You don't have to forget more as you get older, according to Harvard Health Publication's HealthBeat. Just as regular exercise and a healthy diet can keep your body healthy, practicing brain-building activities can keep your memory strong and healthy, too. If you feel like you're having so much trouble remembering things that it affects your everyday life and activities, ask your doctor to check for possible medical causes.
Put Your Brain to Work
One of the best ways to boost your memory is to keep your brain active with mind-exercising activities, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Keep your brain busy by doing activities such as crosswords, making changes in your regular routes and routines, learning a new language or skill or volunteering at a community organization.
Move Around
You're more likely to remember things when you have physical as well as mental associations with them, according to St. Charles Community College. When you have something you want to remember, sit up straight and lean forward, gesture with your hands when you're talking or pace back and forth, and you may find the information easier to recall.
Don't Knock Your Memory
Believing that you have a faulty memory can contribute to memory problems, according to the Harvard Health Publications HealthBeat. If you're feeling negatively about your memory because of commercials and news stories associating aging with memory loss, look for positive news about adults and memory to restore your confidence.
Don't Try to Remember Everything
Write down simple, factual information like your nephew's birthday or your next doctor's appointment, recommends Aaron P. Nelson, Ph.D., chief of neuropsychology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and author of "The Harvard Medical School Guide to Achieving Optimal Memory." Save your memory for things that can't be easily jotted on a notepad or calendar.
Have a Conversation
Making time for social engagements can boost your memory by preventing depression and stress, two proven memory drains, according to MayoClinic.com. Social interaction can be especially beneficial for people who want to improve their memories who live alone, so look for opportunities to meet up with friends, family and colleagues.
Repeat It
According to HealthBeat, you'll remember something better if you repeat it out loud, so look for ways to reinforce new information by repeating it. For instance, when someone introduces herself, use her name throughout your conversation to remember it, or if you're trying to memorize information, read it out loud and then repeat it again so that you reinforce your memory.
Ban Boredom
If you decide something is boring, you're much less likely to remember it, according to St. Charles Community College. If you're confronted with a topic that you think is dull, look for ways to relate it to something that you are interested in and you'll be more likely to remember it.
Employ Visualization
If you're prone to forgetting why you walked into the kitchen or what someone's name is, visualization may help, says Zaldy S. Tan, M.D., director of the Memory Clinic at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and author of the book "Age-Proof Your Mind." Tan recommends visualizing things as you think of them---a cup of coffee or an egg timer, for instance---or creating visual chains that will make remembering easier, such as picturing yourself building a snowman if you're headed to the basement to unpack your winter clothes or remembering Ann Saylor's name by picturing a Raggedy Ann doll on a sailboat.
Be Physically Active
Regular exercise improves blood flow to your brain, which can boost your memory, according to MayoClinic.com. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day to maximize your overall health and your memory.
Pay Attention
If you forget what you're doing or where you left your car keys, distraction may be more to blame than a faulty memory, according to Nelson. Make a point to focus on what you're doing, and you're less likely to run into issues with forgetfulness.
