Hi ya! Glad you
remembered where you come every day for a shot of coffee and a virtual treat. I
see you’re already over by the coffeepot and eying the VTs. Memory is a here
today gone tomorrow (or sometimes gone three seconds later!) kind of thing, isn’t
it?
The key to
remembering where you put your keys? It could be as easy as these simple tweaks
to your daily routine.
Practice good
posture
Go thank Mom for
nagging you to sit up straight—standing and sitting up straight and tilting
your chin up boosts blood and oxygen flow to the brain by up to 40 percent,
making it easier to recall memories.
Try a different type
We’re talking
typeface—researchers have found that using an unusual font on study materials
can help you remember the content better. Does this mean Comic Sans for your
next work presentation? (Hey...I happen to like Comic Sans!)
Watch funny cat
videos
Learning ability,
recall, and visual recognition all improved among a group of elderly
individuals who watched a funny 30-minute video, one study found. Chalk it up
to the stress relief, researcher Gurinder Bains, M.D. says. “With aging, the
damaging effects of stress can impair the ability to learn and sustain memory,”
he explained. “Humour and the associated mirthful laughter can reduce stress by
decreasing stress hormones, including cortisol and catecholamines.” (I
thought that was something you did in church!)
Go to happy hour
Over 60 years old?
Light and moderate alcohol consumption in older adults has been associated with
larger volume in the hippocampus and better episodic memory (the ability to
recall events). (Dang...wish I hadn’t given up drinking!)
Take regular walks
The hippocampus—the brain’s memory center—shrinks as you age, but research
has found that older adults who go on walks actually gain volume in the hippocampus. (Is that an African college?)
Lift weights
Prefer to hit the
gym? One study had participants lift weights while looking at a series of
photos. Two days later, those who strength trained remembered about 60 percent,
while those who didn’t remembered 50 percent.
Chew gum
It doesn’t get
easier than this. Chewing gum has been shown to increase heart rate, blood
pressure, and blood flow to the brain, giving you a 15 to 20 minute window of
improved memory.
Use pen and paper
Taking notes in a
meeting? Bring a notebook, not a laptop. Writing things down instead of typing
them was found to help with active listening and retention.
One question...can
you lift weights and chew gum while you’re walking to the bar for Happy Hour? Uh-huh. You’re
liable to bump into a totally focused teen
or yuppie with his or her head down texting away, if you ask me.
See ya, eh!
Bob
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