Keep Your Mind Sharp! Writers Rely On Memory Every Day.

Think of your memory like a muscle

In every step of the writing process, writers depend on memory.

From topics to write about whether it be fiction or memoir, to the mechanics such as sentence structure and grammar, we rely on our memory to give us what we need whenever we sit down to write and hit that publish button.

We trust that we will remember how to spell correctly, use words in the correct context and when not to use that comma or colon.

When we get it right, we feel satisfaction. If our memory doesn’t cooperate, it can be intensely frustrating. So many things go into keeping our mind and memory sharp.

Nutrition, rest and age all influence memory retrieval. Some games and activities can also keep the mind sharp. Jigsaw and crossword puzzles, trivia games, word-based games like Scrabble and Words With Friends and most card games all help with memory retention and retrieval.

According to Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., and Lawrence Robinson, there are a few other things you can do to sharpen your mind and memory:

1) Learn something new. The brain and your memory is similar to a muscle; if you don’t use what you learn, you lose it. And a muscle gets stronger the more you exercise it with new, challenging information. In this way, you build more neural pathways and make new connections. Writers always need fresh topics and current trends to use whether writing fiction or non-fiction.

2) Spend time with friends. The authors of the article above noted that people who had active social lives had slower rates of memory decline. This could include extended family, church family, organizational or social clubs in your community, or online groups and individuals. Everyone, including writers, should have meaningful social contact with people who share common interests and provide friendship and support.

3) Watch your stress level. Chronic stress destroys brain cells which contribute to memory loss. Exercise and spending time with family and friends as well as good nutrition and rest can all reduce stress levels. As a writer, taking regular breaks is important in keeping stress levels down.

4) Tickle your funny bone. Laughter is well-known to have a relaxing and healthful effect on the body. It helps the brain by activating areas vital to learning and creativity, which are essential for good writing, too.

5)Practice memorizing. “Older adults who work their brains through memorization are stimulating neural plasticity, which alters the brain’s neural pathways in response to new experiences,” says Marwan Sabbagh, MD, Director of Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. “These functional brain changes occur whenever we acquire new knowledge or learn a new skill, and they appear to be important in warding off cognitive decline.

Calliope Writes talks about some memories that we couldn’t bear to forget:

Do you remember a time before you dreamed of being a writer? Jessica White does, and she shares it with us in her story:

As an older writer, I want to keep my memory in good shape for as long as possible.

There are writers I know who are older than me by a decade or more and I appreciate the way they weave their experiences and their wisdom into everything they write.

My wish is that they too can keep their memories sharp as long as possible.

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