Your memory can dwindle as you get older. It can, but it doesn’t have to. There are lots of ways that you can strengthen your cognition and reduce your chances of developing memory problems as you age. Here are three of them:
The Top Ways That You Can Prevent Memory Loss:
1. Keep Active
Laziness is not good for your cognition. The more activity you do, the healthier that your mind will be.
You can keep your memory in top shape by exercising on a regular basis. It doesn’t have to be an intense workout. You can walk your dog, go for a bike ride, or work in your garden. Ideally, you should be getting your heart rate up and taking in some fresh air.
Physical exercise isn’t the only kind of activity that your brain needs. You should keep mentally active, too. Try new board games and puzzles. Read books. Listen to different music. Learn new skills. All of these things will keep your mind sharp.
You will have an easier time staying active when you’re in an encouraging community space. Join a senior living community that offers lots of exercise classes, social events, and unique workshops that will challenge you. Take a look at the senior homes at All Seniors Care Living Centres to see what opportunities they offer their residents every single day of the week. You’ll always have something exciting to do.
3. Sleep Better
A single night of sleep deprivation can alter your cognition, making your reactions slower, your short-term memory foggy and your mood swings stronger. Now, you can imagine what consistent sleep deprivation will do.
Poor sleep habits can negatively affect someone’s capability to create new memories and recollect old memories. They’ve also been linked to serious issues like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
To keep your memory sharp, you should try your best to get your essential seven to nine hours of sleep every single night. If you’re having trouble adopting this healthy habit, these are some simple tips that will make it easier to get to sleep:
- Have a bedtime routine. Stick to it every single night.
- Wind down before bed. Do a relaxing activity: listen to calming music, meditate, read a book, or write in a journal.
- Turn off technology one or two hours before bed. The blue light from the screens will keep you up.
- Stay away from caffeine in the evening. If you have to have a cup of coffee, switch to decaf.
3. Drink Less Alcohol
A few too many glasses of wine can make you forget a conversation topic or where you put your house keys—and that’s in a single night. Consistent alcohol use can affect your memory, and alcohol abuse can cause a significant amount of damage.
The good news is that reducing alcohol use or quitting drinking altogether can improve your memory. Try cutting down the drinks you have per week. You can try mocktail recipes to replace your favorite cocktails and pick non-alcoholic versions of the beer, cider, and wine.
If you’re having trouble with this goal, think about talking to your doctor or look into a support group.
You don’t have to accept memory loss as an inevitability. You have some control over this situation. When you follow these three tips, you can really raise your chances of having a good memory well into your golden years.
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