How to Improve Memory when Retaining Information is so difficult?

How to Improve Memory when Retaining Information is so difficult?

Improving memory can be done at three levels: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary.

What should we do to Improve Memory?

As memory is a complicated process, doing one thing may not be sufficient. You may have to do several things at the same time, to successfully overcome forgetting. Let me give you 40 Tips on How to Improve Memory? When Retaining Information is so difficult

Answer Questions – Don’t retrieve information until you start with a question. Find out what kind of questions to ask.

Attack confusion – Don’t leave confusion hoping it will sort out. Attack it and clear it

Believe in your abilities – Don’t think you are inadequate; what you have with you has not been used properly

Mind mapping – Convert words into images wherever possible and try a draw a map mentally linking related concepts and ideas

Break your studies into periods – Don’t keep any time-table; whenever you feel restless or unable to concentrate, take a small break and come back to resume

Confirm known information – Always make sure of what you know; Before starting something confirm what is known to you and take in what you don’t know

Convert information – Convert information in any way possible; it can be ridiculous, strange, or impossible

Extract common factor – When you have similar things to record, first find out what is common among them; you don’t have to record them several times

Form acronyms using the first letter of the word – Like we have VIBGOYR form as many acronyms as you can

Have short breaks – If you take breaks, make it very short; stop studying somewhere in the middle of a paragraph, finish the break, and resume studying

Imagination – Run your imagination wild; it doesn’t cost anything at all but your Retention will be good

Improve Study Habits – Refer to other questions in “Solve Memory and Concentration Problems” and devise your study habits and follow them

Learning by association – Always associate any new information with something you know

List important information – Whenever you come across important information, start making a list; it could be names, dates, places, etc.

Make Postural Adjustments – Never recline or sit awkwardly, which can induce fatigue in you.

Manage your time – You don’t have to hurry but don’t waste too much time on any one concept; if you are not following what you study, come back later but don’t keep on trying the same

Manipulate your information by twisting, turning, pulling, pushing, relating, associating, and thinking

Method of Loci – Use the Method of Loci to remember the names of chapters, etc. See “How to Remember Chapter Headings?”

Mock examinations – Retention improves when you mock examinations; most of your time should be spent on answering old question papers

Observation – Keep a keen eye on observing what is happening; Know beforehand what you are going to observe

Organize your study – Build some structure to the tools you use for studying; don’t waste time searching

Overcome Laziness – See “How to Overcome Laziness?”

Prepare for Exams – Each day you study should be part of the preparation for exams; not just before the exams

Proceed from General to specific – The moment you see that the information you are receiving is specific, stop studying and make sure you are aware of the general things about it

Proceed from Known to unknown – Same way improve your Retention by going from known to unknown information

Proceed from Simple to complex – If you find something complex, first record its simple characteristics

Quantify difficult and lengthy information – Always play with numbers; like 3 sentences; 5 concepts, etc.

Relax – Stay relaxed; stress will interfere with Retention, so be calm

Self-Management – Manage yourself; see the article on Self-Management

Sit straight – Keep checking that you are sitting straight always; your posture gets automatically regulated

Sleep well – Never compensate for your sleep; if you feel sleepy, then go for it but only at night

Study at night, before going to sleep – Whatever you study before you sleep, gets consolidated and this is very conducive to Retention

Switch over from subject to subject – Don’t study a single subject for hours together

Think positive – Entertain positive thoughts and challenge negative thoughts

Use drawings and diagrams – Wherever possible convert text information into drawings or diagrams

Use Link between question and answer – Whatever information you are recording should be attached to a question; this will enhance your Retention

Use Study Methods – Study using systematic methods which will help you in Retention. See “How to study a textbook?” and “How to use the six-step strategy in studying?”

Visualization – The more visual imagery you create, the better will be your Retention

Workout moderately every day – Keep a few minutes a day aside for some kind of physical work; helping at home is an excellent way of keeping your mind off studies

Write briefly – Don’t study without writing down, but write briefly using one or two words or if needed a phrase

 

You may not be able to remember all the above tips. The best thing you can do is to keep using them one at a time. One tip is not as important as the other to improve Retention. All of them have equal significance. They have just been presented in alphabetical order.

You can choose any of them, one at a time, and practice it. You can find “How to Practice?” by clicking here.

You can download the ‘pdf’ file from the link below, print it, and keep entering it, as and when you complete a particular exercise. That way, you can keep track of how many you have completed and how much improvement is there in your Retention.

In case you find problems while adopting a strategy listed above, note it down, go through other solutions provided here, and note down what solution was applied. Always try to measure the percentage of success and note it down. You must continue until you get 100% twice consecutively.

Don’t forget to mention the date on which you identified the problem, attempted the solution, and measured yourself.

You can make as many copies of these sheets as you want.

Comment about how you were able to use these strategies so that others can also benefit from them.

Hope all these tips help you in improving your Retention.

Click here to DOWNLOAD "PDF" FILE: Improve Retention

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