Improve Your Memory

There are different ways to improve your memory.  Some of them are so simple, that you will probably say “Why didn’t I think of that”?  There are some things about your memory that will not accelerate as you get older.

However, you can still make things happen with general techniques and tricks.  You cannot remember everything.  You can remember the majority of things.  Those that you don’t remember you can learn how to do it.

Sometimes you forget things because the process of doing that same things has been repeated so much that you forget how many times it’s happened.  It becomes a habit when you do certain things every day because you can't remember if you have done them or not.

To stop the repetitive actions, be cognizant of what you're doing.  You must focus and pay attention.  Whatever you're thinking about that is clouding your judgment, eliminate it from your system.

Distractions can mess you up when you are working on breaking a habit.  For some, it can take a lot in order to pay attention to what they are doing.  Paying attention can help you to remember your actions and eliminate anything that you don't need to keep doing.  Some of it is little stuff, such as turning out the lights before you leave or unplugging the iron after you're done.    

Here are a list of tips that you can use to help you not be so habitually repetitive:

If you are leaving your home, stop for a moment.   Think about what you need to do before you leave.

Think about the areas that you need to secure, such as the front and back doors.  Pay attention when you are tending to those areas.  They are critical when it comes to securing your home.

Organization is very important when it comes to getting rid of unnecessary habits.  Create a plan and make it stick.  Being organized can help you not have to remember certain things because they are right there in front of you or they are near your reach.

Make a list of things you need to do every day.  Once you have completed each task, cross it off.  Not doing that can make you redo what you've already done.  Crossing off items as you complete them also saves you time.  Keep your list in the same spot so that you will be able to find it easily.

Make sure that there's a place for everything that you use on a regular or daily basis.  For instance, if you use ink pens, place them in drawers that you use for that purpose.  Or get holder where you can place a lot of them.  That way, you will never run out of writing instruments.

If you have children, place their book bags by the front door.  That way, they will not forget them.  If you make them lunch, put it in their book bag right after you've fixed it.  If you make lunch for yourself, you can put it on the stove or near the front door so that you can remember to take it.

Doing little things like that can make a lot of difference between having your own lunch and spending money every day for food.

Go over all of the tasks that you are supposed to be doing.  Place the most important things first.  Make sure that you have everything that you need to complete the tasks at hand.

Use a calendar to jot down the important information and things that you need to do.  You will not be able to remember everything.  Keep the calendar with you so that you can refer back to it.

Pending items need to be completed or resolved as soon as possible.  Don’t procrastinate.  Do it while it's on your mind.

In order to keep your memory fresh, place things back where they were before.  Putting them in places other than where they were can cause confusion for you.

You may have to repeat information to yourself in order for it to stick in your brain.  It's just like reciting lines for a play.  The only way you will remember is to keep repeating the lines over and over again.

Any important information, such as names, phone numbers, addresses, directions, etc., should be kept in one central location.  They should be sorted where you can easily find them in a matter of seconds.

One thing that you must not forget to do and that is to focus and concentrate.  Whatever you're doing, keep a laser-sharp eye on the task at hand.  Focus and concentration are crucial to your success in improving your memory.

If you are one of those people that habitually forgets things, you may be out of focus and have difficulty concentrating.  You allow things and events to take over your life.  You have too much on your plate and allow distractions and stressful situations to plague you day in and day out.

You have a very short attention span or no attention span at all.  All of this can cause you not to remember the things that you need to.  Being preoccupied defeats the purpose of being able to improve your memory performance.

With all of this taking place, it's a wonder that anything can get done.  It's important for you and others that are like you to have a system in place.  That's why you see so many people with Blackberries, iPhones and other electronic organizers to keep them straight.  They would be lost without something to keep them abreast of what's going on.