Nurturing Memory for Productivity
A strong memory is a valuable asset when it comes to ultimate workplace productivity. A lucky few of us have a naturally reliable memory, but the majority of us can struggle with remembering every important item in our day. Stress, illness, and aging can also all affect our memory over time, so it’s important to find ways to keep your memory strong and resilient.
When it comes to keeping on top of those regular errands, remembering a particularly useful contact’s name in the middle of a meeting, or whether you sent that invoice, nurturing a strong memory can make your workday less stressful and make you less reliant on endless post-it notes and to-do lists. So, how can you strengthen your memory and improve your recall skills? Try giving these top tips a spin.
Top Tips To Strengthen Memory
Keep Active
A brisk walk, jog, run - or even a good dance! - will boost blood flow around the body, including your brain, and help keep the whole body active, energised and sharp. Any form of cardiovascular exercise that gets the heart pumping, without fully exhausting yourself, is a good option for body and brain health. Even just 20 minutes of moderate to heavy exercise can help information and memory processing functions.
Exercise benefits the brain and memory processes in two ways: firstly in the increase in oxygen uptake in the brain as blood flow increases around the body with a faster heart rate, and secondly, as the body releases a combination of hormones regulated to physical activity which act to nourish the growth of brain cells, and encourage brain plasticity.
Keep Mentally Active
Partaking in mental exercises and stimulating the problem-solving areas of your brain can also be a great aid in nurturing brain health and strong and reliable memory. Activities like crossword puzzles, brain teasers, and riddles can help keep the brain quick and responsive. Strategy games like chess, or new hobbies like learning a musical instrument can all stimulate new growth in the brain that supports memory centres.
Embrace Your Role As The Social Butterfly
Keeping socially active and integrated with friends, colleagues and family can do even more than lifting your mood and helping you destress - it can also stave off memory loss. Chronic depression and stress within the body is known to have a detrimental effect on the immune system, and can lead to deterioration in the brain and, specifically, memory processes.
Practising healthy social and self-care habits can increase the feeling of connection, warding off the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and mitigating the damaging effects of stress within the body that damage memory.
Organize Your Life
Making use of organisation within your home and workplace, and keeping your space clean and tidy, can go a long way to improving memory. Making note of forthcoming events or errands, and finding a calendar system that works for you - whether physical or digital - will encourage you to stay focused and feel calmer in keeping on top of things.
When writing to-do lists or making a note for later, try to clear away other distractions, focusing on the task at hand and perhaps even repeating the task to yourself as you write it down. Repetition is known to help transfer of information from the short term to the long term memory and will make you more likely to retain information. Over time, this practice can significantly strengthen your memory.
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene
Consistent, good quality sleep helps the brain clean and repair itself, promoting new brain cell growth and processing and filtering through old and unneeded information. Keeping the brain in optimal condition ensures your memory is also performing at its best.
Sleep also promotes clear focus and cognitive function, which are essential for responsive memory functions. Make sure you’re getting in reliable, quality sleep to give yourself the best chance at improving your memory. Most people find eight to ten hours a night is ideal.
Eat A Balanced, Healthy Diet
Eating well will help to nourish and repair the entire body, supporting cell renewal, immune system support, stress response and memory function. A range of complex carbohydrates with a high fibre content, lean proteins, healthy fats, and a range of colours across fruit and vegetables will create a healthy and sustainable diet for most people.
Conversely, excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol can adversely affect the brain and physiological functions, so this should be consumed in moderation - particularly if you find yourself sensitive to caffeine intake.
