More on executive function: Six memory tips

1. Give it time

It's normal for the ability to recall information to slow down as we get older. Your recall time won't necessarily improve, but if you cut yourself some slack and give your memory the time it needs to retrieve information, you'll often be able to access a memory that might seem lost at first.

2. Don't get anxious about it

This is related to giving it time. If you get worked up about not being able to remember, the resulting anxiety may get in the way. Martha Weinman Lear makes this point nicely in her entertaining and informative book about normal memory loss, Where Did I Leave My Glasses?