Your life depends on your memory!
I know that many stroke patients complain about their memory like I did after the strokes happened to me. It stinks! I have learned some techniques that allow me to harness more of my memory. You can boost yours too!
But first, you need to arrange your life so you will focus on neuron growth and neuroplasticity. This is important because your recovery involves the reorganization of damaged brain circuits due to neuroplasticity. Remember that your recovery can happen in 1 month, 1 year, 10 years, or more. It is your attitude!
According to the experts at stroke-rehab.com, the best way to encourage neuroplasticity in stroke recovery is to use two key methods:
- Task repetition
- Task-specific practice
Use these two methods to learn a new skill, a memory, or activity (or re-learning an old one). Apply specific, regular practice will end in significant changes in your brain. You may not be able to learn anything with repetition and specific practice, but you can certainly learn a lot—and improvements in one area can often spill over into improvements in other abilities and skills.
If this article hits a chord with you, let me have a comment below. Put down “YES!”
Here are some tips or methods to help your memory improve.
- Intermittent fasting: promotes your neuron growth, improve overall cognitive function, and decreases the risk of neurodegenerative disease;
- Traveling: exposes your brain to novel stimuli and new environments, opening up new pathways and activity in the brain;
- Using mnemonic devices: memory training can enhance connectivity in the prefrontal parietal network and prevent some age-related memory loss;
- Non-dominant hand use or exercises: can form new neural pathways and strengthen the connectivity between neurons;
- Reading fiction: increases and enhances connectivity in the brain;
- Expanding your vocabulary: activates the visual and auditory processes as well as memory processing;
- Sleeping: encourages learning retention through the growth of the dendritic spines that act as connections between neurons and help transfer information across cells (Nguyen, 2016).
A deeper dive into your life will make a difference in promoting your memory.
Cognitive. Your concentration will decrease if you find yourself forgetting things easily. Your memory sometimes fails you, you misplace articles, and have difficulty remembering things that occurred a short time ago. It is time to boost your mental abilities!
Psychological. When you are depressed and feeling down, it is difficult to focus. Similarly, when you are recovering from the loss of a loved one during bereavement or are experiencing anxiety, you may have difficulty focusing on a single task which leads to forgetting important items.
Medical. Medical conditions like diabetes, hormonal imbalances, and low red blood cell count can affect your concentration and memory. Some medication also makes you drowsy or bleary and severely impair memory.
Environment. Poor working conditions, shared spaces, and intense or negative work dynamics may also contribute to your poor memory. When we are experiencing burnout or stress from work or personal life, we will find it difficult to concentrate due to emotional exhaustion.
Lifestyle. Fatigue, hunger, and dehydration can derail your memory. Lifestyles that involve too many missed meals, rich foods, or excessive alcohol consumption can challenge your memory.
These are just some numerous tasks you can do regularly to fight forgetfulness and get a better memory. REMEMBER!
Sources: https://www.caringseniorservice.com/blog/top-5-memory-games-for-seniors https://positivepsychology.com/neuroplasticity/ https://www.marksdailyapple.com/16-ways-to-increase-neuroplasticity-and-why-thats-important/ https://www.lifehack.org/804141/brain-exercises-for-memory & https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451994416300141
You can watch some of my videos on my YouTube channel at thestrokerecoverycircle. You can join my Facebook group called The Stroke Recovery Circle. These vehicles combat strokes happening in the first place and supercharge your recovery from your stroke. If it is about your loved one who had a stroke, you can learn all about stroke and recovery topics. Check it out!
Thank you! To your success!
#strokethivors
#yourlifedepends
#taskrepetition
#task-specificpractice
#neurongrowth
#non-dominanthand
#traveling
#lifestyle
#BDC
