“Memory is the mother of all wisdom” – Aeschylus
Retention of information is a vital ingredient to exam success as well as getting results in many other areas where performance is concerned.
Contrary to popular belief, if you’re habitually forgetful, it may not be due to a “genetic condition”; rather, your strategy or approach to memorisation is not very effective.
An effective strategy on how to improve memory is something that can be developed and improved over time. Getting results ultimately comes down to how much information you have been able to retain and readily apply appropriately and effectively. Your ability to memorise and process information quickly is a transferrable skill that can certainly enhance your overall productivity in all that you do.
My experience in the field of education; having to memorise and keep up to date with a wealth of new concepts, facts and figures, has meant that I have had to develop the skill of memorising information quickly and effectively in order to produce optimum results.
I have found that improving my memory skills has significantly improved my credibility and efficiency in my professional dealings.
It is through practical experiences that I have encountered that has encouraged me to develop and implement certain “tactics” to improve my memory. Although not particularly revolutionary and fairly easy to do, they are also often overlooked, underrated and easy not to do.
Here are the 7 principles on how to improve memory:
1) Work on your mental “fitness”
Challenging your brain and intellect on a regular basis by participating in mentally stimulating activities such as chess, solving word puzzles and crosswords can train your brain to have a naturally faster reaction and retain information quicker. Your mind, just like your physical body, requires “training” to improve its “fitness” and expand its mental capacity. Like a sport, the more you practise, the better you’re likely to become at it.
2) Take action immediately by application
Retention of information can be accelerated when immediate practical application associated to what you have just learned is carried out as quickly as possible. “Knowledge is power” is a common phrase often used to suggest the power of information. However, I believe that it is only “potential” power. It is only powerful when it is manifested effectively and efficiently. Speed of implementation is a skill one should develop the habit of conditioning, because it is this that will not only act as a catalyst to helping you get results faster, but it will train your brain to retain information quicker. For example, when learning a new language and studying the grammar aspect of how sentences are pieced together, you should be encouraged to communicate in this new language and apply the theory into practice by conversating with others as quickly as possible. Making mistakes is usually part of the process, but removing fear of embarrassment or fear of making mistakes can help with your learning process and therefore help you train your brain to avoid making the same mistakes and thus solidifying your memory and understanding of these concepts. The key words here are “immediate action”. The likelihood of remembering information is directly correlated with the time frame between the time consumed and the time applied.
3) Create a “neuro association”
In our previous article “NLP – how to communicate effectively” we briefly touched on what NLP, Neurolinguistic programming was. Creating a neuro association using language helps simplify complex ideas by creating a link between your information and your emotions or feelings. For example, mnemonics is an excellent way to effectively memorise a list of information. For example, a common mneumonic to remember the symptoms of a stroke, for example, is using the word “FAST”, which is associated to the words “face”, “arms, “speech” and “time”. Depending on what type of learner you are, whether more visual, auditory or kinesthetic, you can focus on developing a strategy that will enhance your memory based on this. According to NLP, neurolinguistic programming, looking up towards the left can help you tap into the visual aspect of your memory which is particularly useful when trying to remember visual places, images and videos, for example.
4) Master Organisation skills
The organisation of your environment is usually directly proportional to the level of clarity in which your mind can process and record information. If your physical environment is cluttered, then it is likely to affect your concentration levels. Aside from your environment, your organisation and management of time is also incredibly important. Many of us are busy being “busy” and not always necessarily productive. Productivity and speed of implementation without compromising on quality is a skill that should be developed, if not mastered, if you want to improve the quality of your memory and concentration. Organisation in the form of pre-planning is an effective way to learn and retain new information. For example, if learning a new language and want to memorise new vocabulary easily, it may be a good idea to categorise and organise these new words into sub-categories such as adjectives, nouns and verbs. Clear presentation will help enhance your visual memory overall.
5) Test yourself
We have two main parameters of memory in which our brain stores information – short term memory and long term memory. To move from short term memory to long term memory, we must consistently condition certain thoughts and information to become so ingrained in us that it almost becomes a part of our subconscious minds. The testimony of your memory is in the test; the more regularly you test yourself, the more efficient the regurgitation of information will likely to be. An example of how you could test yourself in a subject like Maths would be to answer direct questions associated with the theory of what you have just learned and then refer to the mark scheme to those questions. It is advised to test yourself in timed conditions to help condition your mind into working with a sense of urgency; this is usually a practice that will inevitably improve your memory rate too.
6) Eat these foods
Foods rich in Vitamin E such as nuts, seeds and oils are said to boost brain neuron function. Oily fish such as salmon, mackeral are high in DHAs which contains omega 3 fatty acids that promote brain health and memory and concentration, too. It is even said to help prevent ADHD, and enhance one’s level of concentration. Avocados is one of the healthiest foods for the brain, too. Blueberries are a great antioxidant and help protect our brains from degeneration and stress. Extra virgin olive oil and Coconut oil is a natural anti-inflammatory and can aid memory. Walnuts have been proven to improve one’s cognitive health and improve memory and concentration, too.
7) Physical exercise
Physical exercise releases natural feel-good hormones called endorphins which neuro-scientists have said to significantly improve memory and concentration[kkstarratings]. We should utilise the power of the mind-body connection by participating in regular physical activity. I personally have found psychologically, I am in a more “peak state” after physical exercise; I move freer and my thoughts flow easier. There are a powerhouse of benefits to physical exercise; according to a study performed in the Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, there is a direct correlation between the regularity and intensity of physical activity and the size of the hippocampus, which forms the ridges of the ventricles of the brain that is largely responsible for our memory.
Are there any memory tips you recommend that have helped you in your exam success? Do you have a hard time memorising certain types of information such as names, but find it easy to remember places, for example? Leave a comment below and tell us more!