When is the last time you had a day where you didn't forget something? Whether it's something small, such as an item on a grocery list, or something bigger, such as a name, we've all had times when our memory didn't come through in the clutch.
Don't worry; you're not alone. Memory is like a muscle — your everyday life will keep it working well enough, but unless you do targeted exercises designed to push it, you'll keep having those little memory lapses. So here are three easy exercises you can use to get more from your memory:
Short-term Solutions
Ever have short-term memory loss? Nothing is more frustrating than walking in a room, going in a store or driving somewhere, and then completely forgetting why you went there in the first place (or where you parked). Fortunately, the solution is easy.
Before you do any task, simply tell yourself what you are about to do, where you are, where you're going and any other details that describe the task. The trick is to say it out loud three or four times. By saying it, you actually hear and then reprocess the information. This tricks your brain into making the information more readily accessible to your short-term memory.
The Name Game
People can tell when you've forgotten their name. So you can use these two easy ways to improve your name-remembering skills. The first is to use the trick above — say the name out loud a few times. This is what many politicians do to remember all of the people they meet.
The second way is to name associate. This has a couple of fun options. If the person's name rhymes with another word, you can create your own little verse (e.g., Frank the tank, penny Jenny). Or if the person shares a first or last name with a celebrity, make a quick mental note of the connection (e.g., Frank-enstein, Jenny Craig). Try it out. You'll be remembering more names in no time.
Phone Improvement
Like your computer, your cell phone probably has several tools and extras you never use. Take a look, because if it has a voice memo feature, you have an instant memory saver. With just a push of a button or two, you'll be able to record thoughts, lists or anything else that comes to mind. Usually, cell phone voice memo storage isn't too big (one to three minutes), so plan on saving only the things you'll need in the short or medium term.
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