10 Tips to Sharpen and Improve Memory

9. Eat More Brain Foods

What you eat affects your brain and memory. In fact, food provides fuel for the brain to function properly. Certain foods can even reduce your risk of dementia in old age.

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet that is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids can make a lot of difference. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include cold-water fish as well as walnuts, spinach, broccoli, and kidney beans.

You can also consider taking EPA or DHA supplementation. A 2014 study published in Human Psychopharmacology reports that EPA-rich supplementation can help people’s  brains work ‘less hard’ and achieve a better cognitive performance .

Also, eating more fruits and vegetables that are packed with antioxidants can help protect brain cells from free-radical damage and stimulate the production of new brain cells.

10. Quit Multitasking

If you have a habit of multitasking to be more productive, stop doing it right now. It will negatively affect your memory.

Multitasking actually distracts your brain and prevents you from focusing on and completing one thing. Always remember that the brain doesn’t actually multitask. Instead, your brain switches focus from one thing to the other. This is why it is difficult to read a book and hold a conversation at the same time.

A 2011 study published n Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that multitasking takes a significantly greater toll on the working memory of older people .

Be attentive and give your full focus to one thing at a time, especially when you are trying to learn new things.

Additional Tips

• Chat more with friends. Having a conversation with another person requires your brain to complete several high-level processes at once.
• Regularly challenge your brain with new places and information.
• Mind wandering may allow your brain to better catalog and store memories.
• Use mnemonic devices to help you remember information.
• Another trick to help you remember certain things is to incorporate multiple senses into the memory. Also, try to relate it to something you already know.
• Writing down new information helps reinforce it in your mind.
• People who clench their right fists while learning new material have better recall power.
• Do not take any medication without consulting your doctor, as there are many medicines that will affect your central nervous system.

Resources:

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