10 SECRETS TO MEMORIZE THINGS QUICKER THAN OTHERS
We learn things throughout our entire lives but we don’t know everything because we forget a lot of information.
Why does this happen? How can we remember things much better?
Your brain is like a hard drive, the space is limited. Your brain protects you from overloading with information, that’s why all new date is stored in the short term memory and not the long one. So if you don’t repeat it or use it, you forget it very quickly.
A German psychologist HERMAN EBBINGHAUS researched the memory and its mechanisms. He described the forgetting curve which shows just one hour after learning something new, we forget more than half of that information. One day later, we remember only about 30%
There is a memorization technique called spaced repetition. To keep an information in your head for a longer time, you need to try put it in your long term memory. False memorization is not very effective in this case because your brain can make sense of the information and form strong association quickly.
HOW TO MEMORIZE SOMETHING QUICKLY
The first situation is when you need to learn the information quickly, use it once and forget most of it. This looks like a typical exam preparation right?
To memorize something quickly, repeat the information right after learning it. The second repetition should be after 15-20 minutes. You don’t need to return to the information between repetitions. Just rest and do something different. Let your brain relax. Pick the information again to learn after 6-8 hours. And have your final repetition 24hours after your first contact with the information. Try this method next time you need to memorize something quickly and tell us how it worked.
HOW TO MEMORIZE SOMETHING FOR A LONG TIME
If you want to remember things for a long time, you need to extend the memorization period.
Here’s the memorization plan.
The first repetition should be just after learning the information. Repeat again after 20-30minutes. The third repetition should be only after one day. The next one after 2-3 weeks and the final after 2-3 months. This way, you can learn something for a very long time because the brain thinks that if you returned to the information, it means that it’s necessary so it doesn’t get erased.
HERE ARE THE 10 TIPS TO HELP YOU
- Try to understand what you learn: It is always way easier to memorize something you understand.
- Learn the most necessary information
- Serial Position effect: Sort out the key parts of your information so that the key parts are at the beginning and the end.
- Interference Theory: Switch your attention from one topic to another, from one activity to another. Rest every 15 to 20minutes. Switch to something you can do like playing the guitar. Another thing you should be careful with is learning similar information. Interference theory suggests that similar memories can mix and become a mess. That’s why if you know you are going to learn something, then at least remove your head from what you have already learned. Taking a long break before starting something new will work.
- Learn Opposite things: For example, if you are learning a new language, learn day and night together. This way, if you forget anyone, the opposite will help you remember.
- Build your own mind palace: The idea is to associate certain things with a certain place. For example, if you are in your room, try to connect the thing you are learning to something in your room. Repeat it a few times. After that, try to recall what the room looks like in your memory and repeat the things you learnt this way. Or divide all the materials you need to learn into a few parts, learn these different part in different positions or areas in your apartment. This way, the memorized information will be associated with some other memories.
- Make up Stories: If you need to memorize a long information in a particular order, try to put the pieces in a story so if it can all connect helping you always remember what is supposed to happen next in the story.
- Use a Tape Recorder: Does anybody use a tape recorder anymore? Record an information you are learning and listening to the recording a few times. First you read it and then you read it.
- Visualize: Use your body language when learning as this will help trigger your muscle memory.
- Choose only the best material
Wow!!!... Helpful and insightful. THANX for such a wonderful article..
Excellent. Thanks for sharing
Its amazing just how much a person can change by being aware of our surroundings.