Improve Your Memory and Become Limitless

Raise your hand if you’ve thought of the perfect retort, the perfect pitch or the exact statistic a few minutes too late into an interaction.

Ok, you can lower your hand now.

Your memory is one of your strongest assets in life. It informs the kind of gravitas you’re able to bring to any kind of conversation – personal or professional. And in a world where we’re increasingly inundated with information, the ability to remember and recall the exact thing you’re looking for at the right time is invaluable.

All of this is handled by what is called your ‘working memory’. It used to be thought of as something genetic, something you’re born with. But research has since proven that anyone who makes an effort to can improve their working memory and improve recall and processing.

Why Do I Need Working Memory if I have Google?

Well, glad you asked.

Here’s the thing – even though you have a potentially unlimited stream of information on the Internet, you still need to have a good working memory to be able to utilize any of it, and give it context.

Here’s an example – say you’re reading a book or a really long article. In the second half of the book or the article, the author might reference something that happened earlier. And without a good working memory that allows you to remember and recall what was being talked about, you’ll have to waste a lot of time going back and forth to understand what’s happening.

Additionally, improving your working memory also allows you to build focus. So, you won’t be like an ADD monkey, opening up 17 tabs on your computer while a half-written proposal languishes for three hours. Newer research suggests that working on improving your memory can also lead to greater feelings of happiness and well-being. Problem solving, cognitive ability and a whole host of other things rely on a good working memory to function efficiently.

But in a world that is full of push notifications, email alerts and instant messengers, how can you make sure your memory functions optimally?

Well, you can either practice a low-information diet – eliminating most sources of distraction through filters or special applications.

Or, you can actively get to work building your working memory up to Bradley-Cooper-in-Limitless levels. How do you do that? Let’s find out.

Leveling Up

·       Brain-training apps/games work, but you have to choose the right ones.

Mobile phone app-stores are filled with games and applications that promise to make you smarter by just playing them a few minutes every day.

Here’s the catch though – none of those games have any real scientific evidence that proves they make you smarter in any way. At best, playing most of these games just makes you better at playing those games. That’s it.

There are games that have been shown to produce real results though, and the “Dual n-back game” is one of them. It’s a brutally challenging game that will test every aspect of your working memory, and it’s awesome. Search for “Dual n-back” and you should find a list of websites/mobile games to choose from.

·       Meditate regularly.

At this point, there’s no reason for anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur or business leader to overlook meditation. Time and again, scientists have shown that meditation helps everything from your blood pressure and stress levels to your actual intelligence and working memory. Studies have shown that your memory is markedly better after as little as a week of regular mindfulness meditation. Do yourself a favor and find 10-15 minutes a day where you can adopt a meditation practice.

Scientists believe that meditation improves memory because it strengthens your ability to focus on a single task while ignoring any other impulses you might have. There are lots of great meditation apps to choose from, and most of them are free. Headspace and Calm are two great apps to get you started.

·       Pump some iron.

Lifting weights doesn’t just give you sleeve ripping biceps, but actually strengthens your brain too! Who knew, right? (We knew.)

Research has shown that lifting weights regularly produces significant cognitive benefits for folks of all ages. While the reason this occurs is yet unclear, what matters is that it works. Head to the gym, y’all!

·       Get enough sleep.

Did you know that getting a good night of sleep can improve your memory performance by up to 58%?! Staggering, right?

Make sure you’re getting a good 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. Maybe it’s time to stop those late-night Reddit/YouTube sessions and curl up under your favorite blanket instead.

You know what else helps your memory? Not having to worry about most aspects of your business. That’s right, with Dubsado, you can automate your client follow-ups, scheduling, invoices and several other aspects of your business so that you can be secure in the knowledge that your business is still working while you’re away. The less you have to think about menial tasks, the more memory you have for amazing information, like this article.

Here’s to your success!