If you're struggling with your memory—like frequently forgetting where you left your belongings or walking into a room only to forget why you went there—you’re not alone. But by correcting a few everyday habits, there's potential to improve your memory.
Robert W.B. Love, a foreign neuroscientist who promotes essential lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's, took to Instagram to highlight three habits that may be quietly chipping away at your memory.
Here are the three habits he shared:
Drinking coffee immediately after waking up
Morning coffee may feel essential, but it could be doing more harm than good.
The neuroscientist explained that drinking coffee right after waking up can actually lead to brain fog or fatigue later in the afternoon. So, if you’re reaching for caffeine first thing in the morning, you might be setting yourself up for an energy crash.
To avoid this, he recommends having caffeine 90 to 120 minutes after waking.
Looking at your phone when you wake up in the middle of the night
If you wake up during the night to use the washroom or sip water, you might be tempted to check the time. But this habit can negatively affect your sleep—and memory.
Robert said, “It does two things: the bright light from a phone will actually wake you up a little bit if you look at it longer than 10 seconds. So that's not good.”
He also pointed out that if you check the clock and see your alarm is set to go off in an hour, that knowledge can create unnecessary stress.
“So don’t look at a clock when you wake up in the middle of the night. It’s much better to keep your eyes closed, stay in bed, try to fall back asleep. It will really improve the quality of your sleep and help protect your memory,” he added.
Watching television before bed
The urge to start a new series or binge-watch shows before bed is hard to resist—but it can hurt your sleep, and ultimately, your memory.
Robert explained that watching TV before bed can make us excited, increasing adrenaline levels and making it harder to fall asleep.
Moreover, he added that screens—whether from a TV, phone, or computer—emit blue light, which is highly stimulating, reduces melatonin production, and triggers an adrenaline rush.
Courtesy: Hindustan Times
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
