Natural Ways to Boost Your Memory

As you take a journey toward self-growth, one of your most important assets is your memory. A good memory helps you to learn, focus and keep track of the progress that you are making. Some people have issues with their memory, especially their short-term memory. If this is you, there are things that you can start working on right now that will give your memory the boost that it needs. As you start to sharpen your memory, you will find that many of the tasks you do each day are much easier to complete.

Get Moving

People who tend to have good memories also tend to get physical activity regularly. When you exercise on a regular basis, this helps to keep the blood vessels in your brain open and healthy. This allows for adequate blood flow to the brain so that the brain gets the nutrients that it needs. When your brain is healthy, you are going to find it a lot easier to remember things. If you are having one of those days where you feel that you just cannot remember anything, take 15 minutes to get some physical activity and you will find that this helps to clear your mind and boost your brain power so that you can better retain information and remember things.

Alleviate Stress

Stress acts sort of like a wall in that it affects your ability to remember things, especially in the short-term. When you have a lot of stress, brain levels of cortisol start to rise and cause problems. When brain levels of the hormone cortisol are elevated, this has a direct impact on the hippocampus area of the brain. This is where the storage of short-term memories is, so when stress causes an increase in cortisol, it affects your ability to store short-term memories.

Reducing stress is not easy, but it can be done. As soon as you start taking the right steps, you will find that it is easier to remember things and that your mind is much clearer. You can start working on your stress by simplifying your schedule and using a variety of relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, yoga and meditation.

Sleep Well

If you are not getting enough sleep, your memory will start to suffer. In fact, those who do not get at least seven hours each night have a reduced ability to store short-term memories. When you sleep, you are essentially recharging your brain so that it is able to function at an optimal level. If you find yourself feeling sluggish during the day and unable to remember things, consider taking a quick 30 minute nap. This gives your brain a quick recharge so that you are able to remember the things that are important.

Write it Down

Many people who are working on boosting their memory take the time to write things down. This helps you to improve your memory in two ways: first, it gives you a visual reminder of the things that you need to do. Second, writing things down literally exercises the areas of your brain that are responsible for memory. This helps to send more oxygenated blood to those areas, giving your brain a boost.

Fuel Your Brain

Your brain needs a combination of nutrients each day to function at an optimal level. You want to eat plenty of foods with brain-healthy nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins. These nutrients will protect the health of your brain and the level of the nerve cells, or the most basic level. Get a mixture of fish and dark leafy green vegetables. If you have any nutrient deficiencies, you can also talk to your doctor about getting started on a quality supplement. What is important is that you take the steps necessary to give your brain the nutrients that it requires.

Start using these natural memory-boosting tips today to excel on your journey to self-growth. A good memory is important for things remembering your friend's birthdays, keeping track of special events and remembering the things that you need to get done for work or school. When you have a good memory, you will automatically be more productive and able to accomplish more each day. As soon as you start working on your memory, you will find that the results are almost immediate and continued work builds upon your progress.

- Rosemary Kitchen

References

Wolchover, N. (2012). 6 Fun Ways to Sharpen Your Memory. Retrieved on March 11, 2015 from http://www.livescience.com/17756-6-fun-ways-sharpen-memory.html