If you have a poor memory what methods do you use to improve it?

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   brakel2posted 12 years ago

   If you have a poor memory what methods do you use to improve it?
   
   Forgetting appointments, misplacing  & losing items, locking keys in car. having brain fog forgetting family members' birthdays. These are some examples.

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2. 100

   chef-de-jourposted 12 years ago

   I think some individuals are absent minded by nature and I'm absolutely certain that all of us at some stage forget to do things or forget where we've put things. All part of being human I guess.
   There are some techniques around that can certainly help with memory. You can find many on the internet but I have one or two that I follow when I'm learning scripts for plays. I build up over a number of weeks until I'm satisfied I have what it takes to keep a tight hold on everything I've learnt.
   To start off I sit down in a room and focus on the objects dotted around. Say a picture, a chair, a view through a window, a vase, a shelf, books on a shelf and so on. I look and try and remember three things about each choice. Doesn't seem much but you choose 7 and that's already 21 things you'll be recalling. Better to start with 3-5 objects.
   Another one is remembering what you had to eat yesterday. And another is the traditional memory game of covering up a number of items and trying to remember all of them. Start with 5, then try 10, 12, and 15. BUT, you have to keep it up for a number of days, plus you'll need to do it for 15-20 minutes each day until you sense a turning point. Then the days might turn into weeks and you find yourself hooked! Then you can look back and ask yourself...is my memory really getting better? Can't remember!!!!

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3. 72

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   I do have a bad memory so I write everything down, create lists, and use lumosity.com.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm a huge fan of taking notes and making lists, too!! My iPhone notes are half my brain some days, sad to say. But, once you enter the furnace filter size, for example, into your iPhone Notes page, it's there "forever" any time you need it.

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      lburmasterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ah! Normally I have a notepad, Kindle, and day planner for everything. An iPhone sounds a lot easier.

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   MickSposted 12 years ago

   I can't remember.  I've had short term memory loss for as long as I can remember.

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5. 67

   yoginijoyposted 12 years ago

   You should attempt to practice mindfulness. Just slow down, do less and do one thing at a time. There is no hurry, all you have is now. When I find myself forgetting things or misplacing items I know I am doing too much.  Take three deep breaths and count to ten. Also, go back over your day remembering what took place and being grateful for all the wonderful things that happened; this strategy will help you to be more mindful and less forgetful.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I've got to keep learning more about this "mindfulness" business... it comes up again and again and I want to integrate it into my meditation/centering techniques. Deep breathing really helps a LOT, too: forces you to slow down, makes things clearer.

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   mathiraposted 12 years ago

   I am very absent minded and spend agonizing hours searching for things I misplaced. Now I have practiced keeping things in one place and when I want to search for it, it will be in a shelf where I keep all my important things. I write down what should be done for the day and keep looking at it as a reminder and it works.

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   1. 82

      Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      mathira, I can totally relate to what you're saying! You're not the only one. Without my daily "To Do" list I'd get nothing done! Car keys always go in the zippered compartment of my purse, iPhone in the outside pocket, and then I don't lose them.

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   Paneuromixposted 12 years ago

   You can try to eat a healthy diet, that means more fruits and vegetables and you should also try to get enough sleep, at least 8 hours per night.
   
   You must get more organized and write down the things that are important such as the birthdays of family members, appointments and so on.
   
   Also, you can try different supplements that will help you increase your brain activity and improve your memory. You should try to get one that includes ginseng, gingko biloba that increase the blood flow to the brain and are renown remedies.

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