Archive for the ‘Mind’ Category

More Ways To Improve Your Memory

Thursday, September 20th, 2007

Just about everyone is trying to figure out different ways to improve memory. Having a sharp mind is very important in every aspect of your life. If you have good recall skills then you are better equipped for everyday situations. People who learn ways to improve memory are more likely to do well socially and economically.

The social aspect of knowing the ways to improve memory might not be readily apparent. However, we have all been in a situation where we are required to remember names and faces. This can be a real challenge for those of us who don’t have the skills or ways to improve memory.

Following are a handful of strategies that my help you develop your own ways to improve memory. Most of these suggestions involve making connections between different things. When you make associations you are working with your prior knowledge.

Think of it this way. You have a collection of information that you already have earned over the years. Adding new information will be easier if you take a scaffolding approach in ways to improve memory. Your foundation of knowledge can link together with new information to build a solid structure.

Enough with the metaphors. Let’s use an example. We all know how to rhyme and most of us have favorite songs. One way to improve memory is to use rhyme and music to make a connection between the information and the pattern. For example, “i before e except after c.” This rule of grammar is far easier to remember with this little rhyme.

You can also try different approaches as well. One great way to improve memory is to make connections. This is really effective when you are trying to remember names and dates (two very challenging things for us to recall). Following are a couple examples of associations used as ways to improve memory.

When you meet a person you might want to repeat his name right after the introduction. While this is somewhat effective, you are better off to use ways to improve memory thorough association. For example, Fred could be associated with Fred Flinstone. While this may seem silly at first, it really works.

Dates are very difficult for some of us to retain. Try using some associations with this subject as well. For example, my niece’s birthday is October 4th. This is a tough thing to remember when you have 16 nieces and nephews. I remember it with “Ten-four good buddy.”

We all have different experiences and different foundations of knowledge. Why not use what you know as ways to improve memory?