As you age, your memory is likely to suffer. What can you do to preserve your precious memories and increase your ability to recall information as you continue to age? Using the tips from this article, you can learn how to train your brain to become better at remembering things again.
When trying to commit a large amount of information to memory, having several shorter study sessions is significantly better than having one long study session. The reason for this is that it takes several separate instances of reviewing the material in order to commit the material to long term memory. Holding the information in long term memory will allow you to more readily recall the information than if it was stored in short term memory.
If this is your situation, you should use about 5 to 15 minutes of your time when studying to let your mind rest. Then you will be better able to learn new things.
Using mnemonic devices is an excellent strategy for improving your ability to retain new information for a longer period of time. Using mnemonics to aid your memory is akin to using shorthand. If you can associate a common item or word with something you want to remember, you create a roadmap in your brain to retrieve the information.
When you have to memorize a substantial amount of information, try studying at a variety of locations. When you study in one spot, the knowledge can be thought to be location specific to your brain. Mixing the geography makes it more general and a part of you. This means that when you learn information from several different locations, it’s more likely to stick to your long-term memory.
Exercise your body – exercise your brain. By exercising regularly, you increase the amount of oxygen that gets to your brain, and reduce the risk of illnesses that can contribute to memory loss, such as heart disease and diabetes. Exercise can also increase the effects of certain chemicals that help the brain to function at its best.
Add a fish oil supplement to your diet to sharpen your memory and concentration. Omega-3, found in fish oil, is a necessary nutrient for memory, yet many of us do not get enough in our regular diet. Adding a supplement can improve overall health while also improving memory and concentration.
When you are trying to commit something to memory, it’s important to stay in the current moment as much as you possibly can. Try to avoid the urge to focus on the past or the future as you are learning. Make every effort to focus your attention on the material at hand, and you will retain it better.
A great tip that can help you improve your memory is to start limiting how much alcohol you drink. Drinking too much alcohol can destroy many brain cells over time, which can severely impair your cognitive functions, such as memory. Limit your alcohol to only one or two drinks a day.
Use mnemonic devices to help you remember things. Mnemonic devices are sets of clues that helps by associating things that are usually hard to remember with things that are easier to remember. An example is using an acronym, rhymes, visual images, or even associating a funny story to whatever you want to memorize.
Repeat new information out loud. For example, when you learn something, such as a number, say it out loud a few times. By hearing their name spoken, you are more likely to recall it at another time. To make it even more effective (and if you are not easily embarrassed), say it out loud multiple times.
Try exercise to improve your brain function. Some studies have shown that aerobic exercise can actually help you to grow brand new brain cells. These cells are grown in the brain’s hippocampus. Aerobic exercise can be as simple as going for a run. If you prefer a Zumba class that works too.
If you want a better chance of retaining the information that you’re attempting to learn, you should work on focusing intently on the specific topic. Memories that last are stored in your long-term memory. These are the ones that can be recalled much later. It’s difficult to store something in your long-term memory if you don’t give it your full attention.
If you want to improve your memory when you study, then consider sticking to a consistent schedule to learn the information over a few sessions. This will buy you some time, and give you an opportunity to store the information. There is scientific evidence that spaced repetition is much more effective for memorizing information, than cramming during a single session.
Your sense of smell can be a powerful memory aide. It is hardwired directly to the brain. Study with something that smells a certain way (a special perfume for instance)in the room. When the big test day comes, reintroduce the smell and you will reintroduce the memory too.
To strengthen your recall, perform brain exercises. You can do this by practicing doing things with your less dominant hand. Try things like brushing your teeth with the ‘wrong’ hand. The concentration it takes will help to improve the strength of your mind. Also, memorize trivia and odd facts. This will help to enhance your memory.
A great tip for improving your memory is to make sure that you are devoting all of your attention to what it is that you are trying to take in. This is important because distractions can cause you to not be able to move information from your short term to long-term memory.
Some experts believe that, on average, your short-term memory can hold a maximum of seven items for approximately 30 seconds. However, there are ways to improve this capacity. One of them is by chunking. Chunking refers to the process of taking small or singular pieces of information and consolidating them into larger “chunks” that are easier to remember. For example, instead of storing all nine digits of a social-security number separately, it’s easier to remember them as three units consisting of the first three numbers, the two middle numbers and the last four numbers, the way the number is written.
You may feel frustrated by memory failures, but you can easily overcome them. Ensure you stick to the advice given in the above article, and you’ll discover your memory skills improving at a very fast rate. In face, with a little bit of hard work, you might see your memory become better than ever.
