As humans, we aren’t built to remember absolutely everything; our brains have evolved to be efficient with what it stores. Everything that’s vitally important is stored; everything else is left to dissipate into the recesses of the mind. That said, we all have the potential to retain huge amounts of information.
In 2020, memory athlete Syeda Kisa Zehra successfully memorised 241 fictitious dates in 5 minutes at the 29th World Memory Championship. And though you may not think it, your brain has all the hardware necessary to do the same. Much like how we train and exercise our bodies to improve our strength and stamina; we can also train our brains to improve our memory. In this CPD article, we’ll offer hints, tips and tricks that you can practice regularly to help improve memory.
What is memory?
Before diving deep into the tips and tricks, let’s explore what memories are and how we recall them. It’s common knowledge that memories are our brain’s interpretation of past experiences or information stored in our brain. We can often recall this information when triggered, asked, or simply thinking about the past. But, when you think about it, what actually IS a memory, and how do we recall them? A deeper understanding of how memories work should make a little more sense as to why certain memory exercises or brain training games can help improve your memory.
According to The National Geographic, memories are stored in our nerve cells. When we come into contact with a stimulus, such as a specific smell, these nerve cells fire up. This activity between the nerves is what’s known as memory. The more we recall a memory, the stronger the connection becomes and the easier it is for that memory to become long-term.
Can I improve my memory?
In short, yes. As much as we take memory for granted and assume it is a commodity that comes with the human body, it is, in fact, a skill. With practice and an overall healthy lifestyle that supports our well-being, we can improve our memory. Find out how to improve your memory with the following useful tips and strategies.
How to improve your memory
Give your memory something new
We’ll be creating new memories all of the time, without realising it, but challenge your brain and learn something new. A new skill, a new routine, a new activity or even a new habit. Learning a new language, for example, is us actively asking our brains to remember something completely new. We’re not relying on the fact that we will remember a particular experience; we have to work extra hard to retain specific information rather than just an outline of an event, for example.
If you’re considering taking on a new skill, browse through the many certified CPD courses we host at The CPD Certification Service on behalf of our members here.
Use brain training games
Our memory is linked to brain function. So, we must do what we can to keep our brains healthy and stimulated to improve our memory. One of the ways we can do this is by playing brain training games or specific memory games. This could be something as simple as Sudoku, basic memory cards, memorising a number pattern and recalling it, downloading a brain training app, or purchasing a game. Memory improvement games can be used regularly, daily even. They’re a great challenge to incorporate into your daily routine and wake your brain up if it’s feeling sleepy!
Practice meditation
Daily; our brains and minds have much to focus on. We’re a society that loves to multi-task and then add another task on top. We’re on our phones while making breakfast, sorting out our diaries and conversing with someone on the other side of the kitchen. It’s a lot for our brains to take in and remember every detail when multiple things are happening simultaneously. By meditating, we’re training our minds to focus on one thing, relax and support wellbeing. We’re giving our brains a mental break and time to catch up from the day. According to Live Science, people with better mental wellbeing tend to have better memory.
