A lot of people think that learning how to keep a good memory is a hard thing to do. You need to be on the look out for information you can use to educate yourself on how to practice good memory strategies; tips like the ones in this article can help.
We are more likely to remember something that happens to us when we are around other people than when we are alone. People are drawn to others, as a result we remember our time with them, rather than when we are alone. That’s why study groups work so well.
Becoming a teacher to retain knowledge as a student is a fantastic way to improve upon your memory. For example: Giving your friends a pop quiz and/or attempting to teach them new material will help you to learn it better yourself. Try this tactic when you need to study and you’ll be surprised at how much you remember.
Make sure your attention if focused on the material you want to remember. If you have other distractions going on around you – music playing, the TV on, kids talking, etc. – your mind won’t be able to focus on the material. This will result in it being hard to remember what you’ve studied.
Give your full attention and focus on what you are trying to remember. Try to study in a place that is quiet and calm for the best memory retention. Try to actively recall information in order to move it from your short term memory to your long term memory.
To better commit names to memory, repeat a person’s name after an introduction, and try to come up with something about the person that might help you remember his or her name. If you meet a Bob who mentions that he enjoys fishing, you might associate his name with a bobber like those used on a fishing line, for instance.
Try to memorize things in sets of 7. According to studies, the human capacity for Short Term Memory, or (STM) is 7, add or minus 2. This is why humans memorize things best in groups of 7. This is also why, for example, your phone number is seven digits.
Here is a trick for memory! As trivial as it may seem, try to do handstands! By standing on your hands, you are allowing blood flow to your brain. Having sufficient blood flow to your brain helps it to absorb and remember new information. You could also try lying on your back on your bed with your head hanging off the end!
If you feel that your memory is suffering, try to reduce stress, anger, and especially depression in your life. One of the primary symptoms of depression is actually an inability to concentrate, which makes it extremely difficult to acquire and retain memories. See a professional if you think this could apply to you.
If someone gives you information and you have difficulty remembering it, try putting what they said into your own words to learn it. You may not be able to remember words or ideas if you do not know what it means.
Reduce distractions in your environment while you’re trying to learn. Your brain can really only focus on one matter at a time. The more individual things competing for a piece of your attention, the less you can focus on what you’re trying to learn. Being able to focus is central in transferring information to memory.
Teach others what you know. Sharing what you know can really help your memory. Even if you are not an expert on the subject, explain what you do know to a friend or family member. A combination of explaining and repeating the information aloud will help you in remembering it later.
To help you to remember something, take that abstract thought or article and place it in a memory palace. A memory palace is some place that is familiar to you. By picturing yourself walking through that space, and then seeing, feeling, or hearing the thing you want to remember, that thought will come easier to you. This is a technique used by professionals regularly.
If you are having difficulties remembering things, make certain that you get a good night of sleep. When you are tired, it makes all functions of the brain decline, to some degree. It is important to be well rested to maintain the highest level of brain functioning. Remember to sleep in a quiet and dark environment, for optimal rest.
This article has hopefully come in handy for you as you try and practice good memory strategies. You want to remember to always keep on the lookout for new information as your knowledge grows; that in itself is a good memory strategy. Apply the knowledge you learned and you should be successful.
