Though memory has been studied throughout history, it is not understood very well. Most people agree that short-term and long-term memory work differently but some researchers believe all memory processes are basically the same. However, injuries and illnesses usually affect only one or the other. Further study may clear up some mysteries of the human brain.
When a person is sleep deprived, his brain struggles to be fully functioning. Simple things like problem-solving, creative thinking and remembering, suddenly become difficult. Getting a full night’s rest each and every night will maintain your brain’s ability to function at capacity. Enough sleep also increases your memory since the most important memory enhancing activities occur while you are in your deepest sleep.
If you need to remember a complicated piece of information, use the mnemonics technique. This is a way of associating the information with something that is common and familiar. When you make that association, you can think of the common item, and it will trigger your memory of the more complicated piece of information.
Visualizing yourself recalling information is actually a great way in which you can work to recall information. You are basically training your brain to be able to memorize items when you foresee yourself dipping into that memory bank to pull them out at a later date. Think of it like visualizing your hand turning a doorknob before you actually turn it.
Keep your memory fresh by removing stress. When you are feeling stressed about something it can be harder to pull up memorized data. Find ways to relax yourself before you have to rely on your memory for a task. Meditate for a bit on relaxing thoughts that will allow your brain to process the information you need to access.
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.
Saying what you’re trying to remember outloud is a fast and easy way to boost your memory. Though it may feel silly at first, saying things outloud is a great tool for memorization. When you re-read something over and over again to try to memorize it, you may start skimming. Saying it outloud forces you to read and listen to the whole thing each time.
Try increasing the amount of fish oil you get in your diet. Low levels of omega-3 could be the cause of your poor memory. You can choose to take it as a daily dietary supplement.
Participate in regular exercise. Exercise increases oxygen to the brain and can be helpful to your memory. It also gets blood flowing to your brain more. It can also help prevent diseases that can lead to memory loss in the future. An active body leads to an active mind.
To help improve how quickly something is stored in your memory, take the time to bucket the information first. Act like an information architect and organize the information you are try to commit to memory based off of similarities. Once they are bucketed, attack them as a group. You will then find they are easier to memorize!
Make your memorization easier by using mnemonic devices. The easiest one is to associate a visual image with the word or name you need to remember. Life like, vivid images linked to hard to memorize or understand concepts can help to speed up the learning process significantly. Think of images from your everyday life to make the process easier and faster.
A good workout will exercise your body, but it can also exercise your mind. Just a bit of exercise everyday will be a big help.
To improve your memory for the item you are studying, make sure it has the full focus of your attention. Memory works by taking important items from the present and storing them for recall later. If you aren’t focused on what you’re trying to learn, your brain won’t deem those facts important and won’t store them.
Improving your memory may be something as simple as going out for a jog or a bike ride. Recent studies have shown that aerobic exercises can actually cause the development of new neurons in the hippocampus of the brain, which is considered to be the memory store center of the brain.
If you want to improve your brain’s ability to create and retain memories, one way of doing this is to often recount stories. Story telling is a way of practicing having the brain recall a memory in as much detail as possible, which is similar to working out a muscle group. It’s also fun!
In order to increase memory and concentration, consider taking a Fish Oil, or Omega-3, vitamin supplement. Unfortunately, our everyday diets simply do not provide enough Omega-3. However, eating more fish or taking an Omega-3 supplement can help with that deficiency. Studies have shown that school children, experiencing difficulty in concentrating, were given an Omega-3 supplement, which resulted in a significantly increased ability to concentrate.
Add aromatherapy to your life if you want to improve your memory. This works because these aromas help to relax you, which in turn, helps your memory improve. Also, if you are not sensitive to the smells, you may want to try adding candles throughout your home as they will relax you too.
One way to help improve your overall memory is to watch less television. TV really does rot your brain- studies show that people who watch more than an hour of television per day have more trouble focusing and remembering things in the short term. Instead, try playing brain games or having conversations.
It’s interesting to note that the sensation known as deja vu is widely believed to be caused by the brain sending an event directly to long-term memory. Trauma to the head often erases long-term memory while sparing short-term memory. On the other hand, neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease do just the opposite.
