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.