Memory Hacks

Have you ever been in an awkward situation wherein you do not know the name of the person you’re talking to? Have you ever found yourself struggling to recall a phone number? Are you a student who is always struggling to recall the things that you studied? In this day and age, we are often offered too much information. Our constant struggle is in trying to remember everything.

When we were young, we had very sharp memories. However, as time goes by, most of us lose our ability to remember things efficiently. Memory is like a muscle, and it constantly needs to be exercised and used if you want it to be better and more efficient.

Ideally, writing down things and repeating them again and again is the easiest way to remember the details. However, we don’t have this kind of luxury most of the time. There are times when you just have to think on your toes. You really don’t need super powers if you want to remember passwords and client names. There are plenty of tools and techniques that can help you to remember things that you need.

Do not underestimate your brain! With the right amount of practice, you will be able to improve your memory habits in no time!

Here are some memory hacks, which you might find useful.

Rest and nap

How do you expect to recall things if your brain is never recharged? Getting sufficient rest and sleep ensures that your brain is able to process new material. Aside from getting your usual eight hours of sleep at night, you must also try to nap throughout the day. A simple fifteen minute nap can do wonders for your brain, and thus, for your memory as well.  

While exercising your brain is important, you must give it time to rest too. Do not push your brain to the limits all the time. Working twenty hours a day will surely fry your brain cells.  Just like any muscle, your brain needs regular rest and sleep too.

Remembering things is rarely about being more intelligent. More often than not, it is about knowing how to use your brain properly in order to recall the information you need.

Here are some useful tips that could help you to have a sharper and better memory in general.

Learn how to focus

In this day and age, multi-tasking is a common buzzword. People often seem to find fulfillment in trying to achieve all things at once. However, this approach to things is very problematic. When you multitask, you make it difficult for yourself to understand. In addition to this, you don’t fully absorb the information, which makes it difficult to recall and remember.

Remember keywords

Keywords can be very powerful in helping people to recall important information. When you encounter lengthy material like a history essay, take note of keywords to help you remember the things you want.

Choose powerful words that will enable you to remember a lot of information about the subject. Don’t try to remember a lot of keywords, because it defeats the purpose of this technique. The key is to choose powerful ones that will unlock the core knowledge about the material that you are trying to remember.

Use repetition techniques

When you say something out loud, it will be easier for your brain to recall information. For example, when you are introduced to Gina, greet her with a phrase like, “Nice meeting you, Gina.” Try to repeat the name multiple times in your conversation. Repeating the name again and again will embed it in your memory.

Use your own mnemonics

Mnemonics, or patterns of letters, words, or phrases, are a good way to remember things. If you use mnemonics, you are actually using your various senses to remember information. This makes it much easier for the brain to process and recall information. Use your own sense of humor to remember things well. Construct positive images that can help you to remember the important information that you need.

Train your brain

Train your brain to think more using exercises like puzzles and board games. Playing scrabble, crossword, and Sudoku could do wonders for your brain. You can also play memory games that will keep your brain working. The more you train your brain, the more efficient it will become. Simple games like these can even help prevent Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.

Engage your senses

The more senses you involve in learning something new, the easier it would be for you to remember important information later on. It would be best if you know what kind of learner you are. Some people learn faster through body movement. Some by imagining pictures. Some by singing songs. Figure out what your learning style is, and it will be significantly easier for you to recall information.

For visual learners, you can translate text into pictures.  For auditory learners, you can assign a song or a tune, which can make learning faster and more efficient. Try to discover what kind of learner you are, so that you can maximize your own learning process.

Write it down

Whenever you have the luxury to write things down, go ahead and do so. This simple act embeds the important details into your memory. You don’t actually have to read what you wrote down. The simple act of holding a pen and writing random notes engages brain cells, which make it easier for you to recall things that you might need later on.

Don’t think that it is the same as typing away on a keyboard or touch screen. It is the act of writing, which makes things easier to remember because it engages your body. Sure, typing on a keyboard is faster and more convenient. Unfortunately, typing away does not engage the brain as much as writing does. 

Exercise

By now, you should know that exercise has so many benefits. It is not just good for the body; it is good for the brain too. Your memory is sharper when you exercise, because exercise will allow you to free your mind from stress. With a clear mind, you will easily be able to retain important information.