Have you ever wanted to improve your memory? A lot has been written about different methods of improving your memory. There are many suggestions regarding diets and brain exercises that you can do. There are many activities you can do in your life to keep your mind sharp. Read this article for some suggestions.

Write twelve initials on your finger pads! Look at the underneath of your fingers. If you don't count your thumb, there are twelve pads. There are three on each finger. If you have a twelve item or less list of terms to remember you can write the initial for each on the finger pads in the order they are to be remembered.

Get plenty of high quality sleep to keep your memory as sharp as possible. Lack of sleep, or poor quality of sleep, can significantly reduce memory and make it difficult to retain information, especially if sleep deprivation is a pattern. Getting an adequate amount of high quality sleep goes a long way towards improving your memory.

Close your eyes. Your brain spends a lot of energy on processing what you are seeing. If you have difficulty remembering something, try closing your eyes. Your brain will have an easier time finding the information. It will also make it easier for you to picture said information in your head.

Avoid cramming all your material into one short study session. Studies show that information is better retained, if you take some time to learn it. You can do this by scheduling short study sessions in the days and weeks, prior to an exam. Cramming everything into one sitting will only prove to be counter productive.

Your sense of smell can be a powerful memory aide. It is hardwired directly to the brain. Study with something that smells a certain way (a special perfume for instance)in the room. When the big test day comes, reintroduce the smell and you will reintroduce the memory too.

You need to make sure you focus on the information that you are trying to remember. If you are trying to remember a shopping list, try visualizing the items or write them down to jog your memory. Take your time to repeat information after you hear it so it has a chance of sticking with you.

To help you improve your memory, you should use acronyms to remember a process or list. By using an acronym, it is easy to condense the points you need to remember into one easy to pronounce word or saying. This can make it much easier to recall large amounts of information.

If someone you know is suffering from Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, or another illness that effects their memory, try showing them pleasant pictures from the past. By looking at pleasant memories, the memory of these patients may improve. Be sure not to bring up unpleasant memories as this could cause them a setback.

Keeping your brain active is important for maintaining a good memory, but what you eat is just as important as well. Brain healthy foods include whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Decrease your consumption of alcohol and increase your daily intake of water. Low fat proteins also help with memory, so try to incorporate fish, chicken and other lean meats into your diet as well.

If you're a student trying to boost your memory for a test, the worst thing you can do is cram. Attempting to learn so much in too little time will not allow you to retain anything at all. You will only grasp bits of pieces of the material and will not be able to properly learn what you need to.

Many of these suggestions are simple to do. However, it takes practice and commitment from you to make them work. Try these methods and see which ones work for you. Then, incorporate those techniques into your life. Continue to research new ways to improve your memory. Before long, you will have one of the sharpest minds around.

Author's Bio: 

Cee Harmon is founder of Elevate Christian Network and Elevate Your Potential Magazine . He enjoys encouraging people to achieve their dreams and improve the quality of their lives -- spirit, soul and body.