In this time of the information age, it can be difficult to find a way and to remember important things for you. We've taken a closer look at the science behind memory and put together a list of 12 super easy ways to improve your memory.
Exercise regularly
This may sound strange because there aren't many people who can store important information and exercise at the same time, but exercise, even if you're already taking a brisk walk, can significantly improve your memory.
Here's an explanation of how it works: Exercise increases the oxygen supply in your bloodstream, which increases the amount of oxygen reaching your brain. With that oxygen come valuable nutrients that keep your brain functioning at a high level. A regular training class with friends or a short one Tabata training is a great way to incorporate exercise into your routine. If you're not the type to go to a gym (if they are already open due to COVID-19), try taking the stairs more often instead of the elevator, or walk an extra lap during your breaks and evenings. The walk will get your blood flowing and also release endorphins, which will boost your mood and make your day more fun!
Eat more omega-3 fatty acids
What protein is to your muscles and what calcium is to your bones is what omega-3 fatty acids are to your brain.
The human brain is made up of almost 60 percent fat. And inside that is a large portion made up of an omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
DHA is relevant to your personal and business entrepreneurial life because it promotes the growth of new neurons, allowing signals to move across neurons. Simply put, this allows your brain to work much more efficiently and effectively.
In addition to exercise and sleep, your diet determines the level at which your brain will perform.
By improving your nutritional regimen and absorbing more omega-3s, you improve your memory, your attention to detail, your mood and charisma, and your ability to absorb and apply information.
Start adding foods such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and trout to your weekly menu. If the sound of that food makes your stomach turn or push your nose, invest in a high-quality fish oil supplement.
Drink some green tea
While we are talking about things to take in, it falls green tea certainly under the category of things to have more of. The leafy concoction is rich in brain-protecting polyphenols, and findings suggest that regular drinking can boost your working memory.
Allow your brain to visually see what you want to remember
By displaying the information you want to store in a visual format, you give your brain a secondary way of connecting to the information.
Drawing a diagram or creating a “Mind Map” can help you save and later retrieve the information you want to remember. The physical act of drawing a diagram will in itself help you commit it to memory, but it will also help by creating a new connection between your brain and the material you want to store in your memory.
This also works well with scientific information, as it is often supported by tables and diagrams with additional data. When you want to better store events in your memory, recording in a visual map or timeline when things happened and how they relate to each other can help you better remember all the dates and names surrounding those events.
Read to yourself aloud
Have you ever noticed that it helps to read aloud when you are reading a document? You suddenly hear things that you might otherwise miss when you are reading normally. This also helps your memory. By reading aloud, your brain picks up the things you might skip without ever noticing.
Take a shower and let your brain do the work for you
Apart from the fact that it is wonderful to be refreshed for a while, you might not expect it. But science proves it: Showering gives your brain a much-needed break, allowing you to come up with your best ideas or finally find a solution to that tough challenge.
As you shower, your brain wanders and the things you've unconsciously thought about (like that one problem you just can't solve) come to the fore. Suddenly, that complex problem isn't that difficult anymore.
Test yourself and practice by explaining it to others
Testing yourself on the material you are going through is one of the oldest and most common tricks to aid in memorization. It helps you identify what you know well and what you need to work on more attentively and it reduces the time it takes to retrieve the information, making you more efficient. One of the easiest ways to do this is through so-called flashcards.
Making them by hand basically adds an extra layer of support, as it makes you write everything down as well.
A great way to test then once you feel like you know the material is to teach it to someone else. You do not need to know all the ins and outs about what you want to convey, but the fact that you have a listening ear increases your concentration and focus so that the information will stick in your memory even better.
Watch a documentary and make external contacts
By increasing the number of connections between subjects, you give your brain more ways to access that information. Using such additional external information gives you a trigger that can also make more connections.
Finding a documentary on the topic you want to learn more about is a great way to do this. Documentaries provide great background information that also help create story-based memories. This brain hack is especially great for visual-spatial thinkers who benefit greatly from having the "big picture" to organize their thoughts.
Give yourself some rest
Short pauses give your body and mind time to relax when you want to store a greater amount of information in your memory. Taking a 5- to 10-minute break to meditate, make a phone call, or just listen to music and dance can actually boost your productivity and creativity (this is one reason why Google and Facebook have such awesome office spaces). The stress relief you get from taking a short break gives your brain much-needed processing time and really helps keep exhaustion at bay.
Write it down… the old-fashioned way
One of the great things about this moment is that in the 21st century there is an amazing amount of access to technology. Information is literally at your fingertips. But the physical act of putting a pen or pencil on paper can help you capture information in memory.
It may be faster to take notes on your laptop, but converting those digital notes to the old-fashioned variety is an even better way to internalize the information and store it in your memory.
Being busy
Repeat all of your brain exercises regularly and keep testing yourself to get better. A recent study has shown that our brains absolutely have to be busy to stay fit.
Test yourself repeatedly if you want to keep the correct information in memory for as long as possible.
Go for walks or indulge in some physical activities. Research shows that healthy people who exercise regularly have better memories than those who don't.
SLEEP… and yes, naps too
You've heard it over and over, getting enough sleep (between 7 and 8 a.m., varies from person to person) can greatly benefit your life.
One of the main ways sleep affects you is through memory. While you sleep, your brain processes the information stored in your short-term memory and sorts it through what you did that day. So, if you find yourself more than a little sleepy after a long, intense meeting or day, take a nap. Twenty minutes is just enough to recharge your batteries, but if you have 90 minutes, turn it on and let your REM cycle help you store important information in your memory even better.
Sources include CollegeRaptor (link), Entrepreneur (link), Greatist (link), Harvard (link), Lifehack (link)
