By having a a bad memory, you may be unorganized and feel lack of control. But, this is not a condition you need to accept as permanent and irreversible. You can train your mind to retain and recall information through a variety of methods and techniques. Read the following article for ideas that could help you.
Paying attention will help your memory. While you may believe you’re focused, your mind is actually wandering and not catching what is being presented. It is important to clear your thoughts and concentrate on what is going on around you. Keep your goals and topic in mind and take notes if you have to.
One way to enhance memory is to refrain from dwelling on negative events. Researchers have shown that those plagued by negativity or who have a great deal of stress in their lives have lower memory function than those who do not share those afflictions. Ask your doctor to suggest techniques to reduce stress.
Memory Games
Challenging your mind with memory games keeps you sharp. A lot of games are both fun and good for your memory skills. In addition to aiding your memory, these games also boost concentration and attention skills. Search for some free memory games online.
One especially scary aspect of aging is loss of memory. Prescription medicine can help to prevent further memory loss, especially when someone has been diagnosed with dementia.
Try to exercise regularly to help your memory. Exercising each day can help you out immensely with your efforts.
Don’t put yourself at a disadvantage by doubting yourself. A lot of people assume that you lose your memory with age. This is not necessarily true. You can damage your memory if you expect too much from it and stress yourself out. You can often doubt yourself when others question your memory. Simply extending the belief that you still have a strong memory can short-circuit this phenomenon.
Use organizers, planners and calendars. Buy a planner and write everything down. Make a schedule and look at it often. By recording things on paper and reading over them, you will be aiding your mind. It’s less for you to remember and it is nice to have around in case you forget something.
Short Term Memory
To supplement your memory, try to rehearse or relate what you want to remember with things you already know. If something in your short term memory is associated with something you’re very familiar with, it’ll be easier for you to recall it. Doing this will also make it easy for the information to move from your short term memory to your long-term one.
When you’re stressed, forgetting things is much easier. Relax in order to think more clearly if you can’t remember where you put something. Instead of quickly becoming upset with yourself, allow some time to recall the information.
If you have a hard time remembering peoples’ names when you first meet them, associate them with a person you already know that has the same name. You can also make the mental association with someone famous. Forging a connection between two different people actually makes it easier to commit names and faces to memory so that they can be recalled in a moment’s notice.
If you are trying to remember information that you are studying, keep your complete focus on what you are studying. Information must be stored in the long-term memory for humans to be able to recall it effectively. You won’t be able to store anything in your long term memory unless you’re completely focused.
You could improve your memory while you study by setting a consistent schedule as you learn the material through a variety of sessions. Doing this gives you a chance to process everything you’ve read, so that your brain will be able to retain what you’ve learned. Studies have proven that a subject who divided their study time in different sessions memorized the information more efficiently than a subject who crammed the information in one session.
To help remember your study material, make an outline beforehand. Your brain will respond positively to material that is organized in a logical manner and it will retain the information longer. You do not necessarily need to make an extensive outline; any sort of organized grouping of the material will help.
Mnemonic Devices
Remember important information with the use of mnemonic devices. This approach combines new information with a familiar name, place or object. Mnemonic devices are often songs, jokes and rhymes and make memorizing information fun. They can also cut down on frustration that studying may cause.
Paying true attention can go a long way when you try and recall things. If you meet someone new, think about how they spell their name, or even ask them. Ask them, “is that Tracy with a I or Y?” Then, come up with a comment about their name to make sure you remember it. Using a name in conversation is probably the best way to ensure that you remember it later. People like to hear their own names so use their names liberally.
Learn to make memory trees. First, focus on the big subjects that you are trying to remember. Specific details become the limbs branching off the trunk. Tiny details can be seen as leaves sprouting from branches of more general knowledge. You may find it helpful to mentally organize and visualize this information.
This is a great tip that can help you retain information. Whenever you’re presented with something new that you want to recall later, mentally form associations between it and things you already know. Making a link with something you already know helps to put the new material into the long-term part of your brain. This will speed up learning.
Don’t let your bad memory make you feel down. Use can use the the information in the article above in your very own life. You should see an improvement if you are patient with these methods. Remain optimistic about your hard work, and you can enjoy the positive results.