March is Brain Awareness Month so it’s the
perfect time for us all to stop and think about what we’re
doing to look after our memory and all-round brain
health.
Most of us have seen first-hand the
devastating effects of age and disease on the brain and
memory and while there is no cure Alzheimer’s the exciting
news is that getting older doesn’t have to go hand in hand
with memory loss. Research now shows that the human brain is
growing and changing throughout our lives and we can control
three of the four causes of brain aging in just a few
minutes a day.
Naturally, the more you do, the better
but regardless of whether you are 35 or 80, Brainfit Coach
Jude Walter, says it is never too late to start
strengthening your brain.
“Amidst the craziness of
life, some ‘forgetting’ is quite normal but don’t
forgive yourself too easily. Memory lapses not only waste
huge amounts of time, they also undermine our confidence and
self-belief, says Jude.
“Memory is not a single
object you can lose – it is more like a set of abilities
that can be continually improved. Remembering is an active
process that takes regular practice because when it comes to
the brain and memory it really is a case of – use it or
lose it!”
So, what are Jude’s top tips for helping
to build strong memories and healthy
brains?
- Believe in your memory – self-belief is
essential to a strong healthy brain. Remember you can
control three of the four factors that cause brain aging so
never say never and don’t be afraid to try new
things. - Focus – When you pay attention and
actively register details you are creating strong memory
traces. The more memory traces you have, the easier it will
be to recall that information later. Think of it like
shining a torch on the information you need to recall
later. - Connect – Try connecting the information you
want to remember to something or someone you already know
– it could be an image, a funny story, a song. This will
help to further strengthen the memory traces and aid
recall. - Rehearse – Repeating the information as soon
as possible afterwards is also good for embedding the memory
so make a point of telling someone else as soon as you get
home or repeat a new person’s name while you are still
talking to them. - Practise – Different parts of the
brain are activated by different tasks. The key is to try a
variety of activities as newness gives your brain a full
workout and keeps the mind sharp. It could be as simple as
switching from doing the Sudoku to a jigsaw puzzle once a
week, walking to the shops along a different route, trying
to memorise your shopping list or adding up the numbers on
the number plate in front of you while you sit in traffic.
If you can do this, you will see a noticeable improvement in
memory in just a few weeks - Look after yourself –
good food, water, exercise and sleep are essential for all
round health and wellbeing, but they are also extremely good
for the brain and memory. Exercise helps to improve blood
flow to the brain while water and food fuel the brain, which
needs twice as much energy than any other cells in your
body!
If you would like more tips and practical
support to help make brain fitness and wellbeing part of
your regular routine, Brainfit have a range of support
options to suit people of all ages community classes, online
training and activity books. To find out more go to
https://brainfit.nz/.
Notes:
Brainfit
for Life™ is New Zealand’s leading memory educator and
has been running for 12 years. Their programmes draw on the
internationally acclaimed research into age-related memory
loss by New Zealander, Dr Allison Lamont who runs a
successful Memory Clinic in Auckland. Together with her
sister Gillian Eadie, a career educator and an international
network of accredited coaches, the Brainfit programme has
supported more than 16,000 people with their brain health
journey to
date.
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