Home Memory Training - How to Remember an Old Friend's Name

Does this sound familiar – you’ve returned to your hometown after several years away and are looking forward to seeing all your old friends. You look up and see someone who looks familiar, but you can’t quite place them. They say your name, smile and begin a conversation with you. You know that you know them, and they’re talking about things that only someone who grew up with you could know, but no matter how you try, you can’t remember their name. The devastated look on their face when they realize you can’t remember them makes you feel awful.

That guilty feeling follows you around for the rest of your visit, and you dread meeting the next person you can’t remember. The good news is that with some basic memory training, you can improve your memory even at home. Practicing a few simple exercises and techniques will have you remembering details, like names, in no time, and better still, you’ll be able to commit them to your long term memory.

Your brain, like your body, requires exercise. Jogging around the block isn’t going to help you remember things though. Being physically fit will help you to have a healthy mind, but there are some special techniques that you can use that will specifically target and exercise your brain, and help to improve your memory.

Working some simple exercises into your day will help you in your home memory training. An active, engaged brain is one that is going to remember things more clearly than one that is switched off. So use your senses and process what you’re watching, what you’re reading, what you’re eating, what you’re doing, instead of just sleepwalking through your day. Daydreaming, however, is allowed, as when you use your imagination, you are activating your brain. Create a new world to visit, and use your memory to return there. Crosswords and putting puzzle together are also a great way of exercising your brain, and are good memory training techniques.

Specially designed video games can also be used in your home memory training. For around thirty dollars you can challenge yourself with time restricted exercises, quizzes and tests. All the information may be difficult to process in the beginning, but like with training your body, the mind just needs a little time to build up. Stick with it, and as you continue your memory training, see how quickly your memory improves. You’ll find that you never again experience that feeling of dread when you return home.