If you had the memory of an elephant, you might be able to remember all the things you have to do in a day. Oh well, you win some and you lose some. But, you can learn ways to improve your memory function. Four ways, in fact, are listed below.
Working Out your Brain
1. Lack of sleep can affect many areas of our lives and memory, too. When you deprive yourself of sleep, your brain can’t function at its full capacity. Nonetheless, research shows that sleep is necessary for memory consolidation, with the key memory-enhancing activity occurring during the deepest stages of sleep. How does sleep deprivation personally affect me? Your critical thinking skills, creativity and problem-solving abilities all can become compromised.
Too little sleep also has been known to cause:
• Depression;
• Increased pain;
• An impaired thought process;
• A decreased immune response;
• Fatigue.
2. As we were beginning preschool or kindergarten, we were told by our parents to be friendly. But, this concept doesn’t just apply to school-aged children. Go out and make a new friend; as humans, we are highly social animals and relationships stimulate our brains. Research indicates that meaningful relationships and a strong support system are vital to both brain health and emotional health as well. There are several ways to jump-start your brain power. All you have to do is join a club, volunteer or make it a point to have contact with friends and family more often (be it over the phone, through Skype, FaceTime or in person). And, don’t worry if no one is available when you want to chit-chat, because a highly-social dog such as a Boxer can help on this front. Here, boy!
3. It’s been said that, “Laughter is the best medicine.” So, why not take this opportunity to laugh at yourself, now? You can learn not to take yourself so seriously by sharing your embarrassing and funny moments with others. Chances are they have a tear-jerking, laugh-out-loud funny story to share with you also. Why is laughter so important? Having a hearty laugh engages multiple regions across the whole brain.
4. Hosts of evidence point to omega-3 fatty acids as being beneficial for brain health. What are omega-3 fatty acids? They are essential fatty acids that we need in order for our bodies to function normally. Fish is an excellent source of omega-3, especially cold water “fatty fish” such as trout, salmon and tuna. But, if you think the benefits of eating this food ends there, think again. These kinds of fish also can lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Experience, the Best Teacher
Everyone wants to feel sharp, alive and at the top of their game. But, the reality is that we sometimes don’t. For many to achieve this it simply may mean changing a few routine things that we do, such as going to bed late or changing our diet to include fish. How do you keep your memory sharp? Feel free to comment using the section below.
Web Links:
–http://www.helpguide.org/life/improving_memory.htm;
–http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/sleep-101?page=2;
–http://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/Boxer;
–http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/omega-3-fatty-acids-fact-sheet.
-Kimberly Williams
[KWLMS] 