Brain surgeons have discovered that we retain a memory of every sensory impression received in our lives. But as we age, we may have increasing difficulty in bringing these memories to the surface when we need them. We know the information is stored in our brain. Here are some tips to help tap into this reservoir.
Your memory is only as good as the effort you put in to maintaining it. If you believe that you have are eventually going to have a poor memory no matter what, then it can become a self-fulfilling prophesy. Give yourself positive reinforcement when you do recall something correctly and forgive yourself if you make a mistake. Your memory should begin to improve in no time. Of course, you also need to be eating and sleeping well – and go easy on the alcohol!
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.
The phrase “use it or lose it” definitely applies to your memory. Make time to engage in activities that require you to recall information, such as crossword puzzles, learning a new skill or reading. Teaching someone else is also a good way to make active use of your memory and prevent it from becoming rusty.
If you are searching for ways to increase your memory, then work with others and collaborate on ideas with them. When you do this, your brain fires in a different way than it does when you work on something alone. Bounce ideas off others and see how differently you begin to think.
Keep lists of everything. Keep a shopping list at all times. Hang it on your refrigerator. Every time you think of something you need, add it to the list. This will help make sure you don’t forget anything. Keep lists for other things as well, such as things that need done around your house.
When you need to learn something, practice it repeatedly. The more times you practice something, the better recall you will have. This is a way of coding something into the part of you brain that is responsible for long-term memory. If you do not practice, the new information will remain in short-term memory and will be easily forgotten.
To improve your memory you need to have fun and laugh a lot. Your memory needs healthy fun besides training. Struggling for 6 hours with the latest Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle might seem to enhance memory functions, but in most cases socializing with friends, going to the movies or enjoying a play at the local theatre helps much more.
Use memorization techniques and drills to continually challenge your mind to retain more information. Using these techniques and drills, allows you to improve your memory, while also remembering vital information, like telephone numbers and definitions. The list of data you can use for these techniques is limitless and can also, help you in your daily activities.
Always try your best to space out gathering information. If there is something you must remember, set up study sessions. Learning a large amount of information at one sitting is not an effective method for long term memory. It will overwhelm your mind, and you will end up forgetting much of it very easily. You need to schedule study sessions on a regular basis to help your brain get in the habit of consistently remembering.
If you are having a hard time remembering things, you may want to put information with a picture. For instance, say you want to remember where a certain store is and there is a big oak tree in front of me, tell your mind to think of the oak tree.
If you have a list of words that you need to remember, try putting them in alphabetical order. Our society has already categorized many common items into alphabetical lists, so it is a pattern that your brain is familiar with. As a result, when you alphabetize a list of words, your brain recognizes the well-known familiar pattern and has an easier time recalling them at a later date.
Move around. Movement can help you remember things. If you are trying to learn something, repeat it to yourself while pacing or even while you are working out. Moving around can also be very helpful when you are trying to recall something you are having difficulty remembering. Full body movement will help your memory.
If you have a bad memory and you are on certain medications, you may want to get a pill organizer. This way, you will remember to take your medicine at the time you need to. Also, if you have forgotten whether you have taken your medication or not, you can always look at your pill organizer.
While studying, build an outline that can help you recall the things you are learning. You will find information easier to remember if you can arrange it into related components. You do not have to specifically make a long outline, really any kind of grouping system will work.
Try studying in different locations and at different times of the day. This will help you determine what works best for you, and also make sure that you can recall information in different settings. Likely you will not be taking an exam in conditions similar to the ones you studied for it in.
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!
We hope these tips will be helpful to you when you go fishing for information in that great reservoir of memory. These are tips others have been able to put to use effectively. You may come up with some of your own. Here’s to a long life and a vivid memory!
