Recalling Memories First and foremost I can't over-emphasize the importance
To begin with, I would like to talk about the brain power in terms of ability to analyze a sizable information and come up with a workable solution to it. The Intelligence Quotient is measured by the amount of information the brain can process and purge out answer for with great speed and efficiency. It is a common believe that how we live our life has tremendous impact in our brain. Our intake, in food we eat, the quality of liquid we consume, the air we breathe in and how we generally conduct our body - activities we use to control free radicals in our system and body chemistry, like exercise - have solid effects in our central nervous system. So, this is to say that all these are necessary requirements for what this article is going to talk about: how to recall memories that are trapped.
Trapped Memories Lost memories, as they're normally called, are those memories that are trapped from our past experiences as a result of redundancy in the brain which has prevented us from keeping them as active as we used to have them. Sometimes, we might know deep in our mind that we had such experiences but we can't seem to picture the images properly or mention any name or thing in the experiences. So how do we recall such memories? This might seem to be an uphill task but this article will give simple tricks to overcome that.
Recalling Memories First and foremost, I can't over-emphasize the importance of one's health status in this situation, since the ability to use the brain is affected in any health issue, so to carry out this exercise, someone health needs to be in tiptop condition, that is why I mentioned earlier the essence of eating habit to this exercise, to gain mental fitness. Need I not also to mention that someone must be emotionally stable before completing this task, because it is something that probes very deep into the mind, so emotional balance is needed. Also important for someone in this memory exercise is to be in a very quite place (no room for distraction) because even a little noise like mosquito's can be a great distraction while doing the processing and you will have to start all over again from beginning, so before embarking on this "memory probing", one should ensure there is death silence at the time and place, preferably, in the night.
After observing the aforementioned guidelines, the next step is lying on your back in your bed, couch or anywhere that is comfy for you, but make sure your head is properly positioned as you are facing up. Lying on your back with your face up I said, because, I have discovered that being in this position helps us more to use our brain with optimal efficiency than any other positions. Although, this doesn't mean you can't move your body from one position to another in the course of the exercise if you are feeling fatigue, but you will always notice that you are able to do most processing in the brain while in this position. The next is trying to remember the Ending of the memory you want to recall, for instance, if it is a name of a person, try to remember the Last Name first, e.g. in Albert Einstein: try to remember Einstein first.
In trying to remember Einstein, you start visualizing those things that you knew were associated the first time you got to know the name, for instance, a friend calling the name then, the picture of event that occurred when you knew the name, the subject of discussion when the name was mentioned and so on. One most important tool that you can use to help connect the lost memory to your brain is Alphabet.
Alphabets A-Z come in handy, especially, when you can not muster enough mental pick-up to visualize any associated event to the memory you have lost. This is because, a name, event or anything you might be trying to remember is written in alphabet. So to try and recall a memory or name with the use of alphabets, you separate the vowels from consonants first (5 vowels and 21 consonants). In your brain, you pick one vowel (A) and associate it with all the consonants (like BA, CA, DA and AB, AC, AD and ABA, ACA, ADA etc, till last consonant Z), and you continue like that with the remaining 4 vowels and associate them with all of the consonants. This might seem strenuous, but I tell you, you won't have to complete every vowel and consonant like this before the memory you are trying to recall is triggered in your brain, and in case you have a little clue as to what the lost memory/name sounds like, you can just do the combinations of similar sounds to the name.
Please note... While doing the combination of vowels and consonants in your brain, try and be racking your memory for the lost one: be listening to the sounds these combinations are giving in your brain and try to see if they have any similarity with the lost memory. By being very focused this way, you will definitely hear a sound that has a striking resemblance to what you are searching for. You certainly need to be focused in your mind while doing the processing.
I mention Ending as the first thing you should try to remember because it is the aspect that is much easier for the brain to recapture than any other part of any lost memory, and if you can recall the Ending it means you are less than half-way to go to recall other aspects. Our Ending in this example is "Einstein" but it could be any other thing order than a name: Ending of a story, Ending of an event and so on, anything that comes last in memory you are trying to recall is the Ending.
Though this whole process of memory exercise can be a tricky one for a starter, but the joy you derive from doing it if you are successful at the end is worth it. As a starter, it can take some time to complete the task, especially, the combination aspect, but with time and consistency, you will definitely master the processing.
You used to be as sharp as a tack. Funny, now you can't remember what you went into the kitchen to do! You begin to worry that you are losing it, but you quickly brush it off as being a little tired. You sit down to read the newspaper, but then drift off midway through thinking about your next day's plans. What is going on here? Why can't I remember? Why can't I concentrate?
As we age this becomes a common scenario, but this can also happen during times of conflict, depression and just our busy day-to-day life happenings.
Below is a brief listing of just some of the vitamin supplementation that can help you to improve your memory, concentration and focus.
