If you've ever tied a string around your finger or left a sticky note on a mirror, you know how hard it can be to remember essential things from time to time. If you suffer from chronic forgetfulness, there are steps you can take to improve your memory and make it easier to remember even the littlest details.
Exercise Your Brain
Your brain, just like your heart, is an organ that needs lots of exercise to stay healthy. Keeping your brain active through mental exercise is an effective way to improve memory, according to the Mayo Clinic. Crossword puzzles help with memory recall by using clues to jog the memory to recall pieces of information and how to spell the words within the puzzle. Reading also can help keep the brain healthy and active. Avoid watching too much television, as it requires passive concentration.
Use Memory Tricks
If you need to memorize a list or other information, try mnemonics, or the use of a phrase or poem to help jog the memory. For example, make remembering the colors of the rainbow easier by remembering the name Roy G. Biv. Each letter in that name stands for an individual color found in the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. You can also make up a song to remember things, such as a silly tune to help you remember which months of the year contain 31 days. Humor and song are both effective ways to jog the memory, according to Penn State University, so take advantage of one or both when the occasion permits.
Get Organized
A cluttered life can lead to a cluttered mind, according to the Mayo Clinic. A mirror chock full of sticky notes won't do much good if there are so many notes that you can't comprehend them. Use a single notebook and organize your thoughts and action items in an ordered manner, and erase or check off to-do items as you complete them. If you have problems remembering where you put your keys or wallet, dedicate a spot on your nightstand or kitchen counter to park them when you take them out of your pocket. Get a key rack to hold your keys. Do things over and over again enough, and they will become habits and part of your memory.
