How to Improve Your Memory

While we may never understand exactly what is going on inside the heads of animals, we like to think that it is our memories, above all else, that separates us from "uncivilized" beasts. We remember love, compassion, intense pleasure, and even more intense pain, and it is these memories, for better and for worse, that define who we are as individuals.

Some diseases, namely Alzheimer's, robs us of those memories, and in turn, dehumanizes us to a point where we are barely people any longer, so it makes sense that people are constantly searching for tips, tricks and activities they can implement to help improve memory.

Let's take a look at some of the most popular choices, and remember, your mileage may vary.

It's All In Your Head
Exercises for your Brain
Exercise
Diet like a Pro
Fight back against stress

It's All In Your Head

Since empirically measuring memory is extremely difficult, many experts believe that some people who believe that they have a bad memory only do so because they have convinced themselves of that fact. While you may run into occasional evidence that you have forgotten something important, remember that this is a phenomena that all of us endure at age 8 and at age 80. Few medical conditions can honestly be diagnosed as psycho-somatic, but in the case of memory loss, that might just be the case.

Exercises for your Brain

If you are like most people, you spend your day staring at a computer screen thinking about things you would rather be doing. You head home for the day and the only thing you want to do is sit down to a good meal and zone out in front of the tube. While this reaction to mundane everyday life is normal, it isn't the best thing for your memory. If you treat your brain like it is any other muscle, you will notice better performance, and not just from your memory. Try reading a challenging book instead of watching television or take part in an interactive computer game or online forum where you are forced to think and react. You don't even have to do any specific memory games or activities, just put your brain in a position where it can be active, not passive.

Exercise

Other than delicious oxygen, the one other ingredient that your brain craves more than any other is fresh blood. Good circulation is an essential part of living a healthy life and having a healthy brain, and nothing gets the blood flowing like exercise. If you live in a small apartment, try doing aerobics in front of the television, or go out for a run. You can always make excuses not to exercise, but when you consider the fact that you are risking your long term mental health by not staying active, is it really worth it?

Diet like a Pro

Is there anything that a balanced diet and exercise can't do? What you need to remember here is that your body is a natural, organic machine and that when you feed that machine junk, you can expect junk performance, and that includes a poor, haphazard memory. The experts still aren't in full agreement on memory supplements or herbal pills aimed at keeping you sharp but there is one thing everyone can agree on: a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, fresh fruits and veggies, and lean meats will keep all of your body in top shape. You may also want to try abandoning the traditional three meals a day mantra that you grew up on. Recent studies have shown that if you spread out what you what you eat over six smaller meals per day, you stabilize your blood sugar throughout your day which can give you more energy and increase brain function. Who knew chronic snackers were right all along?

Fight back against stress

It isn't that stress in its pure form destroys your memory; that would be too easy. It is more like stress prevents your brain from ever turning off the flashing red alert sign that allows for other, less essential brain functions from taking hold. You can still have a decent memory when you are stressed out all the time, but the process of making new memories and retrieving older ones becomes more difficult because the majority of your brain function is being rerouted for other things. No one, not even your old stoner roommate from college, can lead a stress free lifestyle, but try to introduce new relaxation techniques in your life and try to manage your time better so you feel like you have the ability to get everything done in a day. Like the old saying goes, you can't stop stress, you can only hope to contain it. Ideally, stress is a short term way for your body to be pushed beyond its limits. Too much stress and your body may experience irreparable damage.