Few things are more depressing than not having the ability to recall something that is important to you. There have been lots of new discoveries to do with memory in the past decades and this knowledge will be discussed in this article.
Mnemonic devices are a great tool for remembering information over long periods of time. Good mnemonic devices work in much the same way that shorthand works for stenographers. You will associate information with another word, you will be able to relate it and have a map to that memory.
If you have lots of information you must memorize, you should aim to study this information at many different places. This prevents you from associating the information with one particular setting, which helps to instill it more deeply within you. Think of it this way – when you change up the places where you learn things, it’s easier for the information to move from your short-term memory to your long-term one.
Give your full attention to what is happening around you. You may think you’re focusing your attention, but you mind may actually be wandering instead of focusing efficiently. Try to make sure your mind is clear and focus on the information being offered. Consciously think about the information and this can solidify your memory.
Your brain is similar to a muscle that needs to exercised regularly to remain sharp. A number of research studies demonstrate that playing puzzles and games keeps the brain functioning well as old age sets in.
Among the most effective memory building techniques is physical exercise. Exerting yourself promotes better circulation and oxygenation of the brain. Basically, everything that benefits your overall health will also benefit your brain’s memory function. Exercise also helps to stave off conditions, like diabetes, which have been proven to have a negative effect on memory.
You can re-charge your memory while studying by switching to a new environment. Changing up your environment refreshes your brain, and helps long-term memory become more effective. Your brain will wake up if it senses a change in its usual routine. This can make it easier to learn new information.
If you’re trying to remember something, associate it with a funny image, song or phrase. If you use a funny way to remember something you may be able to remember it easier down the line.
A helpful strategy to boost your memory of information is to visualize the concepts that you want to be able to memorize and recall. If you’re studying material from textbooks, try using charts and photos for visual cues to help you retain the information. It can also help to make your own charts to help you remember information. The mind is especially able to recall visual information more than dry text.
Relate the new information to something you know already. Building these ties helps you commit the new ideas to the long-term memory. You can memorize things more quickly using this method.
A great way to make your memory more effective is to teach other people. An example of this would be a person forgetting how they taught their grandson to swim. If the person tells more people the story, they will remember what happened much easier. This will help create more pathways in your brain, and help you remember the event in the future.
If you’re in a situation where someone’s told you something that you’re struggling to remember, you might want to reword it in a unique way, and then attempt to commit it to memory. It is hard for people to memorize words and thoughts if they do not quite understand what it means.
Do you have problems remembering peoples’ names? A great trick for you to use is to connect the person you’ve just met with someone else you know with the same or a similar name. You can even make this association with a famous person or celebrity. When you make a connection with a familiar name and a new face, you can more easily remember the name by associating the two.
Pay attention when introduced to new information and it will be easier to remember. When you are first introduced to someone, picture the spelling of their name in your head, or ask about the spelling. For example, ask, “Is that Chelsea with an A or a Y?” You can then make a pleasant comment or observation about the name in order to commit it more thoroughly into your memory. Use it a couple times during normal conversations, and you will surely remember it in the future.
Take steps to effectively utilize the advice provided in this article, and start improving your ability to remember things. If you are able to absorb this information, you will reduce your frustration from not being able to remember things.
