In today’s fast paced modern world, everybody seems to be chasing to achieve some or the other things. Students are stressed about their exams, young people running behind their careers and relationships, parents stressing over their child’s future and elderly people stressed about their health. The pressure to succeed and to remain relevant in life, leaves very little time for self care. 

Stress can significantly affect the memory. While short term stress can make the brain more alert, focused and boost the memory, chronic stress can have a negative impact on memory. Let’s see how long standing stress affects the memory.

  • Difficulty in Remembering New Things: Stress affects a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps you form new memories. When you are stressed out, it's difficult to process new information and you find it difficult to remember the things that you just did.
  • Forgetfulness: Even if you know the information very well, due to stress, you may just forget what you learnt. A common example of this is seen during examinations when the students have read that particular chapter and still are not able to answer it in the exam hall.
  • Not Able to Pay Attention: You cannot concentrate when you are stressed out. There are too many thoughts racing through your mind so it's difficult to pay attention to one. Your brain is bombarded with a lot of information and you cannot focus on a single issue separately.
  • Sleep Issues: Stress causes sleep problems. When you sleep, your brain organizes and strengthens memories. When your sleep is disturbed due to stress, your brain can’t store memories properly. Memories are refreshed after a good sleep.

How to Improve Memory When Stressed Out:

  • Practice deep breathing exercises that can calm your mind and help you relax.
  • Follow a sleep routine and aim to get 7-9 hours of good sleep.
  • To reduce the mental pressure  regarding remembering things, make to-do-lists and keep reminders.
  • Exercise helps to reduce stress levels by releasing endorphins and thus improves memory and alertness.
  • Avoid too much sugar and consume foods like nuts, berries and fish that can help boost brain function.

Conclusion:

Stress affects everyone differently. One one hand short term stress improves the brain function, long term stress can impact your memory in a negative way. To keep your memory strong, it’s important to take care of your mind and body. Try to get enough sleep, take breaks, exercise, and talk to someone when things feel too heavy. Managing stress doesn’t just help you feel better—it also helps your brain work better.

Disclaimer: This article is written by Practo for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.