Ever feel as if your memory just is not what it used to be? That is a common feeling and it is tempting to chalk those changes up to aging or something else. But there might be more you can do to help your memory, and it is not as tough as you might think. There are changes you can make using some of these ideas as memory boosters.
Six Memory Boosters to Try Now:
More Nutrition
Nutrition is the building block for everything in your body and brain. If you are skimping on nutrients, like eating a lot of processed foods, your brain is not getting all of what it needs to stay healthy. Your brain needs healthy fats in moderation along with fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and complex carbohydrates. Do not worry about changing everything at once. Start adding healthy choices into your diet gradually and learn what you love eating.
Stay Socially Engaged
Science is learning more and more every day about how social engagement helps humans to stay healthier emotionally, physically, and mentally. Not everyone needs the same amount of social engagement, of course. But if you are feeling lonely, find ways to spend time with the people you love.
Prioritize Sleep
Your brain never goes to sleep, but it uses the time when you are asleep to move information from short-term memory to long-term memory. If you are not getting enough sleep or your sleep quality is consistently bad, that is making things difficult for your brain. And you’re probably noticing more memory issues than usual. Prioritize sleep and watch your memory improve.
Physical Exercise
As much as exercise is recommended, you might think it is a cure-all for everything. That is not true, but it is helpful for your body and your brain. Talk with your doctor, especially if you have not exercised in a while, and make sure that you are cleared to get moving. Then find something you love so that you will want to keep moving.
Mental Exercise
Exercising your body helps your brain, but there are plenty of ways to exercise your brain, too. One way is with games and puzzles. These help your brain to have fun while also working out a bit. You might also want to consider going old school, too. Try out some memory tricks, like memorizing a phone number or a short poem. The more you practice working on your memory, the better it is going to get.
Do not Ignore Stress
Stress is a huge problem in modern society, but you can not avoid it altogether. The healthiest, happiest people still face stress every day. What you can do, however, is to learn how to manage it. Find out what helps you to destress and make a commitment to include those activities in your daily and weekly life. Things like exercise and nutrition help with stress relief, by the way, so the more you adhere to those goals the better off you will be in several areas.
Keeping your brain and your memory sharp is all about making sure that you are meeting all of your needs as much as possible. Some days are going to be easier than others, of course, but it is all about giving it the best try you can.
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