Do you find that tying a string around your finger just doesn’t cut it? It’s quite exhausting trying to remember the names of people you meet, addresses, study material and other general day to day occurrences like shopping lists or after-school activities. But why is it so difficult to remember? It all comes down to our brain activity and the connections or patterns our brain creates to help us remember. Everything starts as working memory, which acts likes a notepad and once it’s not useful to you anymore, you let it go. If the memory is useful, you commit it to long-term memory where it can be strengthened and recalled later.

Sleep helps the brain to consolidate short-term memories by recreating that same pattern of brain activity. This helps to strengthen the patterns created during the day and stores the information so you can recall it at a later time. How is this helpful? Imagine yourself studying for a test. The first time you’re exposed to the content is when you hear it from the teacher in class, that night while you sleep the information gets stored and is strengthened the next time you open the book to start summarising the work. That’s why trying to stuff as much information into your brain right before a test won’t be as effective as prolonged exposure to the work. So how do you improve your memory?

Meditation

As adults, the maximum number of items we can keep in our working memory is 7. That’s not a lot, especially if it seems like you have a hundred things to remember daily. Meditation is proven to improve and strengthen memory. It’s somewhat counterintuitive. During meditation, our brains stop processing information as actively as it normally would. Try this for a couple of weeks and see if you can recall more than 7 items!

Berries

Healthy living is associated with healthy eating, but how does berries help improve long-term memory? According to Harvard researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, berries such as strawberries and blackberries can actually delay memory decline by two and a half years. Did you know that berries are high in flavonoids which is known to strengthen existing connections in the brain, making it the ideal snack for long-term memory?

Exercise

Try taking a brisk walk everyday to help prevent memory decline. We all know that regular exercise is good for you, but what impact does it have on the brain? Well it helps with memory recall and improves cognitive abilities beyond memory.

Suggested reading to improve your memory

• Memory by Anne Whitehead
• Improve your memory by Jonathan Hancock

Have you tried any of these methods for keeping your memory in tip-top shape? What works best for you? Let us know in the comment section below.