It's hard to overstate the importance of having a good memory. Not only is it good for passing your exams if you are a student, but it could be argued that memory forms the core of our personality. Our memories are a fundamental aspect of ourselves. Having a more effective memory makes us more effective individuals and is an integral aspect of intelligence. Luckily there are several things you can do to improve your memory. We're going to explore some of them here.
First, here is a vlog that I recorded recently discussing some action items you can begin to utilize immediately:
Six Ways To Improve Your Memory
1 - Peg Systems: This is a sequence of items that you already have memorized which can be used to link to whatever new material you are trying to memorize. The pre-memorized sequence of items can be thought of as "pegs" which you hang the new items to memorize on. One classic example of a peg system is the Roman Room Method. This involves using your imagination to walk through a familiar building, looking into each room in turn, which you have mentally placed each item to memorize into.
2 - Mnemonics: This is a very broad term but it can be boiled down into the creation of a compelling (often violent, crude or absurd) action sequence surrounding the material you wish to memorize in order to more strongly impress it on your memory.
3 - Journaling: Simply put, maintaining a journal sends a message to your subconscious mind that remembering things is important, which in turn will improve your memory.
4 - Exercise: Arguably one of the most important things you can do to improve the health of your brain and by extension your memory, is to engage in regular exercise. Even 30 to 45 minutes of brisk walking per day can have a huge impact.
5 - Ginkgo Biloba: This is an herb that has been used medicinally for a centuries. Regular supplementation with ginkgo biloba has been shown to improve memory, among other health benefits. One of the ways this works is by temporarily improving circulation, which allows the body to more effectively heal itself. This supplement must be taken regularly to maintain the effect.
6 - Lion's Mane Mushroom: Regular consumption of lion's mane mushroom (cooked, as every mushroom should be) or it's extract has been shown to be a powerful cognitive enhancer. The effects of this are not only experienced while the substance is in your system. The effects can be felt in the long-term because it is actually healing you. One way it does this is by clearing the beta amyloid plaques from your brain. These plaques build up over a long period of time in most people but accumulate quickly in those with certain diseases such as Alzheimer's. These plaques impede the signalling between neurons, so clearing them out can have result in a dramatic improvement in mental function, including memory. Lion's mane mushroom is also one of the only food sources known to man that triggers the production of Nerve Growth Factor. This is still being studied, but the evidence suggests that this can help repair nerve damage, including any damage found within the brain. Finally, this mushroom is also an excellent source of antioxidants, which prevent free radicals in our body from damaging our DNA.
7 - Bonus Tip!
Spaced Repetition
I've got one final tip for you today. This is called Spaced Repetition and you can consider it an upgrade to the classic brute force method of Rote Repetition. In Rote Repetition you simply expose yourself the the material over and over again until you simply cannot forget it. Of course this method will work, but studies have shown us how to get the same results with less effort. In Spaced Repetition you will review the desired material again just before you are going to forget it. In practice, this means reviewing the material often at first and increasing the amount of time between review sessions. This can be done on your own through creating a review schedule for yourself, but plenty of apps have also been written which will automate this process for you.
I hope these tips help you improve the efficiency of your memory. Have you utilized these methods before and did they work for you? Did I miss anything that you have found useful? Please share your experiences in the comments below!
Also, if you missed my Steemit intro/bio, you can check it out here:
Jeremy Crow: Underground Musician and Dark Occultist