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There is good news and bad
news about your memory. The bad news? There’s no miracle drug for
normal age-related memory loss. The good news? There are plenty of
effective and easy techniques you can use to improve your ability to
remember. Start now to sharpen your mind!
You need to organize a
multitude of facts each day just to function
normally--information about appointments, names and phone numbers
and where you laid your keys or glasses. The key to remembering is
organization and consistency. Here are some examples:
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Personal Items. Decide on a designated
spot for your most needed personal belongings and always put them
there when you're not using them.
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Appointments and Meetings. Maintain
a calendar or an electronic pocket organizer and keep it with you at
all times. A "memory notebook," a binder that has a weekly calendar
and paper for writing down important information, is an excellent
help. Check that notebook at least several times each day.
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Daily Tasks. Make a to-do for each
day or week — people to call, items you need to buy, routine
maintenance on your car or home, etc. Keep those lists in your
memory notebook.
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Contact information.
Update your address book at least once a month--names and phone
numbers of friends, relatives, professionals and companies with whom
you do your business.
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Locations. Before you go somewhere new or
unfamiliar, check a map. Keep one in both your car and your home.
Write down directions so you don’t have to recheck the map in the
car.
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Checklists. For things that you don’t do
often such as program your VCR or use your camera, write down the
directions step-by-step.
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