An Elephant Brain

29/11/2025

24/04/2024

PLAYING CARDS : TOTAL RECALL & BRAIN HEALTH

Your brain is definitely the "Ace Up The Sleeve" when it comes to recalling playing cards and mental agility. The ability to memorize cards of 10, 20 - or even the whole deck - and the location of every card, is a productive yet fun way to exercise the brain.

And please note as a disclaimer - before you think of heading straight to Crown Casino - this quest is really about improving and preserving brain health! :)

[For full article, click image]

a fun way to boost memory and brain health... If ever there was a more challenging yet rewarding exercise in memory training, accurate recall of series of playing cards would be it. Your brain is definitely the real Ace Up The Sleeve when it comes to playing cards and mental agility. The ability to....

18/03/2024

For anyone who's ever felt the need or desire to improve, recover or save their memory... one of the best remedies to enhance brain health is the shopping list challenge... :)

For more on memory imrprovement:

https://www.anelephantbrain.com

and why you should leave the phone in the car... Why would anyone bother to remember a shopping list today when we have access to smart phone cameras. This is a valid and often asked question, but imagine being able to remember every item from a long list, without using a phone or even a written lis...

29/02/2024

BACK TO THE BOOKS!! 🙂

In an age where we celebrate daily the marvels of digital technology like never before (no such platforms as Facebook, YouTube or LinkedIn when most of us were at school) studies are emerging of the potential drawbacks when relying too much on screen time and third-party, “digital thinking”. In response to a decline in reading performance and retention skills, the Swedish government has outlined its plans of significant investment in more traditional textbook purchases. As one Swedish educator suggested, technology is producing lazy thinkers, a huge problem, especially for the youngest in our schools.

Schools minister Lotta Edholm has long been an outspoken critic of technology in education and stated that students need more textbooks… that physical books are crucial for learning. The government is now aiming to make digital devices non-mandatory in preschools and completely end digital learning for children under six. This is good news for many is and the move has gained increasing support in Sweden among teachers, parents and students expressing preference for more offline time and interactivity.

It will be interesting to see if other countries including Australia follow this route. The Karolinska Institute and UNESCO, for instance, have also expressed concerns about the negative impact of digital tools on student learning. They advocate a return to more traditional knowledge acquisition through printed textbooks and teacher expertise.

As a memory trainer this comes as a breath of fresh air where lack of learning and retention among adults is seen as an issue for many too reliant on their myriad of tech’ devices. It’s not uncommon to see a grownup in total panic mode and tearful disarray when their network is down or their phone battery dies!

When we take on new mental challenges we are stimulating and even growing new neurons, which all helps to preserve or enhance mental acuity. When shopping, reading from a phone display or even a written note does little to help stretch the brain. This is why our simple “shopping list challenge” - to remember every item of 10, 20, 30 items and more – is a great starting point and a simple but extremely helpful mental exercise to not only sharpen the mind but to also to help stave off cognitive decline as we age. And while this may seem of little relevance to early school learning, if retention and lazy thinking are being noticed so early on as a problem, I hate to imagine how bad that could become down the track…

For more on this and memory, visit:

https://www.anelephantbrain.com/post/back-to-the-books

03/01/2024

OK, LET ME SLEEP ON IT! 🙂

We’ve all said it… the idea that somehow sleeping on an issue before making a decision might help us. While the phrase is long known and often used colloquially, there is in fact some scientific basis for sleeping on a problem and how this can contribute to cognitive function and decision-making.

The phrase implies that a fresh perspective may emerge after a period of rest. During sleep, our brain undergoes various important processes, including memory consolidation, neural repair and removal of waste products, processes crucial for maintaining cognitive function and overall brain health.

Sleep is known to play a role in improving creativity, problem-solving skills and the ability to make sound judgments; a few ways in which it can positively impact brain health include:

Memory Consolidation: Sleep is essential for consolidating and organizing memories acquired throughout the day. This process helps improve learning and problem-solving.

Cognitive Performance: Adequate sleep has a direct link such as for attention, concentration, and decision-making. Lack of sleep, on the other hand, can lead to impaired cognitive function.

Emotional Regulation: Sleep is crucial for emotional well-being and helps maintain a balanced mood, reducing likelihood of stress and irritability and so positively influencing decision-making.

Problem Solving: Our brains continue to work on problems and challenges during sleep; increased insight and creative problem-solving abilities occur on revisited situations after a good night's sleep.

Brain Detoxification: Sleep is associated with the removal of toxins and waste products from the brain. This detoxification is believed to be important for maintaining overall brain health.

