You have two different types of memories: short-term memories, in which your mind retains a piece of information just long enough for you to use it, usually a few seconds to minutes; and long-term memories, where you make an effort to retain information you need for long periods. Memory loss is a universal experience, but there are things you can do to increase and improve your memory.
Use Mnemonic Devices
A mnemonic device is clue or a reference you use to help you remember specific things; you usually associate the thing you want to remember with a visual image, a phrase or a word. Help Guide says there are a variety of different mnemonic devices you can use to help improve your memory, including: rhymes and alliterations, such as "30 days hath September, April, June and November"; sentences, where the first letters of the words in the sentence represent the initials of what you want to remember; visual images, where you associate vivid and colorful images with the thing you need to remember; chunking, where you arrange lots of information into smaller categories; and method of loci, where you place things you need to remember metaphorically in different places along a path that is well-known to you, such as your drive to work.
Stimulate Mental Activity
When you engage in activities to keep your brain busy and active, you keep it healthy and alert, according to MayoClinic.com. Engage in activities that will challenge you and challenge your normal thinking patterns. These changes can be tiny adjustments, such as brushing your teeth or combing your hair with your opposite hand. Read articles or books in topic areas you normally don't. Don't always go the same way to get home after work; learn new routes. Take up crossword puzzles or sudoku. Socializing with people outside of your normal group also will challenge your mental abilities and help improve your memory, MayoClinic.com reports.
Get Physical Exercise
The benefits of physical exercise are not limited to your physical health; it can also help improve your brain function and memory. According to MayoClinic.com, physical exercise increases blood flow to your brain, which helps improve your cognitive function and your ability to remember more. Physical exercise can also reduce your risk for physical disorders that have been shown to contribute to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. MayoClinic.com suggests that 30 minutes of aerobic activity per day can help enhance your memory skills.
Improve Your Organization
Being organized increases your likelihood of remembering things. To help your memory, you should write things down, take notes if the material is intricate and use a calendar to document necessary dates and appointments. The act of writing alone will help improve your chances of remembering these things, and if you forget, your organizational strategies will make it easy for you to find the information.
