This article will show you some of the techniques you can use to improve your memory power immediately.
Below are the common memory techniques around which all other memory techniques are based on:
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- The first is the Connection method and an extremely strong one.
You are creating meaning for an item by connecting it to
something you know already. Do you have to remember
somebody's address is 1225 Memory Lane? Isn't it easier to
think Christmas (12 - 25/ December 25th) than just four
separate numbers? Now we have something that has meaning.
We can take our story-telling technique and associate it to
Memory. It may take some imagination, but that just comes
with practice.
Another strong point with the Connection technique is that it
allows you to utilize the information you already know.
- The second is Repetition. This is a very simple technique and
probably the one most used to remember something.
However - look closely at what you're really doing when you
are repeating something. You are forcing yourself to focus
attention on something. That is one of the most important
steps in memorization. You forget most things simply
because you didn't remember them in the first place.
- Storytelling is another method. The Greeks were great for
this - remember the story of Narcissus and Echo. They would
take phenomena from everyday life and create a story around
it. By creating a story they are forcing your attention (see how important that is) plus they are creating a link mechanism which I just mentioned above. All good memory techniques play off each other and use the brain's natural memory ability.
Remember - these are techniques, not tricks!
- Rhyming is another technique. Admittedly it takes some
creative energy and a talent for forming rhymes, but if you
have that ability it is a very good way to remember things. The rhyme can have a story as well.
- The last method is by Linking - linking one item to
something you already know. Remember how memory works.
How often a smell can bring back the memory of a certain
afternoon a long time ago. Linking or association is a way
that was devised to utilize the way memory naturally works.
You're not forcing it - it's something you do naturally.
6 Simple Memory Techniques
Anyone Can Try Today
Here are some research-proven strategies that can effectively help your memory, enhance recall, and increase retention of information.
1. Drink water. This may sound so simple, but it is so important. Your brain is 80% water, so avoid anything that dehydrates it – such as caffeine or alcohol. Being dehydrated by just 2% impairs performance in tasks that require attention, immediate memory skills, and physical performance.
2. Add in additional sensory information. When learning something new, try to incorporate as much appropriate sensory information as possible. Take in what you hear, see, smell and touch to give the information more context.
3. Get good sleep. Sleep rejuvenates all the cells in your body, gives brain cells a chance to repair themselves, helps wash away neurodegenerative toxins that build up during the day, and activates neuronal connections that might otherwise deteriorate due to inactivity. Research has demonstrated that sleep deprivation can cause dramatic memory deficits. Practice good sleep hygiene to optimize your sleep habits.
4. Utilize Mnemonic Devices. are a technique often used by students to aid in recall. A mnemonic is simply a way to remember information. For example, you might associate a term you need to remember with a common item that you are very familiar with. The best mnemonics are those that utilize positive imagery, humor, or novelty.
5. Avoid toxins. Smoking and drug and alcohol abuse increase your risk for dementia, so if these are a problem for you, stopping immediately decreases these risk factors. Even a glass of beer or wine per day can be harmful to the brain and can make it look toxic. And recent research demonstrates that smoking negatively affects the hippocampus, the brain’s major memory center.
6. Read Out Loud. Research published in 2017 suggests that reading materials out loud significantly improves your memory of the material. Educators and psychologists have also discovered that having students actually teach new concepts to others enhances understanding and recall.
