5 easy ways to boost your memory
As we age, it’s only natural for our memory to decline a little. While it may be indicative of a larger problem, more often than not, memory lapses are nothing to worry about. That being said, there are a number of steps you can take to improve your recall ability, and they require very little time and effort.
1. Get in the habit
Think about the little things you do every day, like taking a shower, making a cup of tea, hanging the washing out to dry. These are the habitual actions we perform without needing to rely on our memory. So, it stands to reason that if you want to remember something, making it a habit is a good rule of thumb. Always losing your keys? Keep forgetting to take your tablets or vitamins? Simply put them in the same place every time.
2. Get visual
Katya Sebeson, author of Improve Memory in 5 Steps recommends leaving visual markers around the house as subtle reminders. “When there's something I can't forget to do before bed, I put an item on my pillow that isn't supposed to be there – like a can of cat food – to get my attention,” she tells Prevention.
3. Put forgettable items next to essential items
What item do you never fail to leave the house without? It could be your mobile phone, wallet, handbag, shoes or something else entirely. Now, when you need to remember to take something with you (for example, a parcel to send at the post office the next day) place it right next to the item you never leave home without.
4. Word association
Constantly forget people’s names? Don’t worry, we all do! Australian memory champion and coach, Tansel Ali, suggests associating the name with a similar-sounding or alliterate word, like “Mark” with the “dark” hair. “If we encode a name in our brain so that it becomes an image, from there we can create a story we're sure to remember,” Ali tells Prevention.
5. Turn your to-do list into a story
You don’t need to rely on taking a physical to-do list with you everywhere. According to Ali, it’s better to break each item down to its location. Say you need to get a dental check-up, have lunch with Julie and need to buy some pasta for dinner. Be creative and turn that list into a narrative – no matter how bizarre. “If an engaging story is built in your head, that’s the core foundation,” Ali tells Body + Soul. “It’s very difficult to forget.”
Image: Getty