Your mind

3 ways to improve your memory

A study by Northumbria University showed that peppermint tea was found to significantly improve long-term memory while sniffing the aroma of rosemary was found to help people to remember do things. Idriz Zogaj, memory athlete and co-founder of the mental wellbeing and personal development app Remente (www.remente.com) offers some tips on how to improve your memory:

The Link Method
This is a powerful technique. The key is to create stories around the information that you are provided with. If, for example, you need to remember directions, pull out key words like ‘turn left at the museum’, and imagine a mummy standing outside the museum, pointing its finger to the left. Or, if the directions are ‘walk alongside Buckingham Palace’, imagine the Queen taking a stroll next to you.

The Association Method
We can often struggle to remember things that we don’t fully understand, such as new words. A great way of getting round this is by using your imagination. For example, to remember the difference between ‘wonder’ and ‘wander’ think of hearing ‘WOW’ whenever you see ‘wonder’. So you link an association to the corresponding word.

The Method of Loci
This is a great way of remembering things by storing them in a way that you can easily find them. First, you need to select a place you know well, like your home. Imagine yourself walking through it and observing everything around you. Then, create a mental journey, like a bus tour where the objects in your home are mental bus stops where you store the information. Link the information that you need to remember to the objects. For example, if you want to remember the names of your colleagues, make an association for each name and then link that association to the loci (place) in your mental journey. Repeat this walk until the names stick.

Mindfulness can prevent recurrent depression

An Oxford University study has found that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is “an effective treatment option that can help prevent the recurrence of major depression”. MBCT is a group-based treatment involving the use of meditation techniques which enable people to change the way they think and feel about their experiences and learn skills to reduce the likelihood of further bouts of depression. The study examined data from nine trials and the results showed that 38 per cent of those who received MBCT had a depressive relapse within 60 weeks compared to 49 per cent of those who did not receive the therapy. The researchers hope that MBCT can therefore provide an alternative treatment choice for those suffering with recurrent depression.

Find your higher selfie!

#HigherSelfie is a new book which offers a no-nonsense but humorous approach to finding a deeper meaning in life. Written by life coaches Jo Westwood and Lucy Sheridan, it explores timeless topics such as love, forgiveness and healing but with a modern-day twist. This is an inspiring and thought-provoking read for anyone looking to follow a spiritual path in this digital age. Priced at £10.99, it’s published by Hay House.

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