Great memory improvement tips: Do you want to improve your memory? Learn from the experts. With a little dedication you can really change how you retain information.

“I have trouble with my memory and concentration” – this is one of the main concerns people voice during counselling.

Memory problems can be due to burnout at work, being overworked and overwhelmed then not having enough good quality rest. If this is the main issue, you need to consider your stress management and coping skills.

But what if your memory loss is related to ageing? As we grow older, problems with recalling information become more noticeable. This is due to the weakening of connections between the areas of the brain where memories are stored.

From time to time – young or old, overworked or not – we all experience a phenomenon that is called “tip of the tongue”. It occurs when you ‘almost’ have it, you are almost ready to retrieve from your memory the name of the song or the name of your neighbour, but for some reason it never eventuates.

Don’t despair, you can improve your memory by implementing these great tips from Dr John Arden, author of The Brain Bible: A Plan to stay vital, productive and happy for a lifetime (McGraw-Hill Education 2014):

• Your memory of a task will be better if you get a chance to practise it rather than simply observe or read about it. Active learning by doing is far more powerful than learning by passively receiving it.
• It is true that pictures and mental images are better remembered than words
• Repetition is the key, rehearsed material is better remembered
• When learning a new task, if it is associated with emotion it improves the memory; so allow yourself to get emotionally involved in learning new information
• Memory is improved if you come across the newly learnt information frequently
• Create as many associations as possible, the more associations the more durable the memory will become
• Fun fact: Chewing gum improves memory by 35% percent because it raises the heart rate and increases the blood flow to the brain.

Overall it is important to continue to challenge yourself with different mental activities on a regular basis. Expose yourself to something new once in a while. If you are really good at learning languages for example, instead of learning a new language, learn how to dance the tango or play soccer. If you are really good with numbers and calculations, read new novels. Try to do things differently: explore new ways of getting home, take a class in learning a new skill, go to art galleries or museums. The most important advice is never stop learning!