Can mindfulness improve memory?

Mindfulness is a practice of being really connected to your mind and body.  In doing so, there are a number of benefits that you can see in your life.  One of those many benefits includes improving one’s memory when we are working on our mind and body connection, which very much uses our mind to do so.  When we are using our minds more, that will naturally help improve memory.  Mindfulness is a practice that helps us to be really present in our day to day. When someone practices mindfulness, they will hopefully feel less like their life is just passing them by.  In doing so, they can better remember their day-to-day rather than having difficulty remembering certain memories. Whether or not certain memories are big or small, practicing mindfulness should remember more moments in their life than someone who is not practicing mindfulness. 

Mindfulness is also a consistent practice, which will again help improve your mind.   When we are practicing using any muscle or organ in our body, it will naturally improve.  For example, if someone is lifting weights to increase muscle mass, that will naturally improve whatever muscle they are targeting. Since mindfulness is only effective when practiced consistently, it is only natural that there will be improvements to the mind and one’s memory.  The cognitive practices involved in mindfulness have a great improvement on one’s mind.  While mindfulness is an active and intentional practice, it also is a practice that helps quiet the mind.  That type of quietness in one’s mind can be really healing and helpful for overall brain health, including memory. 

Mindfulness has been shown to help with overall happiness and gratitude.  There is a lot of evidence that backs up that life happiness and gratitude positively impact aging.  Therefore, someone that is overall happier and grateful will likely have a better memory.  For example, when someone is grateful, they are more regularly picking up on the things in their life that trigger happiness for them.  In picking up on those things consistently, they are more likely to remember those things and have an improved memory.