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Share Old Photos

A trip down memory lane with others may improve well-being

By

Staying Sharp

 
Updated April 07, 2023
Updated April 07, 2023
A family of two women and two young children looking at a book together
kate_sept2004/iStock

Quick Win

Pull out your photo albums to recall happy moments. Reminiscing may spark memories and increase positive feelings.

Try This Today

  • Find some oldies but goodies. Pull out an old photo album or find a few pictures you’ve saved on your computer. They could be from your childhood, college days, or a memorable event or trip. 
  • Invite a friend or family member over to look through the photos. Ask the person to bring a few of their own.
  • Swap stories. Take turns talking about the memories the photos trigger.

Why

Looking at photos and discussing them may lift your mood and help you feel more socially connected. Reminiscence therapy, which involves recalling happy events and feelings, was found to alleviate depression and improve quality of life in older adults, at least immediately after the reminiscing, according to a review of 10 studies published in 2021 in Frontiers in Psychology.

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Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

 

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