Efficient methods to improve memory
Do you know this feeling when you don’t remember what you read yesterday. I can bet that most of us knew. Knowledge how to study and memorize fast is powerful tool. This one skill help you to
achieve more in school, work or hobby. In this article I show you
6 great methods to memorize faster.
IN THIS ARTICLE
1. Why is it important ?
We live in the fast changing world. Everyday people create milions
of new information . Every branch of science is changing so fast
that even scientists have problem to keep up to date.
During our lifespan we will change job even more 12 times. Development of AI will make situation even worst. Knowing how to learn is one of the most important skills you can learn in your life.
Unfortunately school doesn’t teach us how to learn. It expects that we knew it already. We don’t know better methods so we read text few times. This method isn’t good to remember information for long time.
2. Everyone is Different
Before we start you should know that you need to search for your best method. Not every method that works for me will be as good for you. Experiment with methods to find these that work for you.
3. Ask more Questions
To remember more you need to understand what you learn. This process take time but you can speed it up. Ask questions about
topic you learn. One precise question can explain a lot more than reading text again and again.
Children ask ton of question everyday. It is their method to understand the world around them. I encourage you to wake up children inside you. Asking questions during learning process help
to understand fragment that are hard.
Feel free to ask dumb questions. They often interest as the most so we have motivation to find answears.
HOW TO USE THIS METHOD?
Use this method when you make notes. On the one part of paper
you write question, on the other you write answear. It helps to
make notes less chaotic and more precise. I use it every time I
make notes from books I read.
4. Examine yourself
Most of us have unpleasant memories of tests from school.
They were a source of stress for most of us but tests are
great tool to:
Strenghten knowledge you have
Discover what you don’t know yet
WHY DO TESTS WORK?
Tests demand from you to recall information you need. When you put effort to recall information it stays longer in your memory. Every next time you need this information, it will be easier to recall.
EASY TO USE METHOD
This method don’t need classic test to work. You don’t need to
waste time for preparing tests. You can use it in form of association.
Give yourself 5 minute to talk or write about topic you learn.
After this time assess what you know already and what you forget about. Repeat tests before or after reading. It will show you what
you should focus at.
5. Flashcards
This is one of the simplest method. You only need paper and pencil. Write question on one side and answear on another. Everyday try to answear questions you create. Day after day you will remember more.
Flashcard is well-known method to learn words in new language but there is way more options. You can learn historical dates, figures and countries with this method.
6. Forgetting is a key
Do you ever have to absorb a lot of information day before exam?
Of course you have, it is a human thing. I show you that this method is unefficient. It helps you to pass an exam but you won’t remember anything after week.
HOW CAN I MEMORISE MORE EASILY?
- Plan your schedule
- Block time for learning in your calendar
- Give yourself time before sessions to forget part of information.
During every session try to recall all important information from previous sessions. It will help you to memorise more than during one long session. Enjoy a day before exam without learning.
7. Take notes
Do you ever ask yourself why do I struggle to remember?
It is common question. Answear to this is learning pattern.
In most cases we learn only by reading text few times.
To remember information your brain must feel effort. Simple way
to compel brain is making summaries. Make notes, illustrations
or charts after reading. It helps you to remember more. You will always learn more with active excersises than passive.
HOW TO REMEMBER MORE OF WHAT YOU READ?
Make notes short but full of important information
Don’t copy sentences from the book; try to change them in your own way
8. Be a teacher
Richard Feynman
,,If you can’t explain something in simple terms, you don’t understand it”
Richard Feynman was one of the greatest physicists of all time. His students say that he explained difficult topics in simple way. In this method I encourage you to be teacher. It doesn’t metter if you teach yourself or someone.
Your task is to explain topic in the simplest way. By teaching you must to transform information in simple explanation. More often you do it the more you understand topic.
Teaching someone is even better. You have feedback from other side. It shows what to focus at to understand topic better.
HOW TO REMEMBER THINGS BETTER?
Make analogies, comparisons, or associations to remember more
Always try to explain topic as simply as possible
9. Summary
There is no single method to memorise fast. To remember more you need to understand topic you learn. Ask question, make notes or draw illustrations to memorize faster. Give yourself time to forget, it is important part of learning process.
Experiment with methods to find the best one. Stay health to improve your memory. Check more articles about health and nutrition on my website.