Did you forget your keys at home? Did you forget to send that email at work? If forgetfulness is causing you problems as well, then you have come to the right place.
Firstly, you should know that forgetfulness is nothing to be ashamed of; in the environment that we live in, it is quite common for people to forget things because of stress and anxiety.
Our brain is involved in voluntary and involuntary action, and like the rest of the body, we need to care for it too.
Hence, improving memory and focus is a priority for many people. Therefore, in today’s post, I am going to tell you eight brain exercises that will boost your memory and increase your mental abilities. Keep reading to learn more.
Recall exercises are perfect for improving your memory, and they are straightforward and easy to do. To make the exercise more relatable, create a grocery list. Memorize the list, and after an hour or so, see how many items you can recall.
Keep making the exercise more difficult by increasing the items on the list, and increasing the time after which you try to recall them. This exercise can stimulate your mind and make it easier for you to remember things.
You can also make this game competitive. Get a friend to remember the same list as you, and see who can recall the most items, in the right order. This will make the game more fun and exciting.
Learn new things:
Studies have shown that learning new things can be very beneficial for our memory, and it can even decrease the risk of mental deterioration diseases like dementia as you grow older.
How about learning a musical instrument, it will be fun and great for your memory as well? Another great exercise is to learn a new language.
A recent study published by the journal of experimental child philosophy found that children who were bilingually performed significantly better than monolingual children on working memory tasks. The study concluded that knowing multiple languages contributed to improved memory.
Draw maps from memory:
This is one of the most effective memory-enhancing exercises on this list, which can be quite helpful in your day to day life. Whenever you visit a new place, try to remember it as thoroughly as possible, and make a map when you get home.
This exercise won’t only improve your memory, but it will also enhance your spatial awareness.
Refine your hand-eye coordination:
Doing exercises that implement hand-eye coordination can do wonders for your focus. They can strengthen your cognitive abilities and boost your memory as well.
From something as simple as playing catch to more focus intensive activities like knitting or doing puzzles, there are various exercises that you can try.
Do some mental math:
Solving mathematical problems without writing them down is another great way to boost your memory and cognitive ability. You can find loads of mental math quizzes online. Start with simple ones involving addition and subtraction, as you improve your skills move on to move complex problems.
This is an excellent way to challenge your mind and improve your memory and cognitive skills.
Some studies have also shown that massage can be beneficial for the brain as it helps counter stress and anxiety, which are a significant reason for forgetfulness. So, how about sitting in a massage chair while doing mental math exercises.
You might be thinking, are massage chairs for arthritis patients? Well, the answer is No, anyone can use them, and they have many benefits.
Play mind games:
One of the most effective ways to improve your memory is to play mind games like Sudoku, Scrabble, and crosswords. You can start with easier problems and work your way up as you get better.
These games can significantly enhance your cognitive abilities, and they are quite fun as well.
Moreover, you can also download some memory-intensive games on your phone. You can find loads of apps that have tasks of varying difficulty so that you can train your mind to be sharper and more energetic.
Make a mind palace:
If you know about Sherlock Holmes, you’ll know about the concept of a mind palace. Though it may seem like a fictional construct, creating a mind palace is an authentic memory improvement technique.
It involves using your imagination and creativity to envision the things that you are trying to remember physically. There are loads of techniques that you may use; however, here is an example to get you started.
For instance, imagine you had to remember the names of all the continents in alphabetical order. Instead of cramming, imagine a mind palace, it could be any place that you are comfortable in; however, most people choose their home.
In your mind palace, place Africa on your front door, then place Antarctica in the hallway, Asia on the stairs, and so on until you reach your room. If you try to recall the names, imagine walking from your front door to your room, and you will be able to envision the names of the continents along the way.
Creating a mind palace is a great technique that is used by many people, so give it a try if you want to boost your memory.
Play card games:
Playing cards can be a lot of fun, especially if you are winning. One way to ensure that you win every time is remembering the cards. Now, this is going to be difficult in the beginning, but as you keep practicing, it will get more accessible, and you will see drastic improvements in your ability to remember things.
When you are playing, try to make a mind map of the visible cards. Considering you are playing a game like “bluff,” you will see many cards as the move from player to player. Remember which player has which cards, and this will allow you to make logical decisions.
You will be able to make the correct choices and play better than everyone else, ensuring that you improve your memory and have loads of fun.
However, developing such a skill will take a lot of time, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t keep up in the beginning.