11 strategies to improve memory and optimize study

Surely we have all at some point wanted to improve our memory. Next, we will see several very useful strategies to facilitate memorization and make our study days even more efficient.

At some point in our lives we have all wanted to improve memorywhether to get good grades in our studies, to go one step further in our professional career, or simply to remember everything we have to do throughout the day.

For the students It is essential to be able to optimize your study time and get the most out of it.. Furthermore, a trained memory will be very useful in your professional life; especially in these times when it is necessary to constantly recycle.

Now, understanding that improving memory consists of optimizing the information retrieval process and increasing its retention, let’s see how to enhance it.

1. Focus your attention on what you are doing

Attention is one of the main components of memory. Well, in order for information to go from short-term memory to long-term memory, it is necessary to focus on this information. Therefore, when studying or trying to memorize something, it is important to be in a place without distractions that allows us to focus our attention.

Avoid distractions and avoid “multitasking mode on”

For it, You can also practice mindfulness. Through this technique, you will learn to focus your attention on a single stimulus. This way, when we are studying, we will be less likely to be distracted and we will be more focused.

2. Establish regular study sessions

It is not about educating the discipline, but about help our mind properly process information. Typically, students who study regularly remember study material much better than those who spent marathon sessions studying the same material.

Organize your time and avoid “binge eating”

By studying a little every day, knowledge will be processed and will move from working memory to long-term memory. With this, we ensure a greater chance of remembering the information when we get to the exam. It is worth remembering that working memory is limited, so if we study a little every day, we will store the information in a more adequate and lasting way.

3. Structure and organize information

Information is organized in memory into interrelated groups. Therefore, structuring and organizing the study materials, grouping similar concepts or By making summaries with notes taken throughout the study, it is easier to associate related information and thus improve the study.

Simplify, outline, analyze, relate. You have many tools and technology to make it easier and more entertaining

4. Use mnemonic techniques to remember information

Mnemonic techniques are strategies used to remember information that are usually very personal.. They work like an “access key” that allows us to associate something specific with what we want to remember. Some techniques consist of forming a word using the initials of the first words in a list to remember all the points, or memorizing a series of funny images or drawings, using a song, etc.

Create sequences or funny words to remember: Study positively

5. Progressively elaborate what you are studying

To remember information, it is necessary to encode what is being studied in long-term memory.. To do this, a very effective technique is to progressively delve deeper into a concept; starting by reading the definition of the key term, then studying that term, and then delving into a more expanded definition. Repeating this process several times promotes memorization.

Simplify and add more information little by little, do not attack everything at once

When we carry out this process over time, the information accesses long-term memory. Therefore, it is important to study a little every day instead of leaving everything for the last day. With this, what is achieved is that the stored information is disordered and chaotic. Thus, If it is studied and deepened progressively, the information will access our more solid memory.

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6. Relate new information to what you already know

When faced with new and unfamiliar study material, first think about how you can relate it to what you already know. By establishing relationships between new ideas and previously existing memories, you will be able to strengthen the new information better.

Thinking about what you already know will help you give greater meaning and meaning to new information.

7. Visualize the concepts to remember better

Visualization is one of the most used techniques to improve memory and gives the best results.. To do this, it is important to look at images (photos, diagrams, graphs), use your own colors and symbols, make mental maps, personal drawings, etc.

Anything that evokes the memory is fine. In this way, memory can be improved. They are little tricks to remember the content so that the brain also stores information visually. Many of us, in the middle of an exam, have ever thought: “this is what I underlined in red” either “this is what was at the top of the page”…

Decorating your notes will help you visualize the information better and have more cheerful and positive study material. This will allow you to improve your memory

8. Tell someone else what you have learned

Reading information aloud significantly improves the memorization process. Educators and psychologists have found that when students teach new concepts to others, their understanding and recall of the concepts improves. To take advantage of this technique you can study with a partner or ask someone in your family or environment to listen to you.

If you can’t count on anyone, you can still do it by imagining a conversation or using photographs, posters, dolls… anything you feel comfortable with.

Buddhist psychology, strange as it may seem, has something to say about this. He states that When we are able to explain to another person what we are studying, it is the best way to learn. Therefore, studying something and then trying to explain it to a friend – or to a photo if we are alone – helps us retain a large amount of information.

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9. Pay special attention to the most difficult and restructure the information

For its part, the order of information can play an important role in recall. An interesting technique would be to restructure the information, starting with what is easiest for us to remember, spending a little more time on what is most difficult for us.

Break down the information and turn it into something easy to digest. Find what costs you the most and spend a little more time on it

10. Vary your study routine from time to time

Introducing a novel variant into the study routine breaks monotony and increases efficiency of the efforts made, helping to improve long-term information retrieval.

To do this, just change the place of study, try to find other different times to study, or introduce any other novelty that seems interesting to you. It is not necessary to make a radical change, just look for occasional alternatives.

Introducing something new makes the study more interesting and allows us to relax the mind with a small creativity exercise to improve memory.

11. Do daily mental exercises

Memory is a skill that we can develop and enhance with practice. Therefore, during your day to day life you can exercise it with small mental exercises or memory games.

For example, try to memorize the license plate of a vehicle and try to remember it a couple of hours later; memorize the phone number of your friends and family; or try to retain a poem and recite it verbatim. In the long run, these small actions can facilitate the retention of future learning.

Performing memory exercises on a daily basis increases our ability to memorize study topics.

Other keys to improve memory

To improve memory and optimize study, also It is vitally important to have an ideal, comfortable environment free of interruptions.. That is why below we show you some tips to prepare the appropriate space, as well as some habits that you should keep in mind:

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Identify a place where you can be alone and in silence. This way you won’t be interrupted by annoying noises. If you do not have this possibility, you can simulate isolation using headphones and background music or relaxing sounds. Lighting is another important aspect to take into account. Consequently, Make sure it is a lighted place. If possible, let sunlight come in so that it is warm and natural. It is also ideal to have ventilation. If it is within your means to get a place that has a window, much better. This way the environment will be much more oxygenated. Nevertheless, the climate of the room has to make you feel comfortable enough to forget about it and think only about carrying out your tasks. It has a large enough desk or table so you can place everything you need on the surface.Try to be seated well. If you don’t, you will have back and neck pain, which will affect the study process. Remember that A good diet will provide you with the nutrients you need to keep your attention focused. and to strengthen your memory.Likewise, perform physical activity frequently and stretch preferably after each hour of study It will help you maintain good posture and avoid discomfort resulting from sitting for a long time.Try to control stress and give yourself breaks in your study sessions. Your brain will appreciate it and it will be easier for you to consolidate the information because, as has been found in some studies, stress affects the ability to memorize and process new information.

To conclude, we want to highlight that the more disciplined we are with our healthy habits and the implementation of these strategies, the better our retention capacity will be. Do you dare to try it?