Memory is one of the most important skills of the brain. Having a good memory is a matter of making connections. The more connections you make around an item, the more likely you are to remember it.
Work on your memory by making as many connections as you can. If you want to remember a word, think about what other words sound the same, what that word makes you think of, and details about what you were doing when you heard the word. To remember a date, add the numbers together, multiply them or think of other things that happened on the same date. The key to exercising your memory is making connections.
Visualizing is a great way to give your brain a workout. Pick a specific memory. Recall everything you can about it. Think about smells, what you were wearing, what you were thinking about. Say you want to visualize a beach vacation:
- picture the sand
- the feel of the sun
- the smell of sunscreen
- how you felt (tired, excited, relaxed?).
Think about who you traveled with, who you met there, and what you did.
Spend at least 15 minutes just visualizing everything. This exercises almost all functions of the brain: smells, sounds, tastes and sights. Repeat daily (with different memories) for a great brain fitness routine.
Reasoning is an important function of the brain that needs exercise to work well. Practice reasoning by asking the question "Why?". Why did the city begin the street repairs at the curb lane? Why do stores love to sell gift cards? Why are onions usually sauteed first, by themselves?
Just thinking about the possible answers to these questions will force your brain to use logic and intuition. Be curious about the world around you and ask yourself "Why?" all day long. You will soon become good at finding the answers.
