Lifestyle Habits to Help Improve Memory

The Mayo Clinic offers some tips to help seniors keep their memory sharp. Physical exercise is one of those things that not only helps maintain weight and keep the heart healthy but helps the brain. Exercise raises the blood flow to the whole body including the brain and can help keep it healthy. 

Another thing experts recommend for keeping the memory sharp is for healthy people to include 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity into their routine each week. They say it is best to spread out your exercise throughout the week, and for those times when you are busy, you can spread it out over several 10 minute walks throughout the day. 

Keep mentally sharp with a variety of activities such as reading, playing games or solving puzzles. Studies have found learning a new skill such as knitting, cooking or playing an instrument is proven to be a good way to sharpen cognitive skills. There can be additional benefits if you do some of these activities with others as staying social turns out to be another way to protect our brain health and lessen our risk for dementia.

Studies also show staying organized will help us remember where things are and not feel so forgetful. A good tip for remembering things that are important is to say them out loud or write them down in a notebook. 

Other tips for sharpening our memory include getting a good night’s sleep and eating a healthy diet. Doctors say managing chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, depression and diabetes as well as addressing hearing problems and obesity are also important ways to protect cognitive health. 

At the MorningStar of Parker senior living community, we offer independent living, assisted living and memory care. Since our inception in 2003, MorningStar’s mission has been to “cast a new light” on senior living. Please contact us for availability, pricing or to schedule a tour of the most trusted senior living in Parker.