Coping with memory difficulties
There are many ways that you, your loved ones and healthcare team can reduce the effect memory difficulties have on your everyday life.
Remember not to be too hard on yourself. Not being able to remember things like you used to can be frustrating, stressful, embarrassing, and more. People with memory difficulties have said it helps if you can be upfront and open about it (tell people you have difficulties) and also, where possible, see the funny side of it.
Depending on what difficulty you have and how badly it affects you, you may find some of the following suggestions useful. They have been suggested by people who are living with brain tumours and healthcare professionals:
Concerned about your memory?
Test and track your short-term memory with the BRIAN snap challenge. It takes 20 seconds and you’ll see how your score changes from day to day. You can use the results to talk to your consultant or GP if you have concerns.
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- Plan ahead – Mentally go through what you will be doing and what you are likely to need, write it down, then put everything you need somewhere that you can’t miss it, like by the front door.
- Make lists – Keep a shopping list on a notebook in the kitchen or on your phone, some supermarkets have apps which have a shopping list function. Add items when you run out and tick them off when you go shopping. You could also consider online shopping – supermarkets produce a list of your favourites and recently bought items to prompt you.
- Develop a set routine – Having a regular routine can help you to remember what is going to happen throughout the day. Make sure you include time to rest and plan some variety, so you don’t get bored.
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- Have particular places to keep things – leave items in the same places around your home, so that you know where to look for them. For example, if you have difficulty finding your house keys, try to always leave them in the same drawer. Or have a large bowl, near the front door, where you leave all the important things you need to take when you leave the house – keys, purse/wallet, phone, glasses etc.
- Label drawers and cupboards – get rid of unnecessary items and label drawers and cupboards with what is inside them – using words or pictures, whichever you find most useful.
- Colour code your keys – you can get coloured ‘covers’ for your keys. Use a different colour for each key and keep a list in your purse/wallet and on a noticeboard in your kitchen of what each coloured key is for.
- Leave yourself reminder notes – this can help you with things you might otherwise forget. For example, you could leave yourself a note by the front door reminding you to check that windows are closed before you leave the house.
- Reduce noise and minimise distractions – it’s more difficult to remember or learn new things when your environment is noisy or busy.
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- Mobile phones – your mobile phone can be used in many ways to help with memory. You can use the calendar and alarm to remind you about events and appointments. Take photos of what you are doing in the day to look back on or add photos to your contacts to help you remember people. Use websites, such as Googlemaps, if you are getting lost in familiar places. You can add “in case of emergency” or “ICE” after a contact, so that someone can find an important contact, even if you can’t.
- Apps and memory games – you can download apps for relaxation exercises and other techniques that can help reduce stress, and so help with memory. There are many apps and online games that claim to test, train and improve your memory. However, there is no real evidence that playing memory games improves memory. You may get better at the game, but this does not mean the benefits last or transfer over to real life. There is some evidence that keeping your brain active may help to slow down deterioration of your memory, but there are many ways of doing this. So the games may help with this, but it is the mental activity rather than the games themselves, that is having the effect.
- Keep a diary – if you prefer written reminders, a diary is a good way to keep track of your plans.
- Medication organisers or pill boxes – if you are taking prescription medications, you may wish to buy a medication organiser or pill box to help you track what you have to take and when. These are available from most pharmacies.
- Locator devices – these are small electronic tags that can be attached to things, such as your keys or wallet. If you can’t remember where you have left them, you press a button on a ‘locator device’ and the tag will beep. (You will need to keep the locator device in a regular, obvious place!)
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- Keep things relatively simple – memory difficulties may affect your ability to undertake complex activities. Avoid multi-tasking – focus on one thing at a time and break down tasks into small steps. Create breaks between tasks, such as making a cup of tea or even just stand and stretch.
- To remember a name – when you are first told the name, concentrate and make sure you have heard the name correctly. Connect the name with something about their physical appearance, the type of clothes they wear, or their personality. Use their name in conversation and also repeat it in your head. Afterwards picture the association you have made between their name and appearance. When you meet them again, hopefully seeing them will jog your memory into remembering the association you previously made and, therefore, their name. Words starting with the same letter as the person’s name or which rhyme with their name can also help. For example, Happy Hannah or, for a keen cyclist, Bike Mike. As an alternative, you could carry a small photo album with people’s names by their pictures. Or save photos, with contacts on your phone.
