How can I improve my memory?

Question

My memory is not good, I guess due to years of living but I am hoping it isnt permanant situation, I need some ideas on improving my memory

Answer 1

They do a little quiz game on iwantoneofthose.com it is designed to help you improve your memory.

Answer 2

As a psychologist who has also suffered brain damage, and had memory problems, you can think of memory as having 2 components: 1- memory storage and 2- memory recall.

For many it's the 'recall' elements that hinder us. Though the better the memory establishment, the higher the likelihood that you can get recall.

It's helpful to aim to narrow down which of these you would need assistance with. It may be both, and there are strategies that can be employed that will help with these. All memories can be improved upon, even for those with severe brain damage.

Aim to work in small steps, and notice the improvements as you go along. Generally working on your techniques will provide improvements, and it can help to think of your brain as like muscles that can be strengthened, though need exercising on a regular basis.

Regular repetition will help these new strategies become more habituated, and thus eventually more the norm for you, as well as more automatic, so that you won't need to think about it.

Figure out where you are better than in other areas. Eg. are you good at finding your car in large supermarket car parks, can you recall faces well but not names as equally? Then there are specific tips that will help you adopt new strategies to compensate.

Also, putting yourself in the most enabling state of mind will also aid recall. The more stressed etc. that we feel, the less likely we often become at recalling easily and effortlessly. It can also help to practise managing your state of mind, so that you can transition when you need it, from a poorer state to a much more enabling state of mind. Think of a few times when your memory works well and aim to realise what the qualities are of those times, were you less pressured etc?

Some simple exercises:
remember increasingly long strings of random numbers, eg. 4,5,6 numbers long and upwards. Then practice remembering some of them for increasingly long periods of time.
Ask people that you know what they do to help them remember things that you have difficulties with: try-on their techniques to see if they work for you. If it does, repeat until you get more proficient.
Aim to give information you want to remember your undivided attention - studies prove that when we don't, our memories are not as likely to recall info.
If you want to remember something, put yourself back into the scene that you were at as fully as possible. Recall how you felt, what you were seeing, hearing etc. The police use this to help witnesses recover detail from past events.

* Good aerobic exercise has also been shown to help some people to improve their memories. This may help you too.
* Sleep as well as you can, as lack of sleep will also degrade memory.
* Eat a good natural healthy diet, so that you're not missing out on important vitamins and minerals.
* There is a supplement called 'EyeQ' that is a mix of EPA /DHA/GLA long chain fatty acids, which have been shown to help memory and other brain functions. Perhaps you could try this, available in Tesco's, Boots etc.

There are some online games available, aimed at retraining your memory too, such as :http://www.memoryzine.com/memoryfitnessgames.html

Just some quick thoughts. Hope this helps.

Good luck! Rob

Answer 3

I'm sure it isn't permanent. Your memory gets worse through lack of use, and improves with use.
Get yourself a memory programme, you can use either a book or audio set. It teaches you to re-awaken your memory, and use it to it's full extent.
There are also exercises you can do to keep your brain healthy and agile, like crossing your arms, and then crossing them the other way. Same with your legs. Everything you automatically do one way, try doing the other. It wakes up the half of your brain you use the least.

Answer 4

I think crosswords,sudoku and other number or word puzzles like that can help. Or after you've learnt something keep repeating it in your head at random times during the day to try and keep it fresh. Maybe you could learn a new fact every day and see if at the end of a week you can remember all of them.

Answer 5

It happens to everyone~ I've never been too good at remembering, and after forcing myself a little more than i thought I can handle, I seem to improve.Do little things that keeps your brain active, like using your brain to learn intelligent things, gardening, playing puzzle, relaxing and drinking ginseng helps improve your memory.

http://www.helpguide.org/life/improving_memory.htm

Below is a link to a good article about memory improvement.
http://brain.web-us.com/memory/improving_memory.htm
http://www.aarp.org/learntech/wellbeing/a2004-06-23-tools.html

Answer 6

Either take 100mg omega 3 supplement each day and/or have oily fish at least twice a week. Also do puzzle books, like sudoku.

Answer 7

Depends if its long term or short term memory. Crosswords reading puzzles are all good for this type of problem.

Answer 8

Eat oily fish twice a week.

Make a list of items and remember them by recalling them one by one.

Use buzz words for things that you can never remember

Jot things down

Keep a diary - I do

Answer 9

take omega 3 capsules im serious you will have to take one each day.(cod liver oil) your memory & concentration will improve ,you will need to continue taking them to get results
Read & try brain training software

Answer 10

oh look at your pictures from the past might reacll memory back.