Many people commit to exercising their bodies to grow physically stronger. Whether they run regularly or take kickboxing classes, it takes intentionality and commitment to devote time each day to strengthening their bodies. What about your mind? Do you do anything to make your brain or memory stronger? If you have difficulty remembering details from your last sales call or if you feel like your brain is on overload after going over project details, take heart. There are some things you can do each day to give your memory a boost.
In a recent Fast Company article, writer Anna Meyer asserts that it takes the same intention, physical adjustments and lifestyle changes to improve your memory. The good news is that you don’t need to devote hours to your pursuit of a better memory. In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we share Meyer’s six tips for enhancing your memory in a few minutes a day.
1. Correct your posture. Consider your posture as you read this email. Are you slouching over your laptop or smartphone? Meyer says slouching doesn’t just strain your neck or shoulders; it also affects how you recall the task your client mentioned in the meeting yesterday. Researchers at San Francisco State University discovered that standing or sitting up straight and tilting your chin upwards makes it easier to recall memories, because it boosts blood and oxygen flow to the brain by up to 40 percent.
2. Laugh a little. Researchers have found that laughing for 20 minutes a day can boost your memory. Laughing causes your levels of the stress hormone cortisol to dip significantly. That extra endorphin rush from laughing also lowers your blood pressure and boosts your mood, which all together results in better memory.
3. Make time for meditation. You don’t need to carve out a big chunk of time to meditate. According to the UCLA Longevity Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, you need as little as two minutes of meditation a day to impact your memory performance. What matters is that you’re focusing on yourself and tuning out the noise around you.
4. Start your mornings better. Meyer says there’s a reason why forgetting to do one step in your morning routine can throw off the rest of your day. If you need to get better at remembering to take your vitamins, pair them with your daily coffee. If you need to remember to take out the trash, put the dog leash near the garbage and then bring the trash outside each time you take your dog for a stroll. The more entwined habits are with your routines, the harder they are to forget.
5. Eat better foods. One reason our memory fails is because free radicals wear down our DNA and cellular structure, resulting in oxidation of the brain. Eating antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables, can help. A study from the University of Reading and the Peninsula Medical School found that adding blueberries for 12 weeks to one’s normal diet improved performance on spatial working memory tasks. Consider this an easy and nourishing way to keep your brain functioning its best.
6. Draw your to-do list. The next time you’re on a client call, consider drawing rather than writing notes. This simple change can make your memory perform as well as someone decades younger, Meyer says.
Memory is a complex process, but you can take the steps above to sharpen your mind and boost your brainpower in just a few minutes a day.
Source: Anna Meyer focuses on how technology and innovation will shape the future She has served as Riveter Magazine‘s digital editor and has been a featured guest speaker on the Professional Humans podcast.