A good memory is vital to success in any area of life. You will learn faster and be better at your job if you improve your memory. It doesn’t take a genius intellect to develop a good memory. With a few tips and tricks, you can start seeing memory improvements almost immediately.
If you want to increase your ability to recall information, put pen to paper. Writing something down yourself helps you remember by stimulating blood flow throughout the brain, most specifically to the areas of the brain that deal with memory. You will be able to better remember things by having a journal or writing on sticky notes.
Sometimes your memory isn’t your problem, it’s actually a lack of attention. If your mind constantly wanders, you won’t properly absorb information. Do the best you can to clear your mind so that you can focus on what’s being shown and said. Keep your focus soley on your subject.
Negative Thoughts
For memory improvement, rid yourself of unpleasant or negative thoughts. Research has shown that people who regularly experience negative thoughts are subject to more stress, which can also lead to poor memory skills. Ask your doctor to suggest techniques to reduce stress.
Even though your brain is not a physical muscle, it does need regular workouts to keep it sharp. Research has shown that puzzles can help to prevent senility.
Add fish oil to your diet. If you have difficulty retaining information, you might be deficient in Omega 3 fatty acids. You can choose to take it as a daily dietary supplement.
Staying active with a strong social circle of friends and family is beneficial to having a good memory. Remaining socially active will keep your spirits up, and help you stay alert. Depressed people don’t properly stimulate their mind, meaning their brain won’t get the necessary exercise it needs. If you have regular conservations with people you know, your mind will be engaged and you will remember things better.
If you have something you need to remember, try associating it with a humorous phrase, song or mental image. Adding a silly twist to memory exercises makes it easier for your brain to store important facts and figures.
To help you memorize new material that you’re learning, a great technique to implement is the technique of visualization. You might want to add visual aids for yourself if this helps you recall information when you read a textbook. Drawing your own versions of charts and graphs can also help you to memorize.
Make liberal use of planners and calendaring tools. Purchase day planners and write things down. Establish a schedule of your day and keep looking at it. The more you remind yourself of anything you’d like to remember, the more likely you are to store it in your mind. It decreases your memory load and serves as insurance in case you forget what you need to do next.
You can help yourself learn by saying things out loud to help improve your memory retention. Anytime you learn a new name, repeat it verbally. Saying and hearing it out loud will help to seal the memory into your brain. This will help you recall it later. Find a way to sneak your repeat of the information into casual conversation, it does not need to be obvious you are practicing a memory trick.
Associate new information with familiar facts or objects to help you remember it. If you associate something you already know with something new you are trying to learn, you’re more likely to recall things quickly and store them in your long-term memory.
You can improve brain elasticity when you meditate therefore allowing your brain and it’s memory to function at batter rates. You will relieve stress from your body which helps promote healthiness throughout your body. If you’d like to meditate, all you need to do is go to a quiet, relaxing place, paying attention to nothing but your breathing. Shoot for at least half an hour a day to help your brain stay fit.
When you know you will need to recall information, try putting on some classical music. This kind of soft and relaxing music allows you to calm down and focus. Play this music while sitting in a bath.
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. The mental connection can be with a famous person, not just someone you know personally. 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.
When studying important information that you need to memorize, make sure that you keep your entire concentration on the topic you are studying. In order for humans to remember something, they must store it in their long-term memory. You will have a difficult time committing information to memory if you do not focus exclusively on learning it.
While studying, build an outline that can help you recall the things you are learning. This allows you to organize your information and divide it into clusters that are more easily remembered. The outline you prepare does not have to be long and involved. A simple organizing system will be enough.
As you have seen, a wide variety of memory improvement techniques exist. They can help you remember everyday things like what you meant to buy at the store, as well as special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays. Use these tips to improve your memory, as well as how fast and efficiently you can recall information.
