10 ways to enhance & sharpen your memory for CAT

As you undergo your Common Admission Test (CAT) journey, your ability to capture and retain the important topics holds the key to scoring a high percentile for admission to your dream B-school.
Since you are going to take one of the toughest and trickiest written MBA exam CAT 2013, you will need a lot to remember, a lot to analyse and plenty of the material to practice- the solution of which will come from the stock of your rich memory.

A sharp memory will definitely help you a lot while solving different sections of CAT which includes question on Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning.

Although we all know that a great memory is required in this competitive environment, how to have it is, probably, a lesser known phenomenon. This article of MBAUniverse.com Prep Team of Experts brings you 10 ways to sharpen your memory.

1. Have a routine and sound sleep A strong memory depends on the health and vitality of your brain. Skipping the sleep, burning midnight oil and getting up too early with no sleep following day, will not only deteriorate your memory but also your physical health. Having a sound sleep will enhance your mental sharpness, problem-solving abilities, and analytical skills.

Different researches also show that sleep is necessary to sharpen your memory. Subconscious mind consolidates itself during the sound sleep with the key memory-enhancing activity occurring during the deepest stages of sleep.

2. Regular Exercise: You need to do regular exercises to keep yourself energised and fresh. It helps maintain the flow of blood through blood vessels in different parts of body including your brain to keep it active. It enhances your ability to process and recall information. Physical exercise increases oxygen to your brain and reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss. It also enhances the effects of helpful brain chemicals and protects brain cells.

3. Meditation - Meditation works like magic to sharpen your memory. Regular meditators have more activity in the left prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain associated with feelings of joy and equanimity. It also increases the thickness of the cerebral cortex and encourages more connections between brain cellsall of which increase mental sharpness and memory ability. Studies show that meditation helps to improve focus, concentration, creativity, and learning as well as reasoning skills.

4. Nutritious diet -A diet based on mix of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats (such as olive oil, avacados, nuts) will provide lots of health benefits, and will also improve memory. Just as the body needs fuel, so does the brain. Its not just what you eatits also what you dont eat. Colourful fruits and vegetables are particularly good antioxidant sources. Take leafy green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, etc. and fruits such as apricots, mangoes, cantaloupe, and watermelon.5. Be social Hanging out with friends or enjoying a funny movie may prove to be a great memory booster. Countless studies show that a life thats full of friends and fun comes with cognitive benefits.

Humans are highly social animals. Were not meant to survive, let alone thrive, in isolation. Relationships stimulate our brainsin fact, interacting with others may be the best kind of brain exercise. In one of the studies from the Harvard School of Public Health, researchers found that people with the most active social lives had the slowest rate of memory decline. So volunteer, join a club, make it a point to see friends more often, or reach out over the phone. If you dont find a like-minded human do not undermine the value of a petespecially the highly-social dog.

The part-II of this article will bring you 5 more ways to sharpen your memory.
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