Memory and forgetting are part of life, so we shouldn't expect to remember everything or as well as others. Memory is a highly personal aspect of us.

You forgot to take your keys out of the front door lock. Does this mean you are in danger of memory loss? Is this the beginning of something you dread? It’s a matter of working memory, which is at the heart of all memories.

Researchers recently established that the key to comprehending working memory is not only what we are holding in memory but also the reason for doing so. This aspect of working memory is referred to as the “working” element, and it emphasizes the significance of storing anything in the first place.

In other words, we decide what is important and then store it in our working memory, and we dismiss the things that aren't important and might be transient in our memory and then disappear. It's all about the function of attention. We pay particular attention to the things that attract us and that we believe we may need in the future. It's also a matter of placing our own meaning on information, making human memory all the more flawed and different from person to person.

We've seen this in eyewitness testimony in legal cases where several people have different memories of the same event. It is possible for the memory of an eyewitness to be tainted by leading questions, incorrect interpretations of events, conversations with other witnesses, and the witness’s own preferences regarding what they believe should have occurred. People are even capable of remembering entire events that never took place in their lives.

One reason we make decisions that are not flawless is that we humans do not give equal weight to the information we obtain throughout time. In an ideal world, we would evaluate each piece of evidence in the same manner, that is, in a linear fashion. In actuality, humans tend to weigh information in a highly inconsistent manner. So, what can we do about enhancing our memory and keeping it as strong as possible?

Better Memory Retention

Now that you know a bit more about memories and how they can be problematic, why not discuss how we can improve our memories? Here are several things that have been proven to be helpful in memory consolidation and keeping our memories intact as we age.

1. Exercise regularly: Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, which can help improve memory and cognitive function.
2. Eat a healthy diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats can support brain health and memory.
3. Stay socially active: Maintaining social connections and engaging in social activities can help keep your brain sharp.
4. Stay mentally active: Engage in mentally stimulating activities, such as reading, learning a new skill, or taking up a new hobby.
5. Pay attention: Actively focusing on the information you want to remember can help improve memory retention.
6. Use visual aids: Associating information with visual cues, such as pictures or diagrams, can help you recall it more easily.
7. Manage stress: Chronic stress can negatively impact memory. Practice stress-reducing techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing.
8. Use mnemonic devices: Mnemonic devices, such as acronyms or rhymes, can help you remember information more easily. Anyone initially learning math, must learn how to figure out math order of operations that are in parentheses. How do you do it? It's a pneumonic that says, "Please excuse my dear aunt Sally." Of course, it stands for parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction in that order. Remember that wherever you need it, you will never forget how to figure out one of those math problems that include all those parentheses.

Medical students are often told that mnemonics are key to remembering many things, like the 12 cranial nerves. Remembering cranial nerve names in order of CN I to CN XII: On old Olympus’s towering top a Finn and German viewed some hops. Ooh, ooh, ooh to touch and feel very good velvet. Here's a great list for mnemonics that you may find useful.

9. Play brain-training games: Engaging in mentally stimulating activities, such as puzzles, crosswords, or memory games, can help improve memory.

10. Get enough sleep: Adequate sleep is essential for memory consolidation. Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep per night. There is no doubt that sleep is absolutely essential not just for life, but for actively retaining our memory functions. Sleep is when your brain organizes memories, and gets rid of unnecessary information and metabolic “garbage” from daily activities. In fact, most students are told to study something right before they go to sleep because that is the best way to recall information the next day.

And one extra thing that might be helpful is to consider using The Pomodoro Method where you time how long you work at a task (20 to 25 minutes), take a break and then go back to working again. It got its name from the timer that was used by the man who came up with the method. The timer, of course, was a tomato.

Now, go forth and flourish.