Our brain sends signals in a particular pattern associated with the event we’re experiencing and creates connections between our neurons, called synapses.

Science has been continually finding new connections between simple things we do every day and an improvement in our general memory capacity.

Memory loss is a normal part of aging, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take action to slow it down a little. Check out the following surprising ways your memory can be better, backed up with science.

Mediate to improve your working memory

Research has shown that participants with no experience in mindfulness meditation can improve their memory recall in just eight weeks. Meditation, with its power to help us concentrate, has also been shown to improve standardized test scores and working memory abilities after just two weeks. During meditation, our brains stop processing information as actively as they normally would.

Drink coffee to improve your memory consolidation

Whether caffeine can improve memory if taken before learning something new is debatable. Most research has found little-to-no effect from ingesting caffeine prior to creating new memories. One recent study, however, found that taking a caffeine pill after a learning task actually improved memory recall up to 24 hours later.

Eat berries for better long-term memory

Another diet-related effect on memory is the mounting research that eating berries can help to stave off memory decline.

A study from the University of Reading and the Peninsula Medical School found that supplementing a normal diet with blueberries for twelve weeks improved performance on spatial working memory tasks.

Exerciser to improve your memory recall

Studies in both rat and human brains have shown that regular exercise can improve memory recall. Fitness in older adults has even been proven to slow the decline of memory without the aid of continued regular exercise.

In particular, studies shown that regular exercise can improve spatial memory, so it’s not necessarily a way to improve all kinds of memory recall.

Sleep more to consolidate your memories

Sleep has proven to be one of the most important elements in having a good memory. Since sleep is when most of our memory consolidation process occurs, it makes sense that without enough sleep we’re going to struggle to remember the things we’ve learned. Even a short nap can improve your memory recall.