How to Improve Memory to Study; At some point in our lives, we have all wanted to improve our memory, whether to get good grades in our studies, or to take our professional career further, or simply to remember everything we have to do at all times. for the whole day.
For students, being able to optimize their study time and make the most of it is essential. In addition, a trained memory will be very useful in their professional life, especially in these times when it is necessary to constantly recycle.
Understanding that improving memory is about improving the information seeking process and increasing your retention whether you seek to sharpen your mind, increase your mental performance, or preserve your memory as you age, these tips can help.
A strong memory depends on the health and vitality of your brain. If you are a student studying for final exams, a working professional interested in doing everything possible to stay mentally sharp, or an elderly person looking to preserve and improve your gray matter as you age, there are many things you can do to improve. your memory and your mental performance.
The human brain has an amazing capacity for adaptation and change, even in old age. This ability is known as neuroplasticity. With proper stimulation, the brain can form new neural pathways, alter existing connections, and adapt and react in ever-changing ways.
The brain’s incredible ability to reform itself holds true when it comes to learning and memory. You can harness the natural power of neuroplasticity to increase your cognitive abilities, improve your ability to learn new information, and improve your memory at any age.
Tip 1: Put Your Brain To Work
By the time you reach adulthood, your brain will have developed millions of neural pathways that help you quickly process and remember information, solve family problems, and perform common tasks with minimal mental effort. But if you always stick to these well-trodden paths, you’re not giving your brain the boost it needs to keep growing and developing. You have to put pressure on your brain from time to time!
Memory, like muscle strength, requires you to “use it or lose it.” The more you work your brain, the better you can process and remember information.
Four key elements of good brain stimulation activity
It teaches you something new. No matter how intellectually demanding the activity is, if it’s something you’re already good at, it’s not a good brain workout. The activity has to be something that is unfamiliar and outside of your comfort zone. To strengthen the brain and improve memory for studying, you need to keep learning and developing new skills. For example, challenge yourself to learn Mandarin Chinese.
It is a challenge. The best activities to strengthen the brain demand your full and close attention. It is not enough that the activity seemed challenging to you at one point. It should still be something that requires mental effort. For example, learning to play a challenging new piece of music counts, but playing a difficult piece that you’ve already memorized in the past doesn’t.
It is a skill that you can develop. Look for activities that allow you to start at an easy level and work your way up as your skills improve – always pushing the limits to continue stretching your capabilities. When you start to get comfortable at a previously difficult level, it means it’s time to tackle the next level of performance.
It is rewarding. Rewards support the brain’s learning process. The more interested and engaged you are in the activity, the more likely it is that you will continue to do it and the greater the benefits you will experience. So choose activities that, while challenging, are still enjoyable and satisfying.
Think of something new you’ve always wanted to try, like learning to play the saxophone. Why not? Make pottery, juggle, play chess, speak French, dance the tango, or master your golf swing. Any of these activities can help you improve your memory for studying and keep it at full capacity over the years, as long as they keep you challenged and engaged.
Tip 2: Don’t skip physical exercise
Although mental exercise is important for brain health, that doesn’t mean you never have to sweat. Physical exercise helps your brain stay alert. It increases the oxygen reaching the brain and reduces the risk of suffering from disorders that cause memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Exercise also enhances the effects of helpful brain chemicals and reduces stress hormones. Perhaps most importantly, exercise plays an important role in neuroplasticity by enhancing growth factors and stimulating new neural connections.
Exercise tips to stimulate the brain
Aerobic exercise is particularly good for the brain, so choose activities that keep your blood pumping. In general, everything that is good for the heart is good for the brain.
Exercising in the morning before starting the day makes a big difference and prepares you for learning throughout the day.
Physical activities that require hand-eye coordination or complex motor skills are particularly beneficial for brain development.
Exercise breaks can help you overcome mental fatigue and afternoon slumps. Even a short walk or a few jumps can be enough to reset the brain.
Tip 3: Get an optimal rest
There is a big difference between the amount of sleep you can get and the amount you need to function at your best during your study hours. The truth is that more than 95% of adults need 7.5 to 9 hours of sleep each night to avoid sleep deprivation.
Research shows that sleep is necessary for memory consolidation, and that key memory-enhancing activity occurs during the deepest stages of sleep.
Follow a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning. Try not to break your routine, even on weekends and holidays.
Avoid all screens for at least an hour before bed. Blue light emitted by televisions, tablets, phones, and computers triggers wakefulness and suppresses hormones like melatonin that make you sleepy.
Cut down on caffeine. Caffeine affects people differently and usually makes us anxious. Some people are very sensitive, and even coffee in the morning can interfere with sleep at night. Try reducing your intake or eliminating it entirely if you suspect it is keeping you awake.
