Memory loss is something that puts the patient in a helpless position, where he knows that he is losing important fragments of his precious memories day after day and there is absolutely nothing that he can do to stop that horrific process. However, patients are not 100% helpless as there are several exercises and techniques that can help the patients in stimulating their brain activity in order to retain the power in the brain and keep it for losing rapidly. The more the brain is stimulated and used, the less chances of rapid memory loss at an early stage.
Here are 8 brain exercises to improve your memory:
1. Exercise
Your brain and body are interdependent on each other. If you do not exercise your body, it will prevent the blood in your body to stimulate properly which will gradually start the blood vessels to be blocked with traces of plaque. Nutrients flow through our body when we eat, so if the vessels are blocked, less and less nutrients will reach our brain, which will then have a direct impact on our memory retention and focus. Thus, everyday exercise is necessary, even if it is just a brisk walk, you just need to get everything moving.
2. Crosswords, Rubic’s cube, puzzles, etc.
Brain teasers are known as brain teasers for a reason. These academic exercises help you focus on something with full force. It strains your brain in a positive way, which allows it to exercise and function at a better rate. Those people who regularly attempt puzzles and crosswords will notice that their day would go more productive compared to if they let their brain sit idle.
Considering crosswords, mentally sifting through words that would fit into the boxes enables the brain to remember more and boost your memory. Randomly spelling out words also helps.
3. Music
Listening to your favorite tunes helps your brain relax, but at the same time, it excites your nerves which enables your ears to listen and concentrate on the song that is playing, even if it is the background. Play your favorite music while doing tedious activities such as washing dishes or hanging laundry, to have a good time and allow your brain to process the lyrics simultaneously with sound waves that the music produces, which keeps it from being idle. Maybe even dance a little?
4. Reading & Writing
If you forget things, which is why you are probably reading this in the first place, you should simply write them down! Sticky notes, memo pads or your personal diary, just jot down whatever is going on in your mind. Writing things down creates oxygenated blood flow to areas of your brain that a responsible for your memories. This allows those areas to be automatically exercised.
Simply start a journal or write emails or text messages to yourself. Easy! Just like this, reading what you have written, or any other reading material helps your brain to take in more information, expanding the memorization capacity that you currently have. All in all, both of these things improve your memory.
5. Stress-busting
When it comes to memory and focus, stress is an enemy. Chronic stress has adverse effects on the hippocampus, which is a part of our brain responsible for creating new memories and recalling old ones. If stress continues to damage brain cells, memory loss, or even worse is inevitable. So to fight of stress, you should be able to understand the difference between unrealistic and realistic expectations, you should know when to say no to something.
Allow yourself to take breaks between work and it is absolutely not necessary to multitask all the time as it strains your brain. Also, do not forget to have yourself a nice laugh from time to time!
6. Social contact
Friends and family are a blessing when it comes to maintaining personal health. Conversing and talking out loud are very important exercises for your brain. The more you talk, discuss relative topics, listen, and interpret information from different people or sources, the more it will stimulate your brain and make it work faster, directly impacting your memory.
7. Visualize & Photograph
Your eyes help your brain to see things and put them into perspective. Running through picture magazines or newspapers, and interpreting them is a great way to let your brain jog through different sceneries. You can also try photographing things that you want to remember which will most likely prompt your brain into remembering exactly what you had photographed, hence, improving your memory.
8. Most importantly, feed and rest your brain.
More than 50% of your brain is made up of fat, which makes it absolutely necessary for you to eat healthy as well as consume a blend of fatty acids. The fat helps the brain to insulate the brain cells, the more insulated the cells, the faster the messages and thinking process.
This optimizes your memory. Important foods to eat would be fish and leafy green vegetables. Yes, sleep is also an exercise, when it comes to the brain. Think of it as an overworked treadmill which obviously needs rest by the end of the day.
You may notice that you tend to forget things more when you are tired after a long day. Minimum 8 hours of sleep in necessary for the brain to function properly the next day. If you keep your sleep and diet routine in check, it will have a positive impact on your memory in the long term.
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