5 strategies to improve attention and memory

Improving attention and memory is a goal for many people. Either because they have difficulties studying, because they want to increase their abilities in this sense or because they notice that over the years these faculties seem to diminish.

The truth is that our performance Intellectual capacity increases when we manage to improve attention and memory. Neither one nor the other is equivalent to greater intelligence, but they do contribute decisively to making the most of it. In particular, learning ability largely depends on attention.

In reality, improving attention and memory is above all the result of habits adequate, in addition to perseverance and discipline. It can be achieved at any age, although, obviously, at older ages it requires more dedication. There are some simple strategies to achieve this. These are five of them.

1. Avoid distractions and monotony

It is almost obvious that to improve attention and memory it is essential to avoid distractions. However, it is never enough to remember it. What needs to be avoided, in particular, are noises and interruptions. Both factors have a very negative impact. in attention. And without attention, the ability to generate memories is diminished.

Avoiding monotony is not so obvious, but it is no less true. Today we know that the human brain has precise time limits in maintaining attention. In tasks that require great concentration, the ideal is to take a break every 30 minutes and introduce changes to the task or environment every two hours.

2. Review and emphasize, a way to improve attention and memory

Sometimes, one of the great difficulties in improving attention and memory lies in wanting to do everything too quickly. We finish a reading simply when the chapter or book ends. This is not enough.

Especially, in the case of reading, it is very important that we underline what we identify as most important or worthy of being a memory. At once, At the end it is necessary to review those points that we have highlighted. In this way, the text is used much more. Something analogous should be done with other activities.

3. Don’t multitask

Doing many things at the same time is one of the habits that has been implemented today and that, in turn, has more negative effects.. There are many people who are doing a job and at the same time have the television on, headphones on, while simultaneously keeping an eye on their cell phone.

The only thing this achieves is not paying full attention to any of the activities being carried out and, at the same time, feeding anxiety or the feeling of helplessness due to not being able to cover everything we intend to do. Those are the worst circumstances to memorize.

So, in a nutshell, Working in multitasking mode causes our ability to maintain attention to decrease much sooner, at the same time it impairs our ability to create reliable and accurate memories.

4. Create appropriate atmospheres

The environment is a decisive aspect when carrying out a task that requires concentration. If this is the case, there is nothing better than working in a space that favors attentional control. A well-lit environment, with few distractions and a low noise level.

Thus, a pleasant atmosphere predisposes the brain to perform better activity.. This atmosphere is not only physical, it is also emotional. In this way, a low intensity emotional tone will precisely favor attentional control and the formation of memories. It is paradoxical, but an emotion with such a bad press as sadness is sometimes an ingredient that precisely enhances concentration.

5. Create external reminder strategies

Attention and memory are closely related. When a high level of attention is achieved, memory processes are almost automatically activated.. However, there are times when this does not happen, either because the level of attention is not high enough or because the content to be memorized is more complex than usual.

Especially in such cases, it becomes necessary to employ external strategies to facilitate the encoding or retrieval of memories. The strategies are multiple: making mnemonic cards, recording and listening to a text or using concept mapsamong other.

As we noted from the beginning, improving attention and memory is a matter that has to do above all with the constant and adequate exercise of these faculties. In other words: with good habits. It involves the introduction of effective methods in intellectual activities, so that the results are seen almost immediately.

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