Imagine that you can remember something much faster. Think about how much time can be saved, how much training time can be shortened, and how much more progress can be achieved. Most of what we read and study is forgotten in our brains; we do not use its full potential to the fullest. How many times have you had to reread a book two or three times because you couldn't remember what was written there?
Follow the guidelines below to improve your memory and you will memorize faster. Also take a look at the article 6 Habits That Improve Your Mind and Memory.
1. Make sense of what is memorized
The meaning can be hidden in the difference between a memorized event, which is understandable on an emotional level, and an event that is not associated with anything and is forgotten in an instant.
One study showed the same face photo to two participants, one of whom was told that the guy was a baker and the other that his last name was Baker. A few days later, the researcher showed the same photo and asked what word this photo was associated with.
A participant who was told that this person was a "baker" remembered this much more easily. Can you guess why?
When you hear "baker“your brain activates visual representations of what it means to be a baker. It bakes bread, wears a big white hat, all of which is a vivid illustration of what it means to be a baker and most of us are familiar, which ultimately leads to an increase in the meaning of the word. as a last name, on the other hand, is pretty pointless unless you already have a friend or colleague with that first name.
This theory leads us to find as much meaning as possible in the information we want to remember.
2. Train your body!
You will rarely find someone in good physical health and poor memory. Exercise improves the circulation of blood and oxygen in the brain, giving it more functionality.
Even walking 150 minutes a week reduces the risk of developing dementia and age-related memory loss. As an added benefit, exercise is known to release dopamine in the body, which reduces depression and stress, two major causes of memory loss.
3. Train your mind
Many people see the benefits of training the body, but we often forget to train the mind. And while the results are not nearly as obvious, there is no doubt that mental exercise can dramatically improve memory and reduce brain-related diseases.
Instead of playing Game of Thrones for hours a day, we can learn new skills, play brain training games, or even just play chess with a friend. The rule of thumb is that changing and alternating mental activities is good brain training.
:
- Learn a new language;
- Sign up for a new course in an unfamiliar subject;
- Get new approaches to problem solving;
- Read a book that challenges your beliefs.
4 educate other people
Throughout our education, we were taught in lectures and took notes to memorize information. But how many times have you taught other people, or immediately applied the knowledge gained in practice?
- 5% of what they learn by listening to lectures;
- 10% of what they learn by reading books;
- 20% of what they learn from audio-video lessons;
- 0% of what they learn when they see a demonstration of what they are learning;
- 50% of what they learn when they participate in a group discussion;
- 75% of what they learn when they practice what they have learned;
- 90% of what they learn when they teach it to someone else or use what they learn immediately.
This means that the way we were taught to memorize information is the least effective way to learn!
If we want to remember something faster, the trick is to teach it to someone else, or to practically apply the knowledge right away. Immediately putting the knowledge gained into practice or teaching others, forces the brain to concentrate to prevent us from making mistakes.
Next time you want to remember something, don't just write it down. Teach others to do it!
5. Sleep
This step is perhaps the most important, and one that most of us take for granted. We know it's good to get a good night's sleep before a big event, but we don’t bother to rest after the event. The brain needs rest in order to process all the information it has received during the day. Also look at 10 reasons why you need to get enough sleep.
Taking short breaks is also important to allow your brain to process what you've learned. Just take care of a calm and distraction-free environment during these breaks. For example, you can take a long walk or walk in a local park, or just take a nap.
We recommend watching:
What is mnemonic technique, and how to apply it for successful memorization? Demonstration of mnemonics methods in practice. Practical advice will help you memorize information effectively.
