Many of us have careers that rely on our ability to remember facts and figures. If we were to start slipping in our duty and causing productivity to drop, we would inevitably lose our careers. If you think this cannot happen to you, you are woefully wrong. Check out these great memory-saving tips.
One of the best ways to store new information in memory is to relate it to something else that you are already familiar with. Creating a logical link between the new information and something else that you already know will increase your chances of being able to successfully recall that information later. The link you create functions as a trigger to recall the new information.
Take advantage of social networking sites to remember birthdays. Take the time to invite all your friends to join you on your social networking site, and be sure to ask them when their birthdays are and enter this information in the birthday reminder program provided so that you will always be notified in advance.
A useful memory tip for anyone needing to recall particular types of information, is to work on minimizing distractions in your surroundings. Competing stimuli can actually impede recollection and prevent easy access to stored information. By seeking peace and quiet, it will be easier to retrieve the desired data from your mind.
It is important to get a sufficient amount of sleep if you are trying to improve your memory. Medical studies have shown that getting enough sleep every night can improve both short and long term memory. Your brain cannot absorb new information when your body has not gotten a lot of sleep.
Keep a diary or calendar for appointments. This is extremely helpful in remembering important dates or events. Be consistent with it and keep it in the same place all the time. You should look at it every day to update it and to make sure there isn’t anything you are forgetting.
If you have a hard time remembering to do important things, you may want to leave yourself a voice message. Looking at your phone and seeing that you have a message will help to remind you that you have something important thing to do. Text messaging is another convenient reminder technique.
Try to avoid food high in salt and saturated fats, including fast food. It has been scientifically proven that these foods can lead to carotid artery disease, which cuts off the brain’s oxygen supply. Losing oxygen prevents the part of the brain that holds memory from learning and obtaining information.
To help you memorize new material that you’re learning, a great technique to implement is the technique of visualization. When you are trying to remember information in a textbook, it can help to use photos and charts to retain what you are studying. Drawing your own versions of charts and graphs can also help you to memorize.
Break complex information down into smaller, more memorable pieces. This simple trick is regularly used to help people remember large numbers. For instance, your credit card numbers, phone number and social security number are all broken down into smaller, hyphenated sections to make them easier to remember. You can do the same thing with any complex data that you are trying to recall.
Engage your mind regularly in activities like puzzles or brain teasers to improve your memory. Not only are these activities fun, but they also improve attention and concentration while keeping your memory skills sharp. Brain games train your mind to work more efficiently and help form different thought patterns, enabling better retention of memories.
A good tip to help improve your memory is to be more social. Studies have shown that our brains respond much better to socializing than if we were alone. People who socialize regularly will enjoy the benefit of a slower memory decline. Try being more social to improve your memory.
Try not to keep memories in your head that are unneeded, such as information that you know you will never lose. It has been medically proven that getting rid of useless information frees up space in the brain for information that you are actually going to get use out of.
Scent has a huge impact on memory. If you keep something that you enjoy smelling right next to where you keep things, you will have an easier time recalling where the object is. For example, if you keep a plug in air freshener right next to where you keep you wallet when you are home, you will have no problem remembering where it is.
Adding fish oil to your diet really helps enhance your cognitive abilities. Fish oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help improve memory. Getting the dosage right is essential, so contact your physician before taking this supplement.
An easy trick to remembering the name of a new person is to think of someone else with the identical name, then connect the two in your mind. You can even associate their name with that of someone famous. When you link the new name with familiar knowledge, it will help you remember the new name when you encounter your new friend again.
Remembering and matching names with faces can be very difficult. Focus on the person’s face or a specific feature of their face; then try recalling an anecdote about them. With time and practice people’s names will spring to mind more readily.
Did you know that reading out loud can significantly increase your ability to memorize and recall new information? Reading the information as text and also hearing it with your ears exercises multiple pathways for information to get into your brain thus enhancing your chances for recall. In addition; when you read aloud you are more likely to focus on each word and not just quickly skim the text. So when you want to retain the information just speak up!
Using tips like what you’ve just read will help you to keep your memory strong and active. The knowledge you absorb will be retained and you will be far less likely to suffer from memory loss as you progress in age. By just applying these simple tips, you could change your entire life.
