
10 Ways to Improve Your Memory
Human beings rely on memory for many things. Without the ability to remember, we wouldn’t be able to learn our multiplication tables as children, or recite poetry, or pass even the easiest history quiz. But our memories are not just for learning – they are also responsible for the way we move through life. Our memories help us to keep track of important events and people. The fact that we rely on memory so much is what makes diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease so heartbreaking.
We tend to think of memory as an ephemeral thing, but actually it is the result of a complex biochemical process in the body. Let’s take a look at how it works.
How Human Memory Works
Information enters our brains from various sources via sensory perception. Examples of information streams might include numbers written on a chalkboard at the front of a classroom, the melody of a song heard on the radio, or the feel of a dog’s fur beneath our hands.
When sensory information enters our brains, it can be stored in either short-term memory or long-term memory. Short-term memory tends to be limited – it can hold only a few pieces of information for a short period of time. One example might be a telephone number that someone tells you – you can repeat it for a few minutes while you search for a pencil and paper to write it down.
Long term memory is more complex. It is broken down into three basic parts:
- First, our brains break new information into its composite parts. This process helps us imbue data with meaning. For example, the experience of eating a cherry might include segmented information such as: red, juicy, tart, sweet, or delicious. That same memory might also include information about the weather (sunny, warm) or who we were with (Mom, friends.) Each bit of information is encoded for easier storage.
- Next, our brains group the memories with other similar memories. For example, cherries have pits, so they might be grouped with other stone fruits such as peaches and plums; or with other red fruits like apples. The place we ate them would also be stored, perhaps with similar events such as picnics, or days at the farmers’ market.
- Finally, when we need it we are able to retrieve the concept by triggering one of the pointers (red, juicy, tart, etc.) to lead us through the neural pathway to where the particular memory we need is stored.
Like every other function in our bodies, our brains need particular nutrients in order to carry out the various functions involved in maintaining memories. There are other things we can do as well, to keep our memories healthy and strong. When we test our brains, we force them to work at a more intense level. Let’s take a look at some things you can do to improve your memory.
Ways to Improve Your Memory
So what are the things you can do to improve your memory? Here are the top ten ways you can boost your ability to remember.










The most important thing when thinking about improving your memory is not to take it for granted. Memory can be trained, the same way you can train your body to ride a bicycle or figure skate. In order to keep your memory working the way you want it to, you need to give your brain the proper fuel – and the proper environment – to help it thrive.