Vitamins B6, B12, and folate: These vitamins are all essential for the brain to function at optimal design. If you do not satisfy your body with them you could experience symptoms that would result in a decreased memory, forgetfulness, a mood change, sensory misconception, a state of depression, periods of confusion and even some dementia likeness.
Vitamin B9: This vitamin is known to aid in red blood cell production. Sufficient amounts of vitamin B9 help to improve clarity in your mentality.
Vitamin E: A lack of vitamin E may encourage a deficit resulting in neurological problems. There is a questionable link between vitamin E deficiency and Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.
Omega-3: The nerve cells of the brain contain Omega-3. It is thought that Omega-3 may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease and decrease dementia. With decreased levels of Omega-3 there has been some evidence of hyperactivity and reasoning impairment.
Ginkgo biloba: In Germany and Canada, one of the treatments that have gained approval for dementia is ginkgo biloba. Since it is a nonprescription method of treatment it is readily available. It is felt that ginkgo biloba can increase mentality in the elderly in cases of memory deficiency of a mild or moderate form. It is also felt that cognitive functioning improves in this same age group. Ginkgo biloba has been noted to increase the blood flow of the brain. Memory enhancement in younger people has also been noted.
It is a frightening thought that as we age our mental capacity slowly decreases. By eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise we can keep both our minds and bodies at their very best to help ward off these undesirable effects of the aging process.
Other ways to keep mental sharpness intact are to read, do puzzle games, such as word search and crossword puzzles. Using your mind in any way can help to combat against elderly dementia. Remember the saying, "If you don't use it, you will lose it." This saying holds true for anything in the body including your mind.
Russell (Rusty) Hart is the founder of the Health, Fitness & Sport Club, a website devoted to the promotion of health, fitness and wellness. Should this subject matter be of interest you can visit the HF & S Club home site where you'll find over 1,300 quality posts with new posts being published daily. To quickly access those that are of interest you can select any of 20 Categories broken down by over 260 Sub-Categories for
Focus on the task at hand. While we often say we are multitasking, the reality is that doing one thing well is better than doing several things poorly. You do need to be in the moment and pay attention. Recently flying home from a cross country trip, we couldn't find the car upon returning which was frustrating. How many times have we parked the car in a crowded parking lot, only to come back out and have to think where we parked? Look at your surroundings instead of your cell phone to mentally take note of the location of the car notable landmarks. Be in the moment.
Take notes. If we had written down the parking lot section at the airport, we wouldn't have wasted a half hour after an exhausting day of travel. Someone once said, "A short pencil is better than a long memory." With the fast pace of the world, give yourself an edge and write it down. That also includes using a calendar for appointments.
Repeat it. Someone tells you their birthday is next week and you want to acknowledge it with a phone call on the actual birthday. Repeat it aloud and think about what you would say. Do that a few times and you will remember.
Have a place for everything. Many people complain about misplacing car keys. Get a basket or key rack and use it. Putting your car keys in the same place will save you time in the morning. If your son can't find his shoes all the time, then get a shoe rack for the closet.
Good habits save time. We are creatures of habit and this can work to our advantage. Have a mental checklist before leaving to make sure you have that dry cleaning you want to dropping off after work or your lunch you packed. Don't remember if you turned off the iron or not? Make it a point to disconnect any electrical appliance as soon as you are done with it and better yet, only buy appliances with automatic shut off.
Plan ahead. Check your pantry items for the upcoming week, make a menu and use a grocery list help save needless extra trips to the store because you forgot things. A little time getting organized will help you remember better as you can see how prepared you are already and will feel more confident.
Chunk the information. This is a strategy with to remember something like a phone number or address. Take the smaller parts, repeat them a few times and memorize them separately. The idea of memorizing smaller sections and then putting it together is easier than remembering large amounts of information. This is a great study technique for students who need to memorize things.
Don't let electronics rule you. Many people get so wrapped up in their TV, computer or phone that they feel like they do not need to remember anything as modern technology will do it for them. As an exercise for your memory, take time to remember your important numbers in case you misplace your phone.
Memory joggers. Return to the location where you had the thought you can't remember. Sometimes there is a visual clue that hit you when you had that thought. Life is so fast paced that taking a moment to think about what you were going to do or say helps bring the thought back.
Visualize. Think through the idea of what you are trying to remember by picturing it. When you paid your bill, did you do it online or write a check? How much was the bill for? And what type of stamp did you use? Which collection box did you use? Making a mental movie of what you did can help sharpen your memory.
Play games. Use mnemonics to help you remember your errands. Make a rhyme of your list you want to remember or sing out the list. Exercise the brain with brain teasers, puzzles and cross word puzzles.
