Try DIY options like studying flash cards or memorizing a string of cards in a deck of cards. Alternatively, have someone set a bunch of everyday items on a table. Look at the table for about 10 seconds, then turn around and see how many of the items you can recall. Though there isn’t a consensus in the scientific community on if or how much these types of games improve memory, it certainly doesn’t hurt to try them! Brain training exercises have different effects on different people, so test them out and see if you notice an improvement. [3] X Research source

The simple act of having a conversation with another person can benefit your brain health and memory. In addition to talking, consider playing chess, doing puzzles together, or engaging in other activities that challenge your brain to work harder. Stimulate your mind when you’re alone as well. Instead of passively watching TV, try reading a book or writing a letter to an old friend.

The MIND diet (which is a hybrid of the DASH diet and Mediterranean diet) appears to slow down cognitive decline. It prioritizes leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, olive oil, occasional fish consumption, and reduced red meat consumption. [7] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Drink plenty of water as well. Dehydration negatively impacts the brain along with the rest of the body.

In general, adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week for overall health benefits.

Sleep needs vary by person, but, in general, getting 7-9 uninterrupted hours of sleep each night will allow your brain and body to adequately rest and recharge.

To remember the server’s name at a restaurant, then, give them your full focus when they introduce themselves, then work to keep repeating and thinking about their name for around 15-30 seconds.

Repeating a name, or anything else you want to remember, out loud is always a good way to help strengthen a particular short term memory. Listen to yourself saying the word or phrase, and keep doing so with regularity.

For instance, picture a pile of trash falling onto your head when the clock strikes six to remind you to take out the trash each evening. Or, if you’re trying to remember the name of your new co-worker Peggy, imagine her dressed as a pirate with a “peg leg. ” Singing the “ABC Song” to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is a familiar childhood mnemonic that uses an auditory cue. Mnemonic devices can use a wide range of number, color, and other cues.

Remembering a grocery list might be a challenge, but can be made more manageable by grouping the items by category—dairy, produce, meat, etc. Six smaller shopping lists is easier to recall than one larger one.

For instance, say you’re at a family reunion and are struggling to keep track of the names of four distant cousins, each of whom also has a spouse and kids. For each family group, commit the name of your cousin to memory first (the “central bubble”), then build associations (“lines”) with that name to the names of the other family members (the “surrounding bubbles”).

Depression can also negatively impact memory abilities, particularly because it can impede your ability to focus. Some medications are known to have short term memory problems as part of their side effects. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned that your medication may be a factor in your memory issues. While it’s true that short term memory loss is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease, the significant majority of people with short term memory problems do not have that condition.

Sometimes the best way to remember something is to let a sticky note or your smartphone calendar do the “remembering” for you!