Memory Training - Are Your Personal Tech Toys Working Against Your Memory Training Program

Let me ask you a question, can you give me your five closest friends phone numbers off the top your head? If I give you an ISBN of a book, can you recite and give me that number back tomorrow if you don't write it down? Can you tell me the exact recipe of your five favorite dishes without looking? The answer is probably no, but that seems rather ridiculous, because the human brain is very good at memorizing stuff.

In fact, most of the kids previously learned everything by rote memorization. Today it seems rather hostile to make kids memorize things, because there's really no need to; they can always look it up online, the information is always there.

Now then, the reason I bring up this subject is recently our online think tank was talking about the fact that if you don't use your brain you will lose its ability. Whereas, if you don't use your brain for memorization, perhaps, you will use it for other things such as multitasking - nevertheless, your brain could do both very well, you don't have to choose.

Still, if you never use your ability to memorize things, pretty soon you won't be able to memorize anything. Sometimes it's important to memorize things, like grocery store lists, and things like that. So here's the question if you consider signing up for memory training, because you can't remember things like you used to, it's probably not because you have onset Alzheimer's, but rather because of your personal tech toys. They're working against your memory training programs.

So, you can read all the books, listen to all the tapes, and go to all the seminars you want on how to memorize things better, but if you don't practice it, and you don't force yourself to memorize stuff, then eventually you won't be able to remember much of anything, even the important things. Please consider all this.

We Are All Going to Need Memory Training Now

Not long ago, I was talking to an individual who did programs to help people with their memory. They taught various seminars, and they had written a few books. I was intrigued, because I like to think I have an excellent memory, and judging by the other people I meet, I noted my memory is quite a bit better actually, still as most I'd like it to be even better.

We got to talking about how his business was doing, and he told me he was doing excellent, and I had to ask why. He told me that he thinks it's because of the Internet, and people don't have to remember things anymore, so they don't. After all, you don't have to remember the names and dates of anyone important in history, because you can look it up anytime you want on Wikipedia or Google.

Likewise he said you don't have to memorize phone numbers anymore, because they are all pretty programmed into your cell phone.

In an article titled "The Shadows" by futurist Patrick Tucker published in the July-August Futurist Magazine it discusses the challenges with reliance on the Internet and human ability to think, reason, and memorize important facts. He makes some good points about how we use search engines, and how heavy online use destroys (albeit slowly) our abilities to take the information and relate it to problem solving, or entice us to remember key data points.

Why? Because it's always there, no need to memorize it. And that gets me to my next point; in that your brain is a device which works best when it is used, and if you don't use it. Well you are going to eventually lose it, it operates in that respect just like a muscle in your body, say neuroscientists.

Therefore, I have concluded that we are all going to need memory training now, specifically for the reason my acquaintance had mentioned - all the personal tech devices we have today. I hope you'll please consider this.

Increase Your Memory By Simpler Methods

The nature is the best teacher. There are people who are born intelligent while there are people who struggle to get the best memory. All of us do not have the same memory. In fact, the memory of a child is better than that of an older person. Well, this is all a miracle. There are people who learn all the tricky formulas of mathematics in a short duration.

Well on the contrary there are people who struggle throughout their life to mug up all those tricky formulas. It is not that impossible to increase memory with the help of a simple course.

Well I came to a conclusion that there are lots of factors that decide the memory of an individual. I must tell you that diet plays an important role in this. In addition to diet a healthy as well as good lifestyle is also important so that you will have the perfect memory. As aforementioned in this article it is not a miracle to have a photographic memory. One can really try and implement all that is necessary to have a photographic memory. All of us are gifted with the Intuition Zone on the central nervous system.

There are various types of medications available in the market that makes you trust that they can actually help to develop a good memory. Well there is a pitfall to all of them. There are certain medications available that do help to increase memory. The fact is that these medications also come with several side effects.

The best way to have a good memory is have a good mental training. There are many people who claim that they can train the mind in such a way that it becomes very easy to lean all and to remember everything. All of them are not true. It is a good idea to trust such a mental training program that is natural and at the same time has no side effect on the human body or the brain.

There are many programs who claim that they can really increase the mental capacity without having an actual work out schedule. This is the thing which one should look for when you do not have much time to spend and know that it is also really important that you should increase your intelligence.

Such program focus on the intuition zone and also helps to gets rid in your body of the extra build up in your memory system. This actually makes you feel lighter. When your mind is lighter it increases your memory and boosts your mental power. Frankly speaking it requires a high level of skills and technique that improvise your health and your brain.

The best way to sort out memory issues is to research a lot and this research can be easily done if you use the internet as a tool for your research purposes. There are several training programs available to train your brain and increases the memory. Make sure that you are choosing the best one and this is also easy on your pocket.