Your memory is a use it or lose it process. With television, the Internet and our cell phones, we have let our minds become lazy and complacent and don't always employ strenuous thinking. For example, driving down the street, we may know the route to take, but can we easily name the roads and route numbers, enough to give good directions to others? Make the connections and make a conscious effort to exercise your brain. If you try these tips and they are not helping, you may want to discuss this with your doctor.
Trapped Memories Lost memories, as they're normally called, are those memories that are trapped from our past experiences as a result of redundancy in the brain which has prevented us from keeping them as active as we used to have them. Sometimes, we might know deep in our mind that we had such experiences but we can't seem to picture the images properly or mention any name or thing in the experiences. So how do we recall such memories? This might seem to be an uphill task but this article will give simple tricks to overcome that.
Recalling Memories First and foremost, I can't over-emphasize the importance of one's health status in this situation, since the ability to use the brain is affected in any health issue, so to carry out this exercise, someone health needs to be in tiptop condition, that is why I mentioned earlier the essence of eating habit to this exercise, to gain mental fitness. Need I not also to mention that someone must be emotionally stable before completing this task, because it is something that probes very deep into the mind, so emotional balance is needed. Also important for someone in this memory exercise is to be in a very quite place (no room for distraction) because even a little noise like mosquito's can be a great distraction while doing the processing and you will have to start all over again from beginning, so before embarking on this "memory probing", one should ensure there is death silence at the time and place, preferably, in the night.
After observing the aforementioned guidelines, the next step is lying on your back in your bed, couch or anywhere that is comfy for you, but make sure your head is properly positioned as you are facing up. Lying on your back with your face up I said, because, I have discovered that being in this position helps us more to use our brain with optimal efficiency than any other positions. Although, this doesn't mean you can't move your body from one position to another in the course of the exercise if you are feeling fatigue, but you will always notice that you are able to do most processing in the brain while in this position. The next is trying to remember the Ending of the memory you want to recall, for instance, if it is a name of a person, try to remember the Last Name first, e.g. in Albert Einstein: try to remember Einstein first.
In trying to remember Einstein, you start visualizing those things that you knew were associated the first time you got to know the name, for instance, a friend calling the name then, the picture of event that occurred when you knew the name, the subject of discussion when the name was mentioned and so on. One most important tool that you can use to help connect the lost memory to your brain is Alphabet.
Alphabets A-Z come in handy, especially, when you can not muster enough mental pick-up to visualize any associated event to the memory you have lost. This is because, a name, event or anything you might be trying to remember is written in alphabet. So to try and recall a memory or name with the use of alphabets, you separate the vowels from consonants first (5 vowels and 21 consonants). In your brain, you pick one vowel (A) and associate it with all the consonants (like BA, CA, DA and AB, AC, AD and ABA, ACA, ADA etc, till last consonant Z), and you continue like that with the remaining 4 vowels and associate them with all of the consonants. This might seem strenuous, but I tell you, you won't have to complete every vowel and consonant like this before the memory you are trying to recall is triggered in your brain, and in case you have a little clue as to what the lost memory/name sounds like, you can just do the combinations of similar sounds to the name.
Please note... While doing the combination of vowels and consonants in your brain, try and be racking your memory for the lost one: be listening to the sounds these combinations are giving in your brain and try to see if they have any similarity with the lost memory. By being very focused this way, you will definitely hear a sound that has a striking resemblance to what you are searching for. You certainly need to be focused in your mind while doing the processing.
I mention Ending as the first thing you should try to remember because it is the aspect that is much easier for the brain to recapture than any other part of any lost memory, and if you can recall the Ending it means you are less than half-way to go to recall other aspects. Our Ending in this example is "Einstein" but it could be any other thing order than a name: Ending of a story, Ending of an event and so on, anything that comes last in memory you are trying to recall is the Ending.
Though this whole process of memory exercise can be a tricky one for a starter, but the joy you derive from doing it if you are successful at the end is worth it. As a starter, it can take some time to complete the task, especially, the combination aspect, but with time and consistency, you will definitely master the processing.
You used to be as sharp as a tack. Funny, now you can't remember what you went into the kitchen to do! You begin to worry that you are losing it, but you quickly brush it off as being a little tired. You sit down to read the newspaper, but then drift off midway through thinking about your next day's plans. What is going on here? Why can't I remember? Why can't I concentrate?
As we age this becomes a common scenario, but this can also happen during times of conflict, depression and just our busy day-to-day life happenings.
Below is a brief listing of just some of the vitamin supplementation that can help you to improve your memory, concentration and focus.
Vitamins B6, B12, and folate: These vitamins are all essential for the brain to function at optimal design. If you do not satisfy your body with them you could experience symptoms that would result in a decreased memory, forgetfulness, a mood change, sensory misconception, a state of depression, periods of confusion and even some dementia likeness.
