Improving your memory can help improve the quality of your work and home life. Forgetting when bills are due or to take something out for dinner can cost you and your family financially. Not remembering an important business meeting or presentation can cost you your job. Taking the time to improve your memory can help you avoid uncomfortable situations that come from forgetting important events.
Remove Distractions
Remove all distractions when you are trying to memorize important information. Selfgrowth.com suggests focusing your attention on the information you are attempting to memorize while blocking out any distractions. Your brain needs eight seconds of uninterrupted focus to begin to memorize information.
Organize Information
When taking notes, go back and reorganize your notes in a logical order. Memorizing the facts in a logical order will help you recall them when needed according to the Self Growth website. When you reorganize facts, include pictures and categories to sort the information and to give yourself a visual reference when trying to recall information.
Repetition
Using music to help you memorize materials works similarly to the way a commercial jingle becomes stuck in your head. Try to find a music rhythm that you can easily remember and then add words to the music. Sing your new memory song on a regular basis. This will help you recall that information quickly.
Mnemonic Devices
Mnemonics use rhymes such as “30 days hath September,” or use colors or images to correlate information. These tools are only limited by your imagination. There is no correct way to make up a mnemonic device since the correlation you make will be based on how you correlate things and what types of things that you can easily remember. Acronyms, jokes or even making up sentences with words you are trying to remember are all considered mnemonic devices.
Health Habits
Regular exercise, keeping stress under control, getting adequate sleep and not smoking can all help improve your memory according to the Help Guide website. Exercise increases oxygen to your brain and can reduce risks for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, both of which can create memory problems. While stress can interfere with your sleep and sleep is necessary for memory consolidation.
Nutrition
Regular intake of certain nutrients may improve your memorization skills as well. Increase your intake of B6, B12 and folic acid to protect your brain from amino acids that can be toxic to nerve cells. Vitamins C and E and beta carotene are thought to neutralize free radicals and improve oxygen flow throughout the body including the brain; while Omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with cognitive function according to the Help Guide website. Consult your health care provider before adding any of these supplements to your diet.
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