Forgetting isn’t always a good thing, contrary to plot of the movie. While the movie pokes fun at “forgetting” about things (the main character’s ex-girlfriend, in that particular case), forgetting is sometimes a sign of something more serious, such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. With that being said, forgetting shouldn’t be viewed as a symptom or sign of impending mental illness (ask your doctor if you think you’re mentally ill), occasionally forgetting things is normal.
While we can’t prevent ourselves from forgetting things once in awhile, we can help take better care of our brains. Here are a few handy tips to keep in mind to keep that brain of yours healthy:
Tip #1: Eat healthy foods. I can’t stress this enough with teenagers nowadays. Fatty and heavily processed foods can acquire a negative effect in our brains synapses, and we all know that those funky little guys in your brains are important for learning and memory. Foods that can boost synapses are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in tasty salmon, walnuts and kiwi fruits.
Tip #2: Hit the gym. Exercise is a mild stressor to our body, eating up energy and releasing the chemicals called growth factors that make the brain’s neurons stronger and healthier. Stretching can also reduce stress, giving a positive impact on the memory centres of our brain. Essentially, exercising is not only good for your body, it’s also good for your brain.
Tip #3: Stimulate your brain. Give your brain a lot of stimulation by working on crossword puzzles and memory games. Studies shows that being mentally active can reduce the risks of developing dementia.
Tip #4: Play mind games on your mind. No, I’m not talking about the “playing hard to get” type of mind games. I’m talking about trying to trick your brain, or rather, quizzing it with memorizing things. Even if it’s something random like what was the name and eye color of your first crush, it’s still a form of stimulation for your mind.
Tip #5: GET PLENTY OF SLEEEEEEP!! Another thing I can’t stress further with kids is to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. While it is difficult nowadays to get that amount of sleep, with a lot of distractions from cable TV, video games, and the internet, sleep gives our brain the chance to replay the memories of the day, and consolidate them for long term storage. Studies shows that our brain can do its reviewing and re-winding much faster when we are asleep than when we are awake.
Now, I realize that none of these tips are foolproof in preventing you from forgetting, but at least you’ll find yourself mentally sharper by practicing these tips and keeping your mind razor sharp. Now go pump some iron.. into your brain, that is.