Vitamin B9: This vitamin is known to aid in red blood cell production. Sufficient amounts of vitamin B9 help to improve clarity in your mentality.
Vitamin E: A lack of vitamin E may encourage a deficit resulting in neurological problems. There is a questionable link between vitamin E deficiency and Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.
Omega-3: The nerve cells of the brain contain Omega-3. It is thought that Omega-3 may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease and decrease dementia. With decreased levels of Omega-3 there has been some evidence of hyperactivity and reasoning impairment.
Ginkgo biloba: In Germany and Canada, one of the treatments that have gained approval for dementia is ginkgo biloba. Since it is a nonprescription method of treatment it is readily available. It is felt that ginkgo biloba can increase mentality in the elderly in cases of memory deficiency of a mild or moderate form. It is also felt that cognitive functioning improves in this same age group. Ginkgo biloba has been noted to increase the blood flow of the brain. Memory enhancement in younger people has also been noted.
It is a frightening thought that as we age our mental capacity slowly decreases. By eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise we can keep both our minds and bodies at their very best to help ward off these undesirable effects of the aging process.
Other ways to keep mental sharpness intact are to read, do puzzle games, such as word search and crossword puzzles. Using your mind in any way can help to combat against elderly dementia. Remember the saying, "If you don't use it, you will lose it." This saying holds true for anything in the body including your mind.
Russell (Rusty) Hart is the founder of the Health, Fitness & Sport Club, a website devoted to the promotion of health, fitness and wellness. Should this subject matter be of interest you can visit the HF & S Club home site where you'll find over 1,300 quality posts with new posts being published daily. To quickly access those that are of interest you can select any of 20 Categories broken down by over 260 Sub-Categories for
Focus on the task at hand. While we often say we are multitasking, the reality is that doing one thing well is better than doing several things poorly. You do need to be in the moment and pay attention. Recently flying home from a cross country trip, we couldn't find the car upon returning which was frustrating. How many times have we parked the car in a crowded parking lot, only to come back out and have to think where we parked? Look at your surroundings instead of your cell phone to mentally take note of the location of the car notable landmarks. Be in the moment.
Take notes. If we had written down the parking lot section at the airport, we wouldn't have wasted a half hour after an exhausting day of travel. Someone once said, "A short pencil is better than a long memory." With the fast pace of the world, give yourself an edge and write it down. That also includes using a calendar for appointments.
Repeat it. Someone tells you their birthday is next week and you want to acknowledge it with a phone call on the actual birthday. Repeat it aloud and think about what you would say. Do that a few times and you will remember.
Have a place for everything. Many people complain about misplacing car keys. Get a basket or key rack and use it. Putting your car keys in the same place will save you time in the morning. If your son can't find his shoes all the time, then get a shoe rack for the closet.
Good habits save time. We are creatures of habit and this can work to our advantage. Have a mental checklist before leaving to make sure you have that dry cleaning you want to dropping off after work or your lunch you packed. Don't remember if you turned off the iron or not? Make it a point to disconnect any electrical appliance as soon as you are done with it and better yet, only buy appliances with automatic shut off.
Plan ahead. Check your pantry items for the upcoming week, make a menu and use a grocery list help save needless extra trips to the store because you forgot things. A little time getting organized will help you remember better as you can see how prepared you are already and will feel more confident.
Chunk the information. This is a strategy with to remember something like a phone number or address. Take the smaller parts, repeat them a few times and memorize them separately. The idea of memorizing smaller sections and then putting it together is easier than remembering large amounts of information. This is a great study technique for students who need to memorize things.
Don't let electronics rule you. Many people get so wrapped up in their TV, computer or phone that they feel like they do not need to remember anything as modern technology will do it for them. As an exercise for your memory, take time to remember your important numbers in case you misplace your phone.
Memory joggers. Return to the location where you had the thought you can't remember. Sometimes there is a visual clue that hit you when you had that thought. Life is so fast paced that taking a moment to think about what you were going to do or say helps bring the thought back.
Visualize. Think through the idea of what you are trying to remember by picturing it. When you paid your bill, did you do it online or write a check? How much was the bill for? And what type of stamp did you use? Which collection box did you use? Making a mental movie of what you did can help sharpen your memory.
Play games. Use mnemonics to help you remember your errands. Make a rhyme of your list you want to remember or sing out the list. Exercise the brain with brain teasers, puzzles and cross word puzzles.
Your memory is a use it or lose it process. With television, the Internet and our cell phones, we have let our minds become lazy and complacent and don't always employ strenuous thinking. For example, driving down the street, we may know the route to take, but can we easily name the roads and route numbers, enough to give good directions to others? Make the connections and make a conscious effort to exercise your brain. If you try these tips and they are not helping, you may want to discuss this with your doctor.
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