I’ve been dealing with short-term memory loss for as long as I can remember (no pun intended). Memory loss can be caused by a variety of factors that have no bearing on age such as nutritional deficiencies, health conditions, lifestyle, etc. If you frequently lose your keys while later finding out that you had them in your pocket the whole time or have trouble recollecting details of something you had done last weekend on a regular basis, you may want to check with a health professional to see if your bad memory is within normal limits. In the meantime, there are some remedies and activities that can assist with sharpening your memory.
Brain games
Keep your brain mentally sharp by playing puzzles, crosswords or take up a class where you can learn a new skill. The more active your brain, the further you may keep your memory loss at bay.
Avoid multitasking
Though doing multiple things at once sometimes comes with the territory of our jobs, paying attention to too many things can throw our focus off the information we’re trying to retain – thereby elevating brain fatigue and stress. Limit your distractions as much as possible and keep focused.
Take care of your body
Getting proper sleep, eating a healthy diet and making time for physical activity are essential for keeping your brain in good health and consolidating your memories to recall them later on. Exercising stimulates chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain as well while also generating new brain cells.
Use mnemonic devices
You may be wondering what the heck is a mnemonic? Simply put, mnemonics are techniques used to memorize information so that they “stick” in our brain. Popular mnemonics use image, rhyme or song associations. For example, you may be familiar with the rhyme “In 1492, Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue,” which is easier to remember because of the similar terminal sounds at the end of each line.
Routines are key
Develop routines at work or at home to get your mind into a groove. They can be as simple as hanging up your keys in the same exact spot when you get home or listening to the same song each morning when you wake up.
