Tips on Maintaining your Memory
Samuel Johnson once wrote, "The true art of memory is the art of attention."
Our ability to remember and to recall our past is what links us to our families, to our friends, to our community. We’ve all had days when we can't remember certain things. We can’t find our glasses, but then you feel them on your head. Or, you go to the store to pick up one item, forget to buy that item and end up buying 10 other items!
We all lead busy, active lives and forgetting small things is normal, so relax. A little memory loss is perfectly normal.
As we get older, slight changes in our memory take place. Oftentimes, we don’t notice the change. But sometimes, those changes are disturbing to us or others. Memory loss can be affected by a number of circumstances such as attitude, disuse, illness, sensory losses, emotions, being in a hurried state, medications, alcohol, depression, dementia and stress. The good news is there are tricks that will help to boost your memory.
Listed below are some memory-boosting tricks and tips that you can apply to your everyday life.
- Pay attention and focus. Don’t multi-task when you need to remember something important.
- Relax and reduce distractions
- Repeat, repeat, repeat
- Get organized! Write things down, use a calendar
- Do one thing at a time
- Develop interesting or bizarre images that will help you associate what you want to remember. Use environmental clues to help your association.
- Develop new habits
- Choose to remember—make it conscious
- Say things out loud
- Read
- Socialize with NEW people
- Stay engaged
- Learn something new: language, instrument
- Try solving crossword or jigsaw puzzles
- Exercise. Studies show that physical exercise can improve brain function
- Eat a healthy diet. Studies have shown that diet is linked to memory loss!
Most normal changes in memory should not worry you if they do not interfere with your daily activities or quality of life. However, when memory loss prevents you or a loved one from performing daily tasks, it becomes a health concern that needs further evaluation by a healthcare professional.
If you are concerned about your memory, or a loved one’s memory, talk with your family doctor. Most importantly, know that we are always here to help. For more information about the capabilities of Lakewood Hospital’s SeniorCare Assessment Center, call 216.521.2228 or visit www.lakewoodhospital.org/seniors