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The Healf Source
75 Habits For Better Memory
From omega-3s to side-sleeping, these everyday habits support memory and brain health, organised across the Four Pillars.
Written by: the Healf Editors
Written on: September 1, 2026
Memory isn't one thing you fix. It's the running total of what you eat, how you move, how you use your mind and how you sleep. The list below gathers small habits that each nudge the brain in the right direction: some backed by solid science, some by smaller or early studies, and most of them free and thoroughly undramatic. You're not meant to do all 75.
Skim the list, pick a handful that fit your life, and let those become routine. It's organised the way we think about wellbeing at Healf, across four pillars: Eat, Move, Mind and Sleep.
One note before you start: a few of these involve foods or supplements attached to specific benefits. Treat them as support for a good overall routine rather than treatments, and if you're pregnant, on medication or managing a health condition, check with a professional before making changes.
Eat
- Prioritise omega-3-rich seafood to support synaptic plasticity.
- Eat choline-rich egg yolks to fuel acetylcholine production.
- Include broccoli sprouts for anti-inflammatory sulforaphane.
- Choose high-polyphenol extra virgin olive oil daily.
- Eat flavanol-rich cocoa to increase cerebral blood flow.
- Add fresh rosemary for neuroprotective plant compounds.
- Pair turmeric with black pepper to improve curcumin absorption.
- Eat fermented foods to support gut serotonin pathways.
- Aim for 30+ different plants per week to support the gut-brain axis.
- Prioritise magnesium-rich foods for healthy neural signalling.
- Eat colourful berries for anthocyanin-rich brain support.
- Include pumpkin seeds for magnesium and zinc.
- Swap one coffee for matcha to support focus with L-theanine.
- Choose oily fish over fish oil for whole-food omega-3s.
- Eat two kiwis before bed to support overnight brain recovery.
- Rotate herbs and spices to maximise polyphenol diversity.
- Include lion's mane mushrooms for nerve growth signalling.
- Stay hydrated through the day, since even mild dehydration dents attention and short-term memory.
- Build every meal around protein, fibre and healthy fats.
Move
- Sprint once a week to stimulate BDNF.
- Lift heavy to recruit new motor units.
- Learn one new movement pattern every month.
- Walk backwards to challenge coordination.
- Try Zone 2 training to strengthen NRF1 signalling.
- Train balance with your eyes closed.
- Throw and catch with your non-dominant hand.
- Dance without choreography.
- Walk on uneven terrain whenever possible.
- Train reaction time, not just strength.
- Move in all three planes of motion.
- Learn skills that require timing and precision.
- Finish workouts with slow nasal breathing.
- Train barefoot when appropriate.
- Exercise outdoors to combine movement with novelty.
- Never let your workouts become automatic.
- Prioritise skill acquisition over calorie burn.
- Move in ways your brain hasn't mastered yet.
Mind
- Learn skills that force your brain to adapt.
- Chase novelty over repetition.
- Study after exercise to support BDNF-driven learning.
- Share what you learn to strengthen memory pathways.
- Make one small change to your routine every week.
- Try putting your phone away for stretches to avoid attention fragmentation.
- Let your brain struggle before finding the answer.
- Take microbreaks to support memory consolidation.
- Write by hand each day to strengthen neural circuits.
- Learn through play more often.
- Write with your non-dominant hand to build motor flexibility.
- Work in novel environments to keep your brain adaptable.
- Speak information out loud to strengthen learning pathways.
- Stay just outside your comfort zone.
- Revisit skills you haven't used in years.
- Train your attention like a muscle.
- Become comfortable being a beginner.
- Stay socially connected, as regular, meaningful conversation is one of the most reliable long-term protectors of memory.
- Make time to wind down, since chronic stress and raised cortisol interfere with forming and recalling memories.
- Never let your brain run on autopilot.
Sleep
- Sleep on your side to support glymphatic clearance.
- Dim lights one hour before bed to support slow-wave sleep.
- Give REM the same priority as your workouts.
- Wake with the sun whenever possible.
- Anchor your circadian rhythm before chasing supplements.
- Don't blunt deep sleep with late caffeine.
- Wake at the same time daily to stabilise brain rhythms.
- Never sacrifice rest to learn more, since sleep is when learning sticks.
- Keep your bedroom cold, dark and quiet.
- Avoid alcohol after intensive learning.
- Finish eating at least three hours before bed.
- Skip NSAIDs before sleep where medically appropriate.
- Prioritise consistency over catch-up sleep.
- Block blue light before it blocks your melatonin.
- Protect recovery after cognitive overload.
- Revisit new skills before sleep to strengthen consolidation.
- Try bedtime breathwork to support sleep-driven brain recovery.
- Earn tomorrow's brain tonight.
This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Healf
Healf's editorial team works hard to produce science-backed, expert-vetted stories to break down trends and cut through the noise in the wellbeing ecosystem. Our team of writers and editors specialise in everything from nutrition, to exercise science, women's health, skincare, sleep, and more.
