1. Talk to Yourself
Getting older doesn't necessarily mean that you must lose brain function. Your brain is like any other part of your body. It needs exercise to stay in good shape. If you want to "store" a memory, talk to yourself. For example, mentally tell yourself, "Remember that person (or this song or this place)" sends a signal to your brain that this is an important piece of information that requires a high rank in your memory. Associate something with that person. For example, if you meet someone named Betty and she has blond hair, you might associate the letter "b" with her hair to remember her name. You can also associate her with the person who introduced you.
2. Remember That Reason is Important to Memory
Assigning reasons as to why something is important to remember are excellent memory exercises. Ask yourself, "Why is this something or someone I need to remember?" The reasons are as varied as the situations of life. Someone you want to build a relationship with, something important to a career move or an appointment necessary for health reasons all pose great significance. Relate a specific reason to the person or event you want to remember as a way of building a strong memory.
3. Get to the How as Well as the Why
How you decide to remember a specific person or thing is important in memory exercises. For example, if you're meeting someone for the first time, make an association in your brain to help you remember that person. Eye color, the shape of his nose, whether he's tall or short, thin or plump all help to build memory. Associate the person with where you met, such as church, the grocery store or at the park.
4. Open the Dictionary
Pick out ten new words from the dictionary each day. Challenge yourself to learn each word, its spelling and its meaning. Write the words down and keep a running list of each new word you learn. Then open a "memory exercise journal" and write the words in sentences. Look them up in a thesaurus to find related words and use them in sentences.
5. Stay Focused
Improve memory function by concentrating. Stay in the moment and focus on what you're doing, even during the simplest daily activities. For example, pay attention to the act of locking your door as you leave home. Watch your hand on the key as you turn the lock. Pay attention as you turn off the coffee pot or close the windows. Focus on the details in each moment and don't allow your mind to wander while you're performing any tasks.
