5 Unexpected Ways To Improve Your Memory

That grey matter matters. Memory problems happen to all of us from time to time. What did you have for dinner last night? Can’t remember? Neither, we’d bet, can millions of others. But don’t be alarmed. Mild forgetfulness isn’t unusual. And there are some simple tricks you can bring out to play to improve it.

Clench your fists

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Yep. Clenching your fists the moment you want to remember something is thought to work. Clenching the right hand for 90 seconds will help memory formation, doing the same in the left improves memory recall. Scientists studied 50 adults and found they were better at remembering words from a long list when they used the clenching technique.

Eat berries and cherries

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The jury’s out on whether superfoods are really a thing, but one thing’s for sure: eating berries and cherries is a good thing to do if you want to boost your memory. The darker ones - like blueberries and blackberries - are thought to work the best. So pop some on your plate.

Have a kip

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You might think keeping your brain sharp is all about being active and out and about. Not necessarily. Sleep is now widely thought to be very effective in improving memory retention. A recent study found that interleaving two study periods with sleep leads to particularly efficient and long-lasting learning.

Play an online game

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Playing an online game is good for giving our little grey cells a light workout. According to the research, games like Sudoku, chess and bingo can improve memory recall.

Praise yourself for remembering things

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Thinking you have a bad memory can serve to do just that: give you one. Negative thinking can be counter-productive. Instead, tell yourself you’ve got a good memory. Praise your memory skills, and the memory skills of others. Positive thinking is a powerful thing.