Memory Enhancement Techniques

Memory enhancement requires keeping the mind active in order to improve memory. You will need to provide the brain and body with exercises and supports that is required for optimal functioning. To begin any mind activity that promotes healthy aging you will need to be adequately motivated to be able to begin and sustain the changes you are making. Conscious goal requires continuous reinforcement.

Memory enhancement techniques

The key to retaining a good and healthy memory is to lead a peaceful and calm lifestyle. If you remain calm and composed there is a tendency to forget fewer things. The more untidy the surrounding is, the more stressed they get. Stress causes a person to forget things. The following tips can serve as an effective memory enhancement method:

Get sufficient sleep: Getting sufficient sleep is important to enhance memory. Inadequate amounts of sleep make the brain inactive and can lead to forgetfulness. It is important to get at least 8 hours of sleep a day. Naps during the day also help in this regard.

Eat a proper diet: Eating a healthy and balanced diet has a lot of benefits in improving memory. Foods that contain vitamin B12 are considered to be the best memory enhancers, and hence you must make it a major part in your diet. Apart from that omega-3 fatty acids and foods with high antioxidants are also good for a healthy brain.

Indulge in memory games and puzzles: For a healthy mind you must keep it active using memory games and puzzles. There are many memory games and mind puzzles available that helps in improving a person's memory and retention capabilities. These games also helps keep the mind fresh.

Visualizing things: For some people making a visual picture of an incident or important details about people or places or situations, helps in memorizing and remembering it. Visualization things are beneficial in terms of increasing memory capacity and also recalling things easily in the future.

Repetition: Constant repetition works as a great way to enhance memory. Forgetting names and other things can be avoided if repetition is applied. Repetition re-establishes the piece of information in the brain and thus, makes it easier to recall that information in the future. Writing things down is also effective in remembering facts.

Improving Your Memory and Building Self Esteem

Happiness might sound very difficult to find but if you are focused and decided what exactly you want and sure that what makes you happy then is not that difficult to find happiness. The following are tips on your way to happiness.

You should remember that only you are in charge of your own happiness and getting rid of the bad thoughts to your happiness will render you the good will of what you want. Just get the motto of "be happy!"

If you can make someone smile then definitely you will be in better place in that you will feel that you have contributed to someone else's happiness. Smile reduces stress, boost immune system and make people feel younger.

Take a walk. Walking burns calories and increase your blood circulation. It also increase your brain function and help in sugar regulations not to forget the relieving of PMS symptoms.

Try eating natural foods and those which are from plants. These kinds of foods let you feel good and leave you with less fat and psyching your morale.

Work on your reading interest. It is known that reading increase your ability focus, expand your knowledge, improving your memory and building self esteem.

Communicate with your friends. Friend are support and make sure that things are going well and are always there when others are not. They help building morale back. Talking releases some of the heavy burden.

Also spend some times with a parson who is over 70 years of age or a child who is less than 6 years of age. The wisdom you will find in the old person will cheer you up and appreciate life. The honest and simplicity of a child will bring a basket full of joy.

Play more games which offer different values including skill building, developing vocabularies and analytically thinking.

Also get to know life and enjoy its ride because you have only one life and make sure you live each day to its fullest. Do not live with regrets.

Memory Is Conscious Currency

Memories are currency in more ways than one. What are we without memory? And what will happen to the important memories of our lives and the lives of those around us, if we don't write them down?
On a scrap of paper I recently came across on my cluttered desk, I'd written down a thought about memory I'd picked up somewhere, though I neglected to make note of where. I guess I thought I'd remember who said it-but can't, so I'll just say it, anyway. It went something like this, Memory was all I had, the only currency, the only proof that I was alive. I can see why I jotted it down-food for thought, certainly.
It got me thinking about some of the elements involved in memory creation. Feelings are imprinted to memory. Often, when a memory is recalled, the exact feelings we felt at the time the memory etched a pathway in our brains is felt front and center.
Our personal feelings about an incident or individual, then, are integral parts of each memory. Some memories fade and so do some feelings, others don't. Feelings change over time, too. So does that mean that the particular memory changes? Yes, I think it often does, especially when we give it thought in terms of whom we are today - removed from the person or happening.
Of course there are certain memories that we live over and over again in our minds that are as potent today as they were many years ago. I know, I can literally smell my mother's freshly baked "dream bars" and relive the joy I felt 25 years ago when I dove straight into the still-hot pan of goodies and now, through memory, into her kitchen. I can also smell my high school math teacher's ghastly breath and the revulsion I felt when he habitually leaned over my shoulder while I sat at my desk solving challenging written math problems one entire semester.
It's easy for me to see why the memory of Mom's baking has stayed sharp in my mind, and I relish it. Although it's strange how certain memories, as in my math teacher's stinky breath, have stayed with me, when, on first glance, that memory would seem rather unimportant. But was it? This memory was puzzling to me, so I decided to get to the bottom of it. Upon conscious reflection through writing, I discovered that my revulsion for him had more to do with his lecherous way of leaning his body into mine then did his breath, and that was why it had stayed fresh in my mind all these years. I'm glad I looked into that memory and found out why it followed me around for years-now I can let that ugly memory go.
From kitchens to classrooms, everything in-between, and beyond, memories are the currency we use to bring moments in time and people back to life for better or for worse. Memories are also what we use as interpersonal exchange, even barter, but that's another subject or another time.
There are so many memories worth preserving for a time when we won't be around any longer. Write them down. Write bio-vignettes. Get started writing memoir now.

