We all know that exercise is an important factor in keeping our bodies fit and healthy. But did you know that exercise is important for the brain as well? Scientists have found that the aging process can affect how well we remember facts, names and faces. Many of us will see memory lapses of one kind or another in the middle to later years of life. The good news is that there are exercises to improve short term memory so that your cognitive abilities continue to function at peak capacity throughout your life. This article will introduce three exercises to improve short term memory that are easy and fun to do.
Online Games: Many of the exercises to improve short term memory can be found right on the Internet. These puzzles and games are specifically designed to enhance cognitive function and they are fun to play. You can find memory matching games, trivia quizzes and online solitaire games that will give you the mental workout your brain needs to stay fit. Some of the websites offer free exercises to improve short term memory while others will require a subscription fee. The best choice is the website that provides the games you enjoy playing the most, since you will be more likely to stick with your exercises if you have fun with them.
Card Games: It seems almost too easy that a single deck of cards can provide a wealth of exercises to improve short term memory. Think about the card games you played as a child. Go Fish and Old Maid required you to remember the cards in your opponents’ hands in order to win the game. The same holds true for adult games like Bridge, Cribbage and Gin Rummy. You can even use a standard deck of cards for a memory matching game like the ones you used to play when you were kids. Grab a deck and your favorite card playing partner and indulge in a few exercises to improve short term memory.
Scene It?: Trivia activities are still more popular games to improve short term memory, and with the advent of the Scene It? series, you can find trivia on a whole host of subject matter. Trivia is a good way to stimulate mental activity because it forces you to reach into the far corners of your brain to pull out information you might have learned years before. Video trivia games like the Scene It? games are particularly good for visual learners, because it allows them to recall information based on pictures and images rather than on hearing words. Plus, it is fun for the whole family, so you don’t even realize you are getting a mental workout!
Finding exercises to improve short term memory can be as easy as indulging in family game nights on a regular basis. Individual games can be found online so you can play your memory games every day whether you have an available partner or not. Daily play can give you an improved memory throughout your life.