The trainability of the memory is very limited, because if someone likes to solve Sudokus or crossword puzzles, they usually get better at it over time, but there is little evidence in research that such mental exercise improves a person’s overall mental fitness. According to experts, it is more helpful to walk through the world awake and interested and to look for an environment that can stimulate.
Generally, new information is more likely to be memorized if it is perceived with several senses, i.e., if one not only sees things, but also takes them in hand, so to speak, and imagines this information with pictures or a story. Getting a good night’s rest is also important, because the memory consolidates during sleep, since it does not have to process sensory impressions during this time. Physical activity is also a factor.
In addition, there are numerous strategies for using the memory in a targeted manner. If you want to keep a longer telephone number in your head so that you can dial it the next moment, it is best to group the digits into three or four numbers. Working memory can cope well with such a quantity of information units. If you want to prepare for an exam, it makes sense to actively recall what you have learned after learning it by telling it to a friend or writing it down in your own words. Although the recitation may then be incomplete, in the end the material is retained better than through pure repetition. People with declining memory benefit most from such recall exercises, and keeping a diary or telling a partner about the day’s experiences can be a protective armor against forgetting.