Tips to Improve Your Memory–Part 1

You don’t need to be a baby boomer or older to feel like you are getting more forgetful these days. We can all use some tips on how to better retain information. This is the first of a two-part post with some advice from the experts—leaders in the fields of cognition and aging—on how to improve your memory.

Paint a mental picture—We forget names and dates when they don’t engage our imaginations. Make a name or experience memorable by painting a mental picture for yourself. For example: “Martin Van Buren” could be visualized as “a Martian in a van burning.”

Switch things up—Having trouble learning and retaining new information on your computer? A recent study by psychologists at Princeton and Indiana University reveals that adults who studied complicated information that was printed in unfamiliar fonts scored better on tests than those who read the text in a popular typeface. It seems that the harder font forces the brain to concentrate more intently on the information.

Talk to yourself—“Tip of the tongue” memory lapses are more common as people age because the neural connections in our brains tend to weaken. This explains those embarrassing memory lapses such as when we meet someone we know but can’t remember their name. Names are especially problematic because we can’t substitute other words for them. So if you are going to a social event, for example, try rehearsing the names of the people who will be there. Also, when you meet someone for the first time, say their name out loud so you will be more likely to remember it. It helps to stay relaxed and not panic, and you are more likely to recall the actual name.

Dr. Jane Stewart at Optiminds has been helping people of all ages improve their memory skills. Find out more about Optiminds programs by calling us today at (248) 496-0150 or email us at: jstewart@optimindsct.com. And be sure to visit our website at www.optimindsct.com.

Tags: Boomers Brain Fitness, brain fitness exercises, Dr. Jane Stewart, memory improvement, memory skills, memory tips, optiminds, senior brain fitness