Check out our Diet Reviews on AOL Health!

Workplace Fitness: 3 fast ways to improve your memory

We've all experienced "brain failure," that embarrassing moment when you can't remember something totally mundane and regular -- like how to spell a simple word or where you parked your car. Having a better memory is something pretty much everybody would enjoy, especially when it comes to doing your best at work. Giving your noodle a boost is something you can do in as little as 30 seconds, so there's really no reason you can't fit an exercise or two into your daily routine. Try one of these exercises from Natural Health to get started:

Take your vitamin
Time it takes: 30 seconds (do it at your desk!)
Taking a quality multivitamin is a good idea for most people but if you're looking to gain more memory power taking citicoline specifically might be the answer. Citicoline is a form of the B vitamin choline and helps replenish the nutrient called phosphatidyserine that is believed to enhance memory.


Use eye exercises to link your right and left brain
Time it takes: 30 seconds (do it at your desk!)
Experts don't yet understand why, but in a 1997 study college students who looked back and forth quickly had better recall of a long list of words they had previously been told. They remembered an average of 10% more words than the students who didn't do the side-to-side eye exercise. So how can you duplicate the results? Before you're gong to need to use your memory (i.e. before a big presentation, meeting, or speech) just move your eyes back and forth quickly for about 30 seconds and see if it doesn't help improve your recall (just beware that if people see you doing it you might look a little crazy!).

Get into meditation
Time it takes: 10-12 minutes (do it over your lunch hour!)
Meditation has numerous health benefits, including not only reducing stress and anxiety and improving focus but it has also been shown to help improve people's memory. The University of Pennsylvania did a study in 2007 that showed that just 10-12 minutes of meditation daily helps improve blood flow to the area of the brain responsible for learning and memory.
How to do it: Sit quietly in a position that's comfortable and close your eyes. Concentrate on your breathing. If your thoughts wander bring them back to your breathing. Perform for 10-12 minutes daily.

Best brain foods(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Whole grainsGarlicHealthy fatsTeaFruits and Veggies

Recent Posts

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Recent Comments
Featured Writers
Bob GreeneReggie Casagrande
Bob Greene
Jonny BowdenJohn GanonJonny Bowden

Tanya ZuckerbrotFadil BerishaTanya Zuckerbrot
Liz Neporent Liz Neporent