8 Brain Exercises That Will Boost Your Memory

Exercise your brain as a muscle- because thinking smart begins with being smart.

We regularly go to the gym or take a walk to make our bodies fit, but what about our brains? Your brain, like any other element of your body, loves routine workout--and memory is among the initial beneficiaries.

Whether you are a student, professional or simply a person who misplaces things including the keys, these 8 easy brain exercises that are science approved can assist you in enhancing your memory and sharpness of the mind.

1. Learn Something New

Your brain is a sucker of novelty. Learning a new skill, such as a new language, playing a musical instrument, or attempting chess, is known to pick neurons and fortify the memory. And it’s not really about remembering, it’s about building new brain circuits that help keep your brain young.

Hint: Begin with little. One thing that can help a lot is 15 minutes a day learning Spanish or guitar chords.

2. Practice Visualization

Memories are constructed on imagery especially those that are strong. When you are attempting to recall something, make it a mental image. To take a simple example, when you have to memorize a list of groceries, visualize a huge banana riding a shopping cart with eggs and milk.

It seems ridiculous, but the more unusual and bright the image is, the higher chances are that you will recall it.

3. Use the Chunking Technique

Have you ever asked yourself how you recall a 10 digit telephone number? That is because our brain naturally divides it into segments- such as 555-123-4567. This trickling down approach works on anything. It could be numbers, dates, random facts, but clustering them into a pattern is what your brain needs to bookmark information more effectively.

See what happens when you: Organize to-do lists into groups such as home, work and personal.

4. Play Brain Games

Word jumbles, Crosswords, Sudoku, and memory games such as Lumosity are not only entertaining, but they also provide mental exercise. It can expand the short term memory and enhance concentration with regular use.

And make it fresh. When a game becomes easy, your brain does not have to work harder anymore. Confuse the challenges and keep your neurons on their feet.

5. Repeat and Retrieve

It is not enough to repeat something. The actual memory magic occurs when you remember something actively. This is referred to as retrieval practice.

E.g. rather than re-reading your notes, close the book and attempt to write down all that you recall. It makes the brain work and enhances the memory trace.

6. Meditation and Mindfulness

The arch nemesis of memory are scattered attention and stress. Even 10 minutes a day of mindfulness or meditation practice has been found to increase concentration span, decrease anxiety levels, and working memory.

Bonus: It also improves sleep, which plays a major role in consolidating memories.

7. Switch Up Your Routines

Your mind hungerges for complexity. Attempt to clean your teeth with your opposite hand or commute to work using an alternate way. These small changes force the brain to think in new ways, building cognitive flexibility and reinforcing memory circuits.

It can be considered as "mental cross-training."

8. Teach What You Learn

Teaching is one of the most effective memory strategies. By explaining a concept to another person, you are actually processing it in your mind and you are able to remember it longer. It is this hands-on experience that transforms passive knowledge into long term memory.

The next time you know something new, explain it to your friend or even to your pet.

Final Thought: Your Brain Is Always Listening

Memory cannot be fixed with expensive applications and days of training. The thing is consistency and curiosity. Stimulate your brain with fresh thoughts, deliberate practices and conscious challenges on a regular basis and it will respond in kind by thinking more clearly, remembering more and keeping your mind young at heart.

As your memory is like a muscle, it gets stronger with every use.