Lynn Henriksen, The Story Woman, is an author, teacher, speaker, workshop leader, Story Salon entrepreneur, and blogger. She has published a "how-to" book, Give the Gift of Story: TellTale Souls' Essential Guide to Tap Memory & Write Memoir in Five Acts and the soon to be published collection of 50 bio-vignettes, TellTale Souls: Daughters Keeping Mothers' Spirits Alive in Short,

Memory And Concentration - Improve Them Now

Memory and concentration work together but one does not lead to the other. Memory is the ability to remember information, experiences and people. To concentrate is to direct your mental powers or your efforts towards a particular activity, subject or problem. Once something is stored in our brain, it is not forgotten. There may be difficulty in recalling the vital information. The information might however not have been stored. Just because you cannot remember something does not mean that you have forgotten it. What you have is a temporary failure to remember. But if you think of the millions of things each day that you do remember, you will realize that your memory is really quite astounding.

Why do you forget things? Most often, the frustrating problem of absentmindedness or lack or loss of concentration is to blame; and to solve it, you simply need to clean out the clutter in your life that is causing lapses in memory and train your brain to remember the things you so often forget. The capacity to store, recall and analyze any matter is a mere fraction of what is stored in your small brain. Each time the memory is stored, it becomes stronger and more indelible. Some memories you recall often become most ingrained. To make something easier to recall, you can practice remembering it often (a study technique used by many students). Factors that can impact concentration include the study environment and the structure you have for your study time. Other factors that can impact memory include the way you organize the information, how you use your body in the study process, how you use your brain in the study process and whether you include time for recall.

Depression is a leading cause of memory loss. Depressed people have low brain levels of serotonin and norepinephrine. These are chemicals that normally activate the hippocampus - the memory part of the brain where information is stored and retrieved. Antidepressants relieve depression in the majority of patients: memory, concentration and other cognitive functions usually start to improve quickly.

Some ways to tackle loss of memory are as follows:

- Get plenty of exercise, both physical and mental. Challenge the brain in new and creative ways throughout life. Join a book club, learn to play chess, sudoku etc. or use your right hand instead of your left if you are left-handed.

- Try to stay calm: Worry temporarily impairs your memory. Memories usually "freeze up" under stressful conditions. The harder you try to remember, the worse your memory is. The trick is to relax and refocus your mind - the memory usually returns.

- Stress - People who experience chronic stress due to job issues, family or money worries, etc. often experience memory problems. Stress raises levels of cortisol, but cortisol damages the hippocampus when brain levels remain high due to continuous stress. Stress should be taken seriously or memory problems will continue to worsen. Regular exercise, practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and yoga and spending more time doing pleasurable activities are ideal for reducing stress.

- Lack of sleep (insomnia) increases stress and anxiety, which raise cortisol levels. Depression can cause insomnia, as can stress. Once the underlying condition is relieved, sleep usually improves and memory problems are alleviated.

- Vitamin B12 deficiency accounts for a significant percentage of memory loss cases. The body uses vitamin B12 to produce myelin the sheathing on nerve cells. Low levels of myelin slow the transmission of nerve signals; this impairs memory and other cognitive functions. You need supplementation if levels are low. Since oral vitamin B12 is not effective if the body does not produce enough intrinsic factor, many patients require monthly injections of vitamin B12.

- Diet: Eat nutritive foods; avoid sugar. Nutrients are the fuels that run your memory. Vitamins and minerals are essential for maintaining and improving your memory. You need Vitamin C and Vitamin E as well as omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B12, Thiamin, Iron, and Vitamin B6.

- Make effective use of cues and reminders like sticky notes or a calendar. Most absentminded errors and memory loss can be overcome by having access to reminders.

- The Switch-word "Reach" - Another way to remember a thing is to use the "Perfect Living" switch-word "Reach". If you are desperately looking for a lost or misplaced item or trying to remember a vital information, just stay relaxed and then say aloud to yourself repeatedly - "Reach" and "Together" Do not think of the meaning of the words as your take your mind off the matter. In a short time, your subconscious mind will lead you to the solution to your problem.