As we get older, our memory degenerates and many elderly people suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease, which seriously impacts the memory. We already know from research that as you get older, you should engage your brain in stimulating ways, and with that in mind, here are a few ways that you can improve your memory.
- Stay Active – A healthy body is a healthy mind, so do make sure that you incorporate physical exercise into your daily routine. If you are in your later years, daily exercise needn’t be too strenuous – daily walks are ideal or even a short session of cycling, as long as you work all of the major muscle groups.
- Engage your Brain – Things like crosswords, chess or even checkers challenge the brain, so find a puzzle or board game that you enjoy and play often. Some computer games are idea for this, as they involve having to figure out successful strategies in order to win, and these types of activities keep receptor paths open in the brain.
- Take Notes and Review – You can plan your day and create a daily diary, jotting down that morning coffee meeting and haircut at Bondi Junction with your favourite hairstylist. While eating your breakfast, go through your plans for the day, and some people say that if you talk to yourself about what you plan to do, this will help to imprint things into your memory. Jotting important things can really help, especially if you are easily distracted, and you can refer to your list whenever you are unsure about what you have to do next.
- Healthy Diet – This is essential for overall well-being and if you include fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet, so much the better. Some older people take a daily vitamin and mineral supplement, which is recommended if your diet is not as healthy as it could be, and a multivitamin supplement will ensure that you are not lacking in essential vitamins and minerals. It is also important to stay hydrated, which means drinking 6-8 glasses of water in a day, and more if you exercise heavily.
- The Importance of Social Contact – This one of the dangers with self-isolation, and it is important to chat with friends, as this stimulates the memory, as you have to recollect past events. If you are self-isolating, you can still have social contact via social media platforms, but when you do go out, try to converse with friends, as this will be beneficial in several ways.
- Visual Aids – The saying ‘out of sight, out of mind’ has some bearing on our ability to remember things, and by putting a photo of your mother next to your car keys could be the trigger to remind you of your planned lunch date with mum. Some people stick post-it notes on their fridge to remind them of things they must take care of, or you could even take a photo of something with your smartphone, if it will remind you of something.
All of the above can be effective if you are trying to improve your memory, and with a little trial and error, your memory will improve.