In summary, the whole concept of "sleep on it" is well grounded in the idea that sleep is a crucial component of cognitive function and decision-making. Sleep allows the brain to process information, consolidate memories and refresh itself, contributing to improved mental clarity and problem-solving abilities. An Elephant Brain works on memory skills which are new to many, so it’s no surprise when told how a memory technique or idea worked on one day is somehow clarified overnight after a good night’s sleep. One can never underestimate the power or quality sleep in helping to maintain optimal brain health and overall well-being.

For more details: https://www.anelephantbrain.com/

02/01/2024

WHY MY LOCAL CAFE IS A SECOND OFFICE… 😐

My local coffee shop really offers me many advantages over just locking myself away in my home office. Let’s face it, it can be a refreshing change of pace from a traditional office setting, so here are some reasons why I choose as a temporary workspace:

Ambiance: Who doesn’t like a coffee break anyway… for many people, it’s an everyday must. It hardly seems like work when creating that next marketing gem. That cozy and relaxed atmosphere are conducive to creativity and focus… even background noise can help with concentration.

Change of Environment: Breaking away from the office setting can stimulate creativity and helps approach tasks with a fresh perspective. A change of scenery can be invigorating… there’s certainly always more happening for me there, unlike from my office staring window.

Networking Opportunities: From my days in real estate, coffee shops always provide great casual yet sincere social spaces; people would drop by all the time and it was nothing for someone to pull up a chair and start talking about selling their place, more often than wanting to come to the office. And so, it is with memory training today, where some people feel more inclined to introduce their issues here instead of a formal approach in an office and business setting.

Inspiration: Being surrounded by people in a coffee shop can be inspiring; we all lead different lives… the energy and diversity of individuals often sparks new ideas and perspectives. And that goes for remote vs. local cafes… meeting people adds to a richer life experience.

Caffeine Boost: A given of course, where for me it’s mostly mornings… having access to quality coffee beverages can provide a little energy boost to help my day… and my local has eh best coffee.

Escape from Isolation: As above, when you work from a home office, phone conversations are no substitute for interacting with real people, whether it’s chatting for business or just socially. Indeed, interactivity may be the most important aspect of augmenting brain power.

Finally, An Elephant Brain is all about brain health… so when it comes to activities outside teaching techniques on how to memorize anything, it’s important to note that, along with other activities such as diet, sleep and mental exercises, social interaction is a very important element of brain health.

For more on memory training”

https://www.anelephantbrain.com/

27/12/2023

FROM TBI TO 1ST CLASS HON'S...

When a motor scooter accident left me with a fractured skull (no helmet) and traumatic brain injury just prior getting into university, I turned to a memory training to overcome brain fog and short-term memory loss to get my life back...and it worked! Over time, this was to become a real life-changer - life saver even - as it became a major part of me throughout university and indeed through every aspect of my professional career.

Fast forwarding many decades to 2023, after a mini-stroke, here was I again in brain fog mode... but I was lucky this time; I already had a technique and system to fall back on. Within a month, I went from again aimlessly wandering around the shops and squinting at meaningless shopping lists, to getting my brain back into shape. I worked first at my lists and soon found I could easily remember 10, 20, 30 items and more (I can remember lists of hundreds) just like before... and that was the start. From there, it has been easy to transpose that to reports, talks etc...

Anyone can do this... students, career exec's and seniors; and you don't need a trauma to get you started you when it comes to improving your life... 🙂

More information can be found at...

https://www.anelephantbrain.com/

21/12/2023

THE DOORWAY EFFECT 🤔

Everyone does it; you walk into a room for a very specific purpose but then completely forget why once you’re there… and only by retracing your steps do you remember. This psychological phenomenon occurs when there is a change in the physical environment, such as moving from one room to another.

While this is a common experience, it is not usually a sign of a serious memory problem; instead, it reflects the way our brains typically organize and retrieve information based on the context in which it was acquired. Extra focus can go a long way and the effect can be mitigated with mental rehearsal or “projection” of your intentions,

For more information:

https://www.anelephantbrain.com/

10/12/2023

FREE E-BOOK... JUST ADDED TO WEBSITE :)

Available as an oline read or for download from home page at An Elephant Brain website; a compilation of articles from 2023 as an insight into memory, the brain, overcoming memory issues after trauma and highlighting the potential life-changing benefits of memory enhancement training.

And ANYONE can do this... whether you're a student looking to excel in exams, or if you're in business wishing to enhance career or client prospects, or maybe if you're a senior intent on maintaining healthy cognitive outlook... adopting a simple series of techniques to improve how you remember things can be simply life changing.

Watch out for announcements on public training sessions...

https://www.anelephantbrain.com/