5 simple brain exercises that can boost memory without apps or tools

You hit the gym to improve your physical fitness. But what do you do for your brain? Your brain is involved in everything you do; hence, it needs to be cared for just like any other body part. The more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. While countless apps and tools promise to sharpen your mind, many come at a cost. Well, what if you could do it for free, sitting right on your couch? Here are seven simple and effective exercises you can start right away. No downloads required.

This method has been used since ancient times. From orators to scholars, many have tried and tested this technique. All you have to do is mentally place information in specific locations within an imaginary building. Here’s how you can do it. Visualise a space that is familiar to you. Your home? Now mentally assign each piece of information you want to remember to a different room or object. For instance, if you need to remember a shopping list (milk, eggs, bread, vegetables), imagine your front door as a carton of milk, your living room couch surrounded by loaves of bread, a giant egg cracked open on your kitchen counter, and vegetables hanging in your shower. So, when you are at the store, mentally walk through your house.

​Red Banana vs Yellow Banana: Which is healthier? Full nutrition comparison of taste, benefits, and daily use​

Every day, make it a habit to memorize something new. A poem, a passage from a book, or even phone numbers. Spend at least 10 minutes every day doing this simple activity. Your memory will thank you. This simple activity strengthens your neural pathways associated with memory.

At the end of your day, try to remember events in reverse chronological order. When it’s bedtime, mentally replay the day backwards. Start with the most recent activity. It could be turning off the lights before going to bed. Now go back. This exercise forces your brain to search for memories. This will strengthen your recall ability and help you notice details you might otherwise overlook.

This technique will not cost you a penny but is effective for improving your memory. Do one of your everyday activities with your non-dominant hand. For instance, instead of brushing your teeth with your right hand, use your left. Open the door with the hand you generally don’t use. You can even try to write with your non-dominant hand. This will challenge your brain and thereby improve your memory, attention and coordination.

It is as simple as it sounds. Challenge yourself to do arithmetic in your head instead of reaching for a calculator. You can start with something simple – two-digit numbers. You can increase the difficulty gradually. This mental math's improves focus, working memory and cognitive agility.