- To remember a word – try not to worry about finding the exact word and use a different word instead. Or you could describe the word. Don’t let this put you off socialising – tell your friends about your difficulty finding words and let them know how you want them to help e.g. do you want them to prompt you?
- To remember where you put something – try to picture yourself and where you were when you last used it. Or picture what you were doing when you last had it.
- To remember why you have gone into a room – many people find that they go into a room and can’t remember why. Go back to where you were when you decided to go into the room and retrace your steps. It often helps to jog your memory.
- To remember what you have done during the day – Talk about your day to others or yourself; write it down and look back over it. Some people use their mobile phones to take photos throughout the day to remind them.
- Rehearse – Once you have found the strategies and techniques which work for you, practice them with a friend or partner.
Join our community on Facebook
Our closed Facebook groups are a great place to connect with other people affected by a brain tumour and share your experiences.
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Taking care of yourself can affect how well you function mentally:
- Exercise – exercise has been shown to help memory and thinking by affecting chemicals and blood flow in the brain, and by improving mood and sleep, and reducing stress and anxiety. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes, five times a week – anything that gets the heart pumping or makes you break out in a slight sweat. You can try brisk walks, swimming, cycling, dancing or tai chi, even doing the housework or the gardening!
- Diet – eat regular, balanced meals, and try to include your 5-a-day of fruit and vegetables. Taking time to eat your meals can also help give regular breaks in the day and time to recover mentally. Try to drink at least 2 litres of fluid a day, and drink alcohol in moderation. If possible, give up smoking. Read more about diet.
- Rest and sleep – Take plenty of breaks and rest throughout the day or even whilst doing tasks. People with brain tumours often feel fatigued for a variety of reasons and being tired can affect your ability to memorise or remember things. Likewise, get a good amount of sleep (6-8 hours) to help with this.
- Keep you brain active – Keeping your brain active may help you keep your memory skills for longer. There are many ways to do this including reading, watching or listening to the news, doing puzzles/jigsaws or games, learning a new hobby. Try to do a variety of things so all your senses are used.
- Stay socially active – Research has shown that staying socially active is one of the best ways to help maintain your memory skills. It can be difficult, as you may have lost confidence, but having good friends, volunteering for charities and other forms of social engagement seem to protect memory. Read our tips on taking care of your mental health and overcoming isolation.
- Relaxation – Stress
and worry can make it more difficult to learn or remember things. Finding that
you are having difficulties with your memory can then increase the stress and
worry. Learning to relax can help to
break this vicious cycle. There
are many different relaxation techniques, such as
- Slow, deep breathing – with your belly going in and out, rather than your chest; or with your eyes shut, concentrating on your breathing
- Progressive muscle relaxation – where you lie down and tense, hold and relax different sets of muscles, gradually working from your feet up to your head
- Guided imagery – where you imagine yourself somewhere peaceful and relaxing
- Listening to relaxing music or sounds, such as waves.
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- From friends and family – Talk to them about the memory difficulties you have, how it makes you feel and how they can help. They can help you practise memory techniques, or prompt you about the technique, if you are having problems remembering something.
- From healthcare professionals – Speak to your healthcare team. They may be able to refer you to a neuropsychologist or clinical psychologist, who can run various tests to see exactly how your memory is affected and help work out ways to reduce the effect on your everyday life.
- From our Information and Support Line – 0808 800 0004 or [email protected] We are here to help in any way we can.
Download our memory difficulties factsheet
Memory difficulties and brain tumours – PDF
Find more information on memory difficulties in our full fact sheet.
Memory difficulties and brain tumours – Clear Print – PDF
Find more information on memory difficulties in our clear print fact sheet.
If you have further questions, need to clarify any of the information on this page, or want to find out more about research and clinical trials, please contact our team:
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Research & Clinical Trials Information
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Recommended reading
Living with memory loss
Jennifer’s shares her experience of memory difficulties after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
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