Is it possible to boost your memory?

“How can you boost your memory” is a pretty popular search query these days. We’ve all had that frantic moment when we can’t find our keys, phone or bank card. Chances are, if you are under 35, these temporary lapses don’t faze you at all. But as we get older, somehow the forgetful moments seem to increase and soon names may escape you and learning new skills requires a bit more thought and concentration. So, is it inevitable that our memory slowly decreases or is there anything we can do to slow this down?

 

Improved Memory is not a myth

Don’t panic!

The only myth is that memory is destined to fail as we age. In fact, our brain makes new pathways all the time. What we need to do is treat our memory like a muscle and take much better care of it. Of course, there are illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, but if you are generally healthy there are lots of practical, natural ways to begin boosting your memory today.

The main areas are:

• Nutrition
• Sleep
• Hydration
• Managing Stress
• Stimulation

Follow my tips below.

 

Nutrition – The key to Lifelong Health

You already know that what you eat determines your health and vital energy but did you know that some food groups have a dynamic effect on the youthfulness of your brain?

Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago found that in case studies, those who followed diet they were researching “moderately well” reduced their risk of Alzheimer’s by about a third. GP’s often stress that diet directly affects the heart, recent studies are clearly showing that nutrition directly affects the brain.

We think it is incredibly exciting that memory loss and mental sharpness can be directly enhanced via good nutrition. In the study above, of the 900-people aged between 58 & 98 who most closely followed the food recommendations, it was found they had the cognitive function of someone almost 8 years younger! Not only that, they reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s by up to 58%. Truly awe inspiring.

Do you want to know more about these foods? Are you eager to learn how to naturally boost your brain health? Please get in touch.

 

Sleep is essential for a good memory

Sleep really is amazing. Letting your body relax and have enough sleep directly impacts your mental and physical health. Sleep deprived new parents will testify to that. Broken or erratic sleep will affect your energy, productivity, emotions and metabolism.

Research done by the Harvard Medical School suggests a sleep-deprived person cannot focus attention optimally and therefore cannot learn efficiently. Secondly, sleep has a role in the consolidation of memory, essential for processing new information.

 

 

Hydration for Health

You’ve probably heard it before, but making sure you are hydrated is incredibly important for mental clarity and optimal health.

Coffee is delicious, but if you count that as drinking to hydrate you are making a mistake. Try to slowly replace tea and coffee with pure, filtered water or herbal tea.

If you have the beginnings of a headache, before reaching for a pain killer have a glass of water, start to understand your body is trying to communicate thirst.

Aim for the recommended adult minimum of 2 litres of water per day.

 

Manage your Stress Level

A little bit of stress is beneficial.

It keeps us alert and astute.

When stress keeps us awake at night and gives us a gnawing feeling in our gut it is time to address the issues and find some coping strategies.

Mindfulness meditation is a wonderful way of coping with stress and can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. It is a misconception that you must adopt the lotus position and chant to meditate. Mindfulness teaches you to view things totally differently in a calm and focussed manner.

Start with five deep breaths. Inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth, really concentrate on the air intake and visualise yourself pulling in the energising oxygen and revitalising all your body. As you breathe out, imagine letting go of negative thoughts and feelings.

Simply doing breathing techniques such as these will shift your nervous system into a more restful and relaxed state.

You can do this sat on a park bench on a beautiful sunny day or whilst waiting for the bus to pick you up. Begin to understand your body and maintain positive outlook and energy.

 

Brain Power – Use it or lose it!

Step away from the TV and challenge yourself.

Read a book, research a topic, learn a new skill or visit a new environment.

Your life is a journey of learning, people, ideas and creation. All the while, your brain is furiously taking in the new information and stimulus and creating new pathways and data stores. We utilise a fraction of our brain capacity, you can never learn too much!

Start to visualise your brain as a muscle and make sure you exercise it every day.

You will thank yourself down the line.

 

The challenge is set

Just make simple changes.

Feed your brain – I can help you with the right food choices.

Want to know more about what I do and how I can help? Check out my video on the home page.

Age doesn’t affect your memory – YOU do.

Now, where did I put my keys…

 

If you enjoy reading and want an easy, practical guide to help you design a life where you can have it all without burning out, (which expands on all the topics above) then my bestselling book might just be the ticket.

If your preference is for something more interactive, then I’ve taken all of my materials on understanding stress and building resilience into a power-packed 12-module online programme.

It’s in bite-size chunks to keep it manageable and helps you to write your very own resilience formula. Find out more here.