To Inspire:

 

We talk a lot about memory, especially as we age. It’s easy to find tips on improving memory, but if you’re trying to remember what you walked into the next room for, you need to work on your prospective memory.

“Memory usually means remembering things that have already happened. But prospective memory is the ability to remember to do something in the future — such as stopping to get milk on the way home from work, calling your mom on her birthday or remembering to take your casserole out of the oven,” explains neuroscientist Sarah Ranskin.

Remembering future commitments involves different areas of the brain than remembering past events and facts, but like other forms of memory, prospective memory abilities often decrease as we age. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help improve this specific type of memory!

Four Ways to Improve Your Prospective Memory

Visual imagery. Visual cues have a powerful ability to jog prospective memory. Take a picture or make a written note to help. Consider a smart phone app designed to help you remember things (one is even called Remember the Milk). If there’s something you need to remember to take with you, put it in front of the door so you can’t walk out without it.

Routine. Consider using time cues by always setting a future commitment for the same time or day. Schedule important daily tasks such as exercise for the same time each day. Or, if possible, schedule recurring appointments such as doctor’s appointments or salon appointments on the same day of the week. To make it easier to find my car, I try to always park in the same area of a store parking lot.

Vocalizing. For many, something called implementation of intentions can help.  Implementation intentions are a strategy that involves creating if-then plans to help form habits and change behaviors. The goal is to link an anticipated situation with a specific response.  When situation X arises, I will perform Y. For example, if you’re having trouble falling asleep each night you could say “If it’s after 3PM then I will drink water instead of coffee.”

Mime it. For others, moving works better than speaking. Acting out an intention as soon as you decide you want to do it can be helpful. If you want to remember to fill your bird feeder when you get home, pantomime doing it. Using the part of your brain that controls muscles can help strengthen the intention and help you remember.

Will you look silly if you’re walking around vocalizing to yourself or pretending to fill your bird feeder? Maybe. But improving prospective memory and not standing in the kitchen saying, “What did I come in here for?” will be worth it!

 

 

 

 

Written by Michelle O’Brien, Manager of Marketing & Communications

 

 

 

Source: Stillman, Jessica. Ever Walk Into a Room and Can’t Remember What You’re Doing There? Neuroscience Has a Word for That – and Simple Tricks to Help. Inc.com