How to Maintain a Sharp Memory and Clear Thinking?

Having a sharp memory and clear thinking is a trait highly valued by employers. In fact, with this quality, you can succeed in any field of life. So, how do you achieve sharp thinking and a keen memory? Let’s explore further in this article.

1. What is a Sharp Memory and Clear Thinking?

A sharp memory and clear thinking refer to the ability to stay mentally alert, allowing you to recall information clearly and quickly process complex problems. This is when your mind operates flexibly and intelligently in receiving and analyzing information, enabling accurate decision-making.
Combining a good memory and sharp thinking not only helps you solve work efficiently but also maintains a healthy mental lifestyle, even as you age.

2. Factors Affecting Sharp Memory and Clear Thinking

To have a sharp memory and clear thinking, various factors in life can influence it, such as diet, rest, and exercise. Eating well, getting enough sleep, and consuming sufficient micronutrients are crucial to maintaining this cognitive sharpness.
Moreover, if you regularly train your brain through activities like reading, playing sports, or practicing reflex exercises, it can help maintain a sharp memory even as you grow older.
Research shows that in cultures where elderly people are not stereotypically associated with forgetfulness, such as in China, people perform better on memory tests. This suggests that societal attitudes towards aging can impact mental alertness and the effort to maintain it.

3. How to Achieve Clear Thinking?

Here are some good habits that can help you maintain a sharp memory and clear thinking:

3.1. Regularly Stimulate Your Brain

If you ever wonder why scientists maintain mental sharpness into old age, it’s because they constantly use their brains like an unfaltering machine. Challenging your brain helps sustain a sharp memory and clear thinking. Engaging in mentally stimulating activities can help you stay sharp for longer. Try the following to maintain sharp memory and clear thinking:

• Read a book.
• Attend a lecture.
• Listen to the radio.
• Play a game.
• Visit a museum.
• Learn a new language.

3.2. Exercise Regularly

Exercise, especially activities that increase your heart rate like walking or swimming, also benefits your brain. Although experts are unsure of the exact reasons, physical activity can increase blood flow to the brain and improve the connections between nerve cells, thus maintaining sharp memory and clear thinking. Regular activity can enhance your memory, imagination, and planning abilities.

3.3. Maintain a Healthy Diet

To achieve clear thinking and remain sharp, follow a healthy diet. Take care of your brain by choosing foods that are good for your heart and body shape. Obesity in middle age can double the risk of dementia later in life. High cholesterol and blood pressure also increase risks. Here are some tips to maintain sharp memory and clear thinking:

• Bake or roast food instead of frying.
• Use “good” fats like oils from nuts, seeds, and olives instead of cream, butter, and animal fats.
• Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.
• Eat fish regularly.

3.4. Monitor Your Beverage Intake

Did you know that consuming too much alcohol not only affects your judgment, speech, movement, and memory but can also have long-term impacts?
Drinking excessive alcohol over a long period can shrink the brain’s frontal lobe, and this damage might be irreversible, even if you stop drinking. Moderation is key to maintaining sharp memory and clear thinking, defined as one drink per day for women and two for men.

3.5. Play Video Games

Try picking up a game controller. Some research suggests that playing video games can stimulate brain areas involved in movement, memory, planning, and fine motor skills.
While some experts argue that gaming only makes you better at gaming, why not give it a try while awaiting more conclusive research to maintain sharp memory and clear thinking?

3.6. Socialize and Make More Friends

One effective way to maintain sharp memory and exercise your brain is by making friends and engaging in social interactions.
Interacting with others, whether at work, home, or in the community, helps keep your mind sharper. Studies indicate that social activities help improve sharp memory and clear thinking. So, consider volunteering, taking a class, or simply calling a friend!

3.7. Sleep Well to Care for Your Brain and Memory

Getting enough sleep before and after learning something new is crucial. When you are tired, your concentration decreases. Sleep helps the brain store new information so you can recall it later.
A full night’s sleep is ideal for maintaining sharp memory and improving mood. Adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night, during which the brain’s glymphatic system helps clear waste.

3.8. Daily Habits to Maintain Sharp Memory

Everyone can be forgetful at times, but remembering things can become more challenging as you age. This is a normal part of aging. Here are a few tips to keep your memory sharp:

• Write down important things.
• Use calendars and reminders on your phone, even for simple tasks.
• Focus on one task at a time.
• Learn step by step so the brain can absorb information more easily.

To maintain a sharp memory and clear thinking, aside from a nutritious diet, enhancing mental and physical exercise can sharpen memory and thinking. Additionally, supplementing the body with essential micronutrients like vitamins, zinc, B6, and magnesium is vital for better brain function.