Hobbies And Interests
Group Games
For fun, try a game like "Grocery Store." Sit in a circle and have the first player say, "I went to the grocery store and bought some __________," inserting his item of choice into the blank. The next player must say the first player's item and add a second item to the list. Continue around the circle until someone forgets an item.
When memorizing facts, divide up your group and have a competition. Try a memorization showdown: have a player from each group come to the front of the room. The two players take turns stating the memorized facts until one player misses a fact and is eliminated. The team with the most players remaining at the end of the game wins.
Solo Games
Play a solo memory game when you are studying for a test or memorizing a passage. Websites like Quizlet or Flashcard Exchange allow you to make your own flash cards and play games to help you memorize information. "Concentration," or "Memory," can be played with a group, but it can also be a good game to play on your own. Try putting a term on one card and its definition on the other and then spread all of the cards face down on a table. Flip cards over two at a time and attempt to match the definition to the term, for a double dose of memorization.
Active Games
Physical activity combined with memorization can improve memory overall. It is often easier to memorize a word or phrase when you associate a physical activity with it. The next time you need to memorize the names of people in a group, have each person say their name while performing a funny gesture. Eventually, the gesture and name will be linked in your memory, and one will help you to remember the other.
Another active memory game is a twist on a traditional relay race. Have teams pass a baton as usual, but in addition to passing the baton the participant also has to "pass" the fact or phrase she has memorized. If a player cannot remember the fact, the baton cannot be passed to the next player.
Memory Improvement Games
Working to improve your memory can keep your brain physically fit at all stages of life. Challenging your memory just for fun will improve your memory abilities over time. For example, the next time you need to grocery shop, rather than writing a list, make up a story involving all of your necessary groceries as key players or important props. You will get a kick out of making up the story and likely remember your grocery list, as well. Another fun game for remembering items is to picture each item in a specific location in your home. The stranger the association, the better your memory of the item will be.