There is hardly a time in human life when we need good memory more than in our undergraduate years. Countless rules, dates, names, and numbers are quite often overwhelming. Under the pressure of deadlines, one may find it really hard to concentrate on memorizing the material. And, eventually, when all the assignments are handed in, we still need to remember the simple everyday things, such as pin codes, birthdays and recipes…
Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet. You will not find a potion that can help you remember everything you want to remember (excluding all the awkward moments you wish you could delete from your mental hard-drive). But, luckily, there are multiple memory improvement techniques. In this list, we have gathered memory-boosting tips that work best for students. Some of these strategies are quite effortless. Others will require serious changes to your daily routine. But all of them have one thing in common – they are effective evidence-based methods.
1. What’s for dinner? Strawberries and dark chocolate!
Everybody knows we are what we eat. So, it is only logical that we can increase the capacity of our memory by modifying our diet. Here are some useful dos and don’ts. First of all, you need to know that products with a lot of added sugar may impair your memory. So, if you have a sweet tooth, try to cut back on sugar, at least until your exams are over. Keep your consumption of refined carbs in check. Unfortunately, these include pastry and morning cereal. Eat more vegetables, fruit, and berries, as such foods are rich in antioxidants and help prevent cognitive decline. And, finally, do not forget about dark chocolate! Cocoa flavanols significantly improve your ability to remember information.
2. Want to boost your memory? Boost your muscles first!
While popular culture eagerly exploits stereotypes of skinny nerds and overstuffed muscle-heads, in real life, being fit and being smart are not at all mutually exclusive. Moreover, physical exercise can help you strengthen your memory. If you want to achieve optimal results, exercise exactly four hours after you have learned something new. Researchers have recently discovered that working out after memorizing new information may help you remember it better, but only if you exercise within this precise time frame.
3. Magical tricks do exist!
We have already agreed that there is no magic bullet for perfect memory, but some ingenious tricks can help you memorize things almost effortlessly: from reading out loud and making acronyms to singing and writing poems. One of the most recent and surprising tricks is walking backward when you want to recall some particular information. Dr. Daniel Schacter, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, says that the nature of this phenomenon is still unclear, but it is possible that walking backward elicits a response from the memory because people associate this kind of movement with going back in time.
4. Let’s play!
We all belong to the same species, Homo Ludens, Man the Player. Play is the most natural form of human activity. Moreover, according to the Dutch historian Johan Huizinga, play is an essential element of culture. So, why not make a contribution to the development of culture and hone your skills of memorization by just playing? Crosswords, Sudoku, Scrabble, and all kinds of brain-training apps will help you enhance your recall abilities.
5. Seeing is remembering!
One picture is worth a thousand words, especially when these words deal with complex material. You can use charts and diagrams, highlight, and underline at your pleasure! Make drawings that illustrate the material you are trying to memorize. If you are not especially good at it, no worries! Your doodles will be funny, and humor is one of the factors that facilitate better memorization.
6. Relax and take it easy!
According to Churchill’s famous recipe for success in life, one should never stand up when there is a chance to sit down and never sit down when one can lie down. We would like to add one more step: never simply lie down when you can meditate. Research has proven that meditation and practicing mindfulness are great ways to strengthen your memory. And if an annoying thought about the unfinished essay prevents you from focusing on the present moment, you can always leave it to the professionals from essayservice.
7. To sleep, or not to sleep?
If you want to remember something really well, sleep on it! Do not put textbooks under your pillow, unless you want to find yourself in the proverbial Princess and the Pea situation. But be prepared to make time for healthy sleep. Research shows that the best option would be to find an opportunity to sleep between the study session and being tested.
If one of the methods does not work for you, do not give up! Try them all out: apart from academic success, these strategies can bring you other benefits, including improved health and a more cheerful frame of mind.
Photo Credit
Photo is Wikimedia creative commons
Guest Author Bio
Jennifer Lockman
Jennifer Lockman is a passionate, custom essay writer with 5+ years of experience. Thirst for knowledge, can-do attitude, and attention to detail make her writing excellent and effective. Her specialties include marine biology, biology, chemistry, history, English, engineering, business, accounting, politics, and management. Her essays are always well-researched and properly cited. She sees writing as an opportunity to express herself and bring value to the world, so in her spare time, she writes for pleasure and shares her work online.
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