tips on how to improve your memory: Improve Your Memory
How to improve your memory for both short- and long-term recall is not
as difficult as it may appear. Yes, there are techniques to improve
memory however it does take practice to maintain a higher level of
memory recall. Clinical research has shown that memory is an essential
component of cognitive functioning and that this too can be improved
(Jaeggi et al., 2008). This research also show that our IQ score is no
longer a number that limits us. Read on to get tips on how to improve
your memory and raise your IQ.
Tips on How to Improve Your Memory
1. Practice and rehearse
Start by really understanding the topic or piece of information you wish
to remember, then once you have the basic understanding in place you
will need to keep rehearsing the information to ensures it sticks. That
old saying of practice makes perfect is very relevant when you are
trying to remember new things. If you want to make information come to
mind automatically, you need to rehearse it regularly. Then you will be
able to recall it quickly when you need to, whether that be for school,
business or at social events.
2. Pay attention and engage with information
Psychologists Craik and Lockhart found that the more attention we pay to
the meaning of what we see, hear and learn, then the better we will
remember it. They proved that improving our memory is a function of how
effortful and meaningful our initial encoding of the information was.
The outcome is if we process information on a deeper level, we will be
better able to recall that information. Psychologists and teachers tell
us that understanding something aids our memory and it is harder to
remember things if we merely rote learning without fully comprehending
the information.
3. Visualize and use imagery
We live in a visual world which means there are many ways that we can
use the power of visual imagery as a memory aid. For example, try using
a mind map, where we imagine a map of the information or a tree with
the branches that stem out each holding an important and relevant fact
or nugget of information. Another example is to imagine a cloakroom
with each of the pegs holding a piece of information. Whatever method
you prefer, the key point is that when we visualize the information as
we study or learn it, we can recall it later much easier.
4. Try Drawing
Drawing is a great way to help anyone with remembering new information,
but especially for older adults. This has been backed up from research
conducted at the University of Waterloo in Canada. They found that
drawing out words and drawing the physical attributes of a word enhanced
the memory of older adults with possible benefits for people suffering
from dementia. Drawing is a memory encoding technique that works cross
generational and kids find it fun and educational.
5. Start using acronyms
Research has shown that our brains are better at retrieving things when
we associate meaning to them. When we were in school, a teacher or
parent likely taught us to use acronyms and my guess is that most of us
still remember some version of these. Remember this one? to memorize the
directions on the compass, we use the acronym NEWS (North, East, West,
and South). Or this one? “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine
Pizzas” (Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto).
Not only are acronyms fun and they really work. You can also use a
similar technique if you are trying to remember names at a party or
gathering (e.g., Black orange boots for Bob or Purple attire things for
Pat. Go ahead and make up your own acronyms for anything you want to
remember. The trick is to list the thing you want to memorize and
arrange it in an order such that the first letter of each word spells a
real word.
6. Pay attention to the beginnings and endings
Research on how to improve your memory points to the fact that that we
remember more at the beginning and end of learning sessions or lessons.
Now none is suggesting you zone out in the middle of a lesson, lecture
or training session. This is about being aware of our optimal memory
times. So, listen up and pay closer attention to the introductions and
conclusions when being presented with information. Always ask a teacher
or the presenter to summarize the main points of the lesson or lecture
again at the end.
7. Try brain training
Some (not all)
Brain Training to Raise IQ
programs can help improve your memory and raise your IQ. It may
surprise you that the brain is a muscle much like other muscles in your
body. Your brain needs constant use and exercise to stay healthy. Think
of brain training as a mental workout which helps challenge your mind so
it can grow and expand. Research carried out by our own Dr. Bryan Roche
found that people who engaged with 20- 30 minutes of brain training
activities (using relation frame theory) for 5 days a week had
improvements in learning, mathematical and verbal skills, educational
aptitude, working memory, Performance IQ, verbal IQ, perceptual
reasoning skills, visual processing skills, working memory and general
intelligence. This was for users of all ages and intelligence levels.
8. Practice Meditation
Researchers from The Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness,
University of Naples “Parthenope”, Naples, Italy note that many studies
show meditation improves brain function, reduces markers of brain
degeneration, and improves both working memory and long-term memory.
They showed that routine meditative practice is associated with a
long-lasting change in the topology of definite brain areas, suggesting
that meditation might be able to induce brain plasticity.
9. Read It Out Aloud
You may remember from your school days, when your teacher asked you to
stand up and read out aloud a story or poem. Well, a team at the
University of Waterloo found that you’re more likely to remember written
information if you read it out aloud. The consensus is that reading
combined with hearing yourself reading can have a positive effect to
improve your memory. Other studies also confirm that learning and memory
benefit from active involvement. When a person adds an active element
to a word (reading it out aloud), that word becomes more distinct in
long-term memory, and so more memorable.
Improve Your Memory Summary
These are just 9 ways to improve your memory, we are sure there are many
more techniques for improving memory, all of which would be beneficial
for a person's brain health. Why not start today, whether you are a
student, professional or a retiree. Because even adding one or two
memory improvement activities to your daily routine can help keep your
brain healthy and strong. To improve your memory not only protects the
brain from memory loss but it will also boost learning and information
recall. If you would like to dig deeper into
The Science Behind Brain Training the science of brain training, then read here –
Smart Brain Training
