Author: Jiayi Chen
Editors: Lydia Ren and Yuze Zhu
Artist: Jenny Li
Memory is what shapes our personalities and is an inseparable part of us. If we lose our memories, we also lose our personalities. Are we still considered the same person after forgetting our past? People frequently forget things, and sometimes the consequences are devastating. Strong memories also can be helpful when it comes to quizzes, exams, and works. Either way, enhancing our memory comes with many benefits?.
To know why memory is important to us, we first have to learn about how memory works. The brain is the part of our body that is closely linked to our memory, and our ability to remember is strongly associated with the health and vitality of our brains. Our brains have the extraordinary capability to adapt and react to changes in many ways. This allows us to stimulate our brains to enhance our memory. Though simple stimulating activities such as card games or movies can stimulate our brains, the most effective way to enhance our memory is to step out of our comfort zones and engage in more complex tasks.
The first tip to improve memory is to stimulate the activity of the brain with mental workouts. As physical workouts can increase our muscle strengths, mental workouts can increase our memory by challenging ourselves to change and develop new brain pathways. For example, learning a new language, solving higher-level math problems, and writing essays can serve as mental workouts.
The second tip is to complete physical workouts. Physical work out can increase blood circulation throughout our body, which transfers more oxygen to our brain. Therefore it reduces the risk of memory loss and increases the activity of the brain. Workouts also promote the growth factors in our body and lead to the creation of new neural pathways.
The third tip is to have enough sleep. While the amount of required sleep time might vary, most adults should have at least 9 hours of sleep to prevent the loss of brain activities, and this allows memory consolidation to occur at deeper stages of sleep. Also, it is crucial to follow the biological clock, which regulates the inner systems of the human body and one’s behavior.
The fourth tip is to have a healthy diet. Foods that contain polyphenols, antioxidants, and omega-3s can help to boost people's memory. However, foods that contain too many calories, saturated fats, and alcohol can be harmful to people's memory. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are healthier choices for people than red meat, cream, and alcohol.
The last tip is to socialize with family, friends, and loved ones frequently. It reduces the factors that can lead to memory loss, such as stress and depression accumulated from people's daily life. Humans are social animals, which means we tend to live in a community, and our daily interactions with others can also serve as a brain exercise. Even if some people are not familiar with any other people, pets are another choice.
In conclusion, any activities that can stimulate the brain are able to improve our memories. Our memory is closely linked to both our physical and mental health, and the best way to improve our memory is to have a healthy daily routine.
Citations:
Clinic Staff, M. (2019, January 16). Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory. Retrieved
February 28, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-
Publishing, H. (n/a). Improving memory. Retrieved February 28, 2021, from
Smith, M., Segal, J., & Robinson, L. (2021). How to improve your memory. Retrieved
February 28, 2021, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/how-to-