Memory Exercises

Many people, regardless of age, can't seem to remember or pinpoint certain things. Their minds are working perfectly fine but the memory of few details go missing. It is a common misconception that our brain is solely responsible to preserve memories. There are various other factors which help us make and recover memories whenever required such as emotional and physiological processes, cognitive processes, and the environment we live in. Put all these elements together and we have a recipe which affects the functioning of memories. Now when a person begins to forget or has issues with his/her memories, this can be due to several reasons like fatigue, emotional stress, mood, overall nutrition, and some common illnesses. But the causes for memory issues is not limited to these elements or factors only. To combat this issue, there are certain memory exercises which you can partake in. Keep reading the rest of the article to find the memory improvement exercises.

Exercises for Short-term Memory

As I mentioned earlier, issues with memories can occur at any age. Keeping that in mind, we have put together few memory improvement exercises which will help you. Read the respective exercises which you are interested in.

Exercises for Kids

Draw in Sand
For our first memory game, you can be at the beach or in the park. Firstly, you will draw images, numbers, shapes, letters, animals, and birds in the sand. Let your kid see the images and then smudge them away. Give a long stick to your kid and ask him/her to draw the same images that you had just a minute ago. This exercise/game keeps kids entertained, do a quick revision, and remember.

What Am I Wearing?
This exercise/game can be played with kids of different ages. Plus this exercise can be done with more than one kid. Stand in front of the kid(s) and ask him/her to examine you properly. To be more specific, have the kid examine what you're wearing and make a mental note of everything. Then have him/her write down everything that he/she remembers right from the scrunchie to shoes.

Exercises for College Students

Word Power
You might be surprised to learn but our brain can store millions of, and different, facts. All it requires is a boost to remember them all properly. For college students, they need to make a list of words. But not just any words; they need to write down 20 concrete, abstract, and nonsense words (each) in less than 5 minutes. You will make a list of 30 concrete, abstract, and nonsense words (each) and they get 5 minutes to go over them. When the time starts, keep the list aside and write down as many words as they can remember.

Closed Eyes
If you wish to learn how to improve memory and concentration, then this next exercise is very helpful. While showering and getting dressed in the mornings, you will keep your eyes closed for the entire time. This is called neurobic exercise; a kind of a mental aerobic exercise that keeps your brain active at all times.

Exercises for Adults

Card Tricks
There are many techniques to improve memory for adults. For our first exercise, place a deck of cards in front of you, face down. Now open 2 cards at a time so you can make pairs. When you have similar numbers on the cards, remove the pair and get to the others. This way, you need to make pairs with all the cards.

Blind Puzzle
Here's another memory games for adults. Get a simple jigsaw puzzle and place the pieces in front of you. Examine the image properly and blindfold yourself. One by one, take the pieces to complete the image. Feel the pieces with your fingers and try to place them accordingly.

Exercises for Seniors

Video Games
Yes! Video games aren't just for kids and teens. Even senior citizens can play them which will help in improving their memory. There are lots of games like Bejeweled, Solitaire, Brian Age, Flash Focus, Civilization, etc.; all these games are fun, entertaining, make them focus on their reflexes, and keep them agile. Even puzzles, chess, and cards can help.

Keep Reading
For our next memory game, make it a point to read newspapers, magazines, and books on a regular basis. Over time, this cognitive activity will help in preventing memory loss in the future. Also, include as much physical activity as you can to keep yourself active.

These were some memory exercises and games for kids, college students, adults, and senior citizens. If you are facing a more serious problem or can't remember major events and occasions, do make it a point to consult your doctor.