Photographic Memory : How to Improve Your Memory

Article by William Brister

How to Improve Your MemoryHow often we chide ourselves at forgetting the birthday of a loved one, or the items of the grocery list that you inadvertently left back at home. Sometimes you wish you could remember and retain everything that you read in a magazine, book, newspaper or just a simple list. However, not everyone is blessed with an eidetic memory more popularly known as photographic memory where you can absorb everything you see and read instantly. Most of us rely on our mnemonic devices to remember things.

Although not all of us are blessed with good memories, we can take steps to improve our memory by using some basic memory improvement tips. It has been proven that with time and practice most people can gain the ability to memorize seemingly impossible amounts of information. Thus whether you want to memorize a grocery list, memorize a list for numbers or simply memorize answers, the following memory improvement tips will help you greatly.

Keep your brain active – Regularly exercising the brain will keep it active and help the development of nerve impetus that can help improve memory. Also learning new complex skills, like taking up a foreign language, playing a musical instrument, solving cross words and quizzes will challenge your brain and improve its physiological functioning. Exercise regularly – A fit body leads to a fit mind. A regular exercise regimen improves blood circulation and efficiency throughout the body including the brain. It helps to keep away the irritant of memory loss that usually accompanies ageing. Exercising also makes you more alert and relaxed thus helping you to improve your memory and retention levels. Eating healthy – A healthy diet contributes to a healthy brain. Foods containing antioxidants like broccoli, berries, spinach and others like Omega-3 fatty acids help the brain to function healthily and effectively. Supplements like Thiamine, Vitamin E, Niacin and Vitamin B-6 improve mental functioning. Also, the habit of eating five to six times a day instead of two or three large meals and limiting sugar content helps to reduce the negative effects on the brain leading to improving your memory. Concentrate and observe carefully – Improving observation skills can also help improve memory. Make a conscious effort to remember minor details, people’s names when introduced for the first time, the color of your friend’s dress with whom you went out for dinner, the name of the new shop around the corner etc. One way to train yourself to be more observant is to look at a desk with plenty of items for a few seconds, then turn away and write down all the things you remember being on the desk. Try closing your eyes and mentally picturing all that you had seen a few seconds ago. This way you are building a memory palace and with practice you will notice that you can remember more and more things each time. Forming a memory – Memories are often short lived and you tend to forget something quickly if distracted. The key to avoid losing these memories however fleeting is to focus on the thing to be remembered for a while without any distractions. Repetition – When you want to remember something, keep saying or thinking it repeatedly, so that it will stick in your mind; just like repeating your mathematic tables when you were in school. Grouping of similar things that you want to remember – Multiple and random items can be especially difficult to remember. To improve your memory function, group or categorize items that fit together. For example try and group the produce, vegetables, household items separately so that you better remember your shopping list. Organize your life – Keep items that you use daily in one set place so you are not constantly looking for them everywhere. Use electronic organizers or daily planners to keep track of appointments, due dates for bills etc. Keep phone numbers and addresses separately in an address book, computer or cell phone so that they are always handy. If you organized it helps to free your powers of concentration so that you can remember important tasks.’ Meditation – Meditation improves focus and attention span and leads to improving memory. Mindfulness, also known as awareness or insight meditation is commonly practiced across the world and is easy to learn.