achievements and that will keep yourself motivated.

Association of  events numbers and characters

The reason that most of us can't remember our friend's phone number is because 9447-3658 is  just a string of numbers that have no obvious connection to your friend. In order to use your memory efficiently, the best way is to actively create an association for things you're trying to remember. Alternatively, you could create a story for remembering numbers and characters. Association also works if you created vivid, memorable images. You remember information more easily if you can visualize it.

Relate information to what you already know. Connect new data to information you already remember, whether it’s new material that builds on previous knowledge, or something as simple as an address of someone who lives on a street where you already know someone.

Repetition and Rehersal

Rehearse information you’ve already learned. Review what you’ve learned the same day you learn it, and at intervals thereafter.Repeat information you're trying to memorize to yourself every few days or so. This is called spaced repetition learning. We are more likely to remember more recent things and things that we've experienced with greater frequency, so repeating associations and mnemonics to yourself is a good idea. Start practicing every day, and you can gradually decrease the frequency until you remember it naturally.

When it's time to study or remember something new, switch your breathing pattern to be slower and deeper. Deeper and slower breathing actually changes the way your brain works, by inducing the brain's electrical pulse.

Exercise your brain

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 or learning to play a new musical instrument -- and challenging your brain with puzzles and games, you can keep your brain active and improve its physiological functioning. Try some fun puzzle exercises everyday such as crosswords, Sudoku, and other games which are easy enough to for anyone. Memory, like muscular strength, requires you to “use it or lose it.” The more you work out your brain, the better you’ll be able to process and remember information. The best brain exercising activities break your routine and challenge you to use and develop new brain pathways.

Exercise daily

Regular exercise improves circulation and efficiency throughout the body,including the brain and can help ward off the memory loss that comes with aging. Exercise also makes you more alert and relaxed, and can thereby improve your memory uptake, allowing you to take better mental "pictures". The brain accounts for only 2% of the body’s weight, but accounts for 15% of its blood flow, and regular stretching (and exercise) keeps the brain’s arteries open and unclogged.  Making a habit of stretching can also lead to increased energy, greater flexibility and a more relaxed attitude which all lead to better long-term memory.Treating your body well can enhance your ability to process and recall information. Physical exercise increases oxygen to your brain and reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Exercise may also enhance the effects of helpful brain chemicals and protect brain cells.

Sleep Well

Consistently sleeping 7-8 hours a night will drastically increase your memory.  During sleep, the brain appears to firm up memories of newly acquired information.Relaxation techniques before bed time can help really help your memory capacity.During the day, a quick nap can be the impetus for a solution to a problem you have been working.The amount of sleep we get affects the brain's ability to recall recently learned information. Getting a good night's sleep a minimum of seven hours a night may improve your short-term memory and long-term relational memory.When you’re sleep deprived, your brain can’t operate at full capacity. Creativity, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking skills are compromised. Whether you’re studying, working, or trying to juggle life’s many demands, sleep deprivation is a recipe for disaster.

Research shows that sleep is necessary for memory consolidation.

Having Many Interests

Having diverse interests, and constantly trying new things, is a fantastic way to keep the mind sharp and fertile.  Neurons that connect to existing neurons give you fresh perspective and ability to use knowledge in a variety of new ways. 

Listening to Music

Researchers have long shown that certain types of music are instrumental in recalling memories. Information learned while listening to a particular song or collection can often be recalled simply by “playing” the songs mentally.

Laughter is good for your brain

You’ve heard that laughter is the best medicine, and that holds true for the brain as well as the body. Unlike emotional responses, which are limited to specific areas of the brain, laughter engages multiple regions across the whole brain.

Furthermore, listening to jokes and working out punch lines activates areas of the brain vital to learning and creativity. 

Share your embarrassing moments. The best way to take ourselves less seriously is to talk about the times when we took ourselves too seriously.

When you hear laughter, move toward it. Most of the time, people are very happy to share something funny because it gives them an opportunity to laugh again and feed off the humor you find in it. When you hear laughter, seek it out and ask, “What’s funny?”Spend time with fun, playful people. These are people who laugh easily–both at themselves and at life’s absurdities–and who routinely find the humor in everyday events. Their playful point of view and laughter are contagious.

Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Keep a toy on your desk or in your car. Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your family or friends having fun.

Pay attention to children and emulate them. They are the experts on playing, taking life lightly, and laughing.

Reduce stress

Stress is one of the brain’s worst enemies. Over time, if left unchecked, chronic stress destroys brain cells and damages the hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in the formation of new memories and the retrieval of old ones.Chronic stress does in fact physically damage the brain, it can make remembering much more difficult. After prolonged stress, the brain will start to become affected and deteriorate.

Eat well and eat right

There are a lot of herbal supplements on the market that claim to improve memory, but none have yet been shown to be effective in clinical tests . A healthy diet, however, contributes to a healthy brain, and foods containing antioxidants -- broccoli, blueberries, spinach, and berries, for example and Omega-3 fatty acids or codliver oil appear to promote healthy brain functioning.

Healthy relationships: the ultimate memory booster

Humans are highly social animals. We’re not meant to survive, let alone thrive, in isolation. Relationships stimulate our brains—in fact, interacting with others may be the best kind of brain exercise.Having meaningful relationships and a strong support system are vital not only to emotional health, but also to brain health.People with the most active social lives have the slowest rate of memory decline.

Take a Break

Changing physical or mental perspective is a wonderful way to lighten the invisible stress that occurs when you sit in one place too long. Taking a 5-15 minute break every hour during work sessions is more beneficial than non-stop work or study. It gives your mind time to relax and absorb information.

Use Acronyms and Other Mnemonic Devices

Mnemonics are essentially tricks for remembering information. Some tricks are so effective that proper application will let you recall loads of mundane information years later.  This one recommendation can vastly improve your memory and effectiveness.

Pay attention

You can’t remember something if you never learned it, and you can’t learn something—that is never in your mind. It takes about eight seconds of intense focus to process a piece of information into your memory. If you’re easily distracted, pick a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted.

We all tend to forget something or the other mostly.But a information I received from a famous psychologist who appeared on a TV show some years before helped me to overcome this severe situation to some extent.Many people have this problem of not recalling the location of an object.You may place your car key,wallet,mobile etc. somewhere and after sometime you begin to look for it not knowing where you kept it or sometimes you may even forget it completely and thereby lose it also.To overcome this situation,from next time onwards when you do so,just talk to yourself and say “I will not forget to take this with me from here”.Say this atleast five times and you will notice that you will never be forgetting or losing your valuable things again.Same is the way with dates and events also.Just talk to yourself and say “I will not forget this date/event” and you will find how successful you can be in remembering important dates and events.

The brain’s incredible ability to reshape itself holds true when it comes to learning and memory.Enhance your ability to learn new information, and improve your memory.

Involve as many senses as possible. Try to relate information to colors, textures, smells, and tastes. The physical act of rewriting information can help imprint it onto your brain. Even if you’re a visual learner, read out loud what you want to remember. If you can recite it rhythmically, even better.