VWB Blog Did you know that over 10 percent of adults past the age of 45 have memory issues? Memory problems can start out small, but compound if you do not nip them in the bud when you start to notice changes in your thinking.
What can you do to help you improve your memory? Here are some key tips to maintaining a fully-functioning mind well into your golden years so you can enjoy them with a clear head.
Get Together With Friends
Seeing people you love on a regular basis is a great way to maintain your memory. This is especially true if you get together with people that you have known for a long time, such as family members or close friends.
In addition, interacting with others can help you to stay positive and you are less likely to develop symptoms of depression. Depression can have a huge impact on memory and often speeds up memory loss, which is why many lonely seniors develop memory problems.
Have an Active Lifestyle
Most people do not exercise enough, so you should try to get your sweat on at least a few times a week anyway. However, exercising can actually have a positive effect on your memory.
Exercising releases endorphins, also known as the runner’s high, which can ward off feelings of depression and sadness. This in turn can increase your memory function.
In addition, exercising will stimulate blood flow all over your body, including in your brain. Giving more blood flow to your brain means that it will operate better overall.
Keeping yourself in good physical shape will also add years to your life, so you can be mentally sharp for much longer as your lifespan increases.
Read, Read, Read
Reading is a great hobby because it can stimulate you mentally and also help with memory improvement. Reading things that excite you forms new connections in the brain between your neurons, which stimulates your memory.
Reading on a regular basis can also ward off conditions like aphantasia, where you are no longer able to visualize what you are reading in your mind. This will allow you to vividly picture what you are reading and add to your experience overall.
Organize Your Life
Organizing your things can provide you with mental stimulation and relief at the same time. It is a good way to learn what exactly you have, and you can accumulate many items over the years that you forgot about.
When you organize your things, you can develop a system that works to help prevent clutter in the future. There are many different organizational methods that promote getting rid of excess junk and keeping only what you need on a regular basis.
If you struggle to remember important things such as appointments, buy a planner or use a digital one through your phone. Writing things down is the best way to ensure that they get done.
Get Enough Shut-Eye
Sleep is vital to maintaining mental acuity, and that only means more as you age. Prolonged lack of sleep can actually cause your memory to worsen, so it is very important that you get enough shut-eye every night to function well in the morning.
Try to establish a regular schedule where you go to bed and wake up around the same time every day. You may feel tempted to sleep in on the weekends, but you should stick to your routine until your body adjusts to getting the right amount of sleep.
Try to aim for around seven to nine hours of sleep a night and make changes based on how your body feels.
Stimulate Your Brain
As you age, you may struggle to find ways to improve memory when you feel the knowledge and mental acuity slipping away. One of the best ways to do this is to actively stimulate your brain through mental exercise.
Buy a crossword puzzle book or word search book at your local supermarket and work the puzzles regularly. You can also download apps for your phone that offer unlimited puzzles for when you are on the go.
You can also sign up for websites that give you daily exercises designed to keep your brain in the best shape possible.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating right can increase your longevity and help you stay healthy in the long run, but it is also important for memory improvement. Try to give your brain the nutrients it needs to function properly, rather than just empty calories.
Try to eat more fruits and vegetables, which are packed with vitamins and minerals that will help your memory stay in shape.
In addition, healthy sources of fats and protein will keep you feeling full for longer, so you do not overeat or crave junk food.
Be a Lifelong Learner
You should always strive to learn new things so that you do not get bored, especially in your golden years. Acquiring a new skill can lessen feelings of depression and loneliness.
Pick up a new hobby that you have always wanted to try and see if you are any good at it. You will also meet new people and potentially make friends with similar interests if you go to a club or get together for your hobby.
Learning new skills has a positive effect on the brain and it is one of the best ways to improve memory.
What Can You Do to Help You Improve Your Memory?
If you are still wondering what can you do to help you improve your memory, you should not have to worry about losing your mental condition any time soon. With these tips, you can maintain and improve your memory so that you will have sharp focus and recollection for years to come.
Would you like to know more about how you can keep your mind and body in the best shape possible? Check out our site for more advice and inspiration to maintain a healthy lifestyle.