D

“Digital dementia is this idea where our smart devices are making us less smart,” he explains on the mindbodygreen podcast. “They act as external memory drives for us, so we don’t need to flex our memory muscles.” 

Think of the aforementioned phone number example: Now that our smartphones have the ability to save contacts, we don’t have to worry about memorizing people’s numbers—so we don’t. This, in a way, makes us more dependent on these devices. “You could be texting or calling somebody every single day,” says Kwik, but what if your phone had no battery or you didn’t have it on you? You’d be helpless! 

That’s not to say you must memorize your entire contact list. “But it should be concerning to us that we’ve lost the ability to remember one [number], or a pin, or a passcode, or a seed phrase,” adds Kwik. 

Technology is convenient, no doubt, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t flex your memory muscles from time to time. It’s the same reason why experts recommend taking the stairs occasionally, even if you have access to an elevator—inactivity comes with a cost. 

1.

Tie information to emotions

“When it comes to our memory, it’s important that we have purpose in remembering something,” says Kwik. Meaning, you tend to remember how you feel about something rather than the information itself. 

So add emotion to the information! “Just ask yourself: Why do I want to remember this?” advises Kwik. “Just come up with one reason, and you’re more likely to get the results.” 

“As your body moves, your brain grows,” says Kwik. It’s true: Aerobic exercise has been shown to generate new neurons in the hippocampus2, or the region of the brain associated with memory, learning, and emotions.

It only makes sense, then, that “when you listen to a podcast or an audiobook and you’re going for a brisk walk, you’re on an elliptical, or you’re doing something rhythmic, you’ll actually retain and understand that information better,” Kwik says. The bottom line? Move your body to boost your memory.