Hit the Gym
As it turns out, regular exercise is great for both body and mind. Working out increases blood flow to the brain and releases protein compounds that aid in memory and learning. Studies show that people who exercise 2-3 times per week are able to learn new tasks more quickly. They can also recall recent people or places with greater ease. In fact, exercise has been shown to promote the growth of the hippocampus, a part of the brain that functions as the memory center.
Stay Mentally Active
In addition to working out your body, you can also boost your memory by exercising your brain directly. Puzzles, word games, and learning new skills all help the brain develop new nerve connections that directly improve memory and cognitive function. Don’t be afraid to have fun: video games and board games have been shown to stimulate the brain, as well!
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep plays an important role when it comes to memory. Not only is resting necessary to recharge your brain, while you are sleeping memories are collected and stored. Too little sleep can significantly reduce your ability to recall short-term memories, and a tired brain is less likely to retain new information.
Use Mnemonic Devices
Mnemonic devices are tools that can help you remember things through association or by making the information more manageable. These include visualizing things that you need to remember, using rhymes or acronyms to remember specific words and phrases, or breaking up information into smaller pieces, such as remembering a phone number by breaking it into three pieces instead of thinking of it as a single 10-digit sequence.