A Work Out For Your Memory

Can't remember the name of your new neighbour or where you kept your glasses? These are all signs of forgetting and shows how busy we are.

We exercise our body to keep fit, in the same way we should exercise our brain to keep up with our fit body. Many of you will say, we can keep a reminder on our cell phone or PDA or simply write it down but guess what will happen when you will not have access to those aids.

Here are some tips to strengthen your brain:

1. It's on the tip of my tongue.

Many times we are stuck and can't remember the name of that movie. Try reciting the alphabets in your mind and when you reach the alphabet say M, it should trigger your mind and you should be able to remember it, M for Monsoon Wedding.

2. What else was I supposed to buy today?

You can remember your entire shopping list with pegwords. A pegword is a word that helps you remember something by forming a picture in your mind. Each pegword helps you remember one thing. If you memorize 10 pegwords, then you can use them to remember 10 things. If you memorize 20 pegwords, you can remember 20 things.

3. Can't remember phone numbers?

In todays high tech world where we have phone numbers in cell phone memories rather then our brains, the simple brain exercise is to dial the number from your memory. Remembering a phone number is simple. Imagine the phone no. to be 4879523. This is an average 7-digit phone number. Try remembering this number by individual numbers i.e. 4-8-7-9-5-2-3.

Try recalling the number again after five minutes. You will hardly be able to recall this no. in another 30 seconds. Now break the numbers into four chunks of two digits each, except last digit i.e. 48-79-52-3. After five minutes, try recalling this number. You will be surprised that you still remember the number. See it's so easy.

4. What was his name? Oh God, I forgot again.

Whenever you are being introduced to some new person, listen to his/her name with great interest and try saying it aloud, like Hi Johnny, nice meeting you.

With difficult names try breaking up the name into two parts like Doankhenson into 'Doank' and 'Henson'. Look at the person closely and choose an outstanding feature ( large moustache, deep blue eyes) and tie the name to the face. Let your imagination work.

5. I am not able to memorize things.

A simple trick to memorize is - read , write, read it again aloud and record your voice. Listen to it as many times as you can and trust me you will memorize it in no time.