How to Avoid Losing Your Memory in the Digital Age
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When was the last time you needed to memorize anything? Today, we absolutely don’t need to rely on our memory at all—we have smartphones for storing contacts, taking notes, taking pictures of items, etc. We have Google to provide us with almost any information that we need to find. We have notifications and digital calendars to remind us of deadlines, tasks, and important dates. All of this is very convenient but it can be detrimental to our memory and brain function. So how can we avoid losing our cognitive abilities and retain our memory in this digital age? Here are a few tips to help:
Minimize your screen time
Often, it’s impossible to avoid screen time because most of us work with laptops, computers, and smartphones every day. But the use of screens day after day can have various consequences. Firstly, it can cause eye problems, headaches, and other physical issues. And secondly, it can also negatively affect your memory. It’s easy for our brains to get overstimulated after long periods of screen use, making it hard to remember certain details. Also, too much screen time can mess with your sleep schedule, causing sleep deprivation and insomnia. And the brain that doesn’t get enough sleep finds it almost impossible to retain information and remember things. Therefore, it’s crucial to get plenty of necessary breaks from screens and spend more time in nature.
Stay active
Physical activity is crucial for the healthy functioning of the entire body system. Of course, you will exercise your muscles and strengthen your bones through regular physical activity, but there are more benefits to exercising and moving. Through exercise, you can stimulate your brain in the right way necessary for improving memory and cognitive function, especially as you get older. Another reason to stay active in the digital age is stress reduction. Exercise boosts happy hormones and reduces cortisol responsible for stress, and we all know how hard it is for our brains to function when overwhelmed with stress.
Keep memories at hand
In the past, people kept their memories alive by owning photographs, books, diaries, and other memorabilia. Today, this art of keeping memories is slowly getting lost to technology. However, it’s very practical for your valuable remembrances to stay at hand with digital albums and scrapbooks. You can even find a gorgeous digital photo album you can actually hold in your hands and store on the shelf. This tech allows you to upload photos to the album and get a physical copy you can interact with. Any time you need to jog your memory and experience sweet emotions, you can simply grab your photo album and go through these moments again and again.
Practice memory techniques
In order to exercise and improve your memory so you don’t have to rely on technology, you might want to dedicate some time to practicing memory techniques. For instance, through visualization, you can try to create detailed mental images filled with information you want to remember. Let’s say you need to remember someone’s name. Create a mental image of their face and name and create a story around them for easy remembering. Repetition is also a simple yet effective technique that includes the repetition of important information so it can stick in your memory. As you practice and practice these techniques, your brain will make new connections and get better at remembering things and details.
Practice mindfulness
Did you know meditation, especially mindfulness, can improve memory and information retention? These practices can reduce stress and boost your ability to notice, identify and memorize details of importance. Through mindfulness, you will learn how to be present at the moment and identify your feelings and thoughts, instead of using technology as a shield from them. The important aspect of mindfulness is the absence of judgment, which helps us look at situations with an open mind and no preconceptions, thus exercising better focus and memory. And you can practice mindfulness in many ways—through meditation, exercise, etc. As you keep up with your meditations, you will notice a positive impact on your overall well-being, especially on memory and brain function.
Memory issues are a problem that affects a lot of people in the modern world, but there are many methods to safeguard and enhance our brains. It’s true that we all might be overly dependent on technology, but through careful exercise, focus, and limits to our tech exposure every day, we can get our memories back and ensure our brains are working at the top of their abilities.
Eve Anderson is a marketing specialist turned blogger. Interested in sports and exciting travel destinations. Love to share content that can inform people.
