We like to think each and every significant experience we’ve had in our lives, is kept. Our most sacred and treasured memories, are all stored somewhere in the dark recesses of our minds for future retrieval. Something similar to how a hard drive is able to store data.
Once an event in our life is registered in our brains, we think this memory is catalogued accurately for safe-keeping.
This so we can easily access it anytime in the future with quick efficient recall, while every detail of that incident or event remains completely intact.
What we actually do every time we attempt to recall a past memory from our brains, is reconstruct the entire event.
We do so by reassembling the various remnants of the event, which are scattered throughout the brain, and not in one particular location.
Scientists have indicated we’ll also suppress certain memories, which were particularly damaging or painful to us or our self-esteem.
The Remembering Protocol
The end result we can conclude, is our memory is somewhat unreliable, especially as we grow older.
Our memory is also adaptive, as it reshapes itself to accommodate for new circumstances which we may find ourselves in.
Regardless, what we need is to face the fact our brains are flexible, but not always accurate.
What’s know is most individuals can recall just the good times they’ve had.
There are some however, who are constantly haunted by memories which were painful to them, depressing them every time they’re revisited.
For most, what the brain does is it gives out signals of an incomplete and inconsistent past, resulting in a sketchy memory. Fortunately, there are ways for recall.
Structuring All Of The Information
Say you need to memorize which ingredients and measurements you need to prepare a meal, for an upcoming birthday party.
The best way to remember everything, is to organize all of the meals and dishes under different subheadings.
These can be: appetizer or soup, the main course, and desert. Visualize how many ingredients are needed for each dish in the subheading.
If you need to remember an important phone number, think of the entire 10 digit number by breaking it up by its first 4 digits, then the next 3 digits, then the final 3 digits.
Completely Understand The Information
When it comes to remembering something complex, try to understand the material before you attempt to remember it.
If at all possible, summarize this new information by writing it down in your own words.
Then reorganize all the material you’ve written so it’s easier to remember.
Once you manipulate the information this way, you’re then forcing yourself to think and recall it actively at will.
Involve All Of Your Senses
Say you’re listening to someone giving a lecture, or learning something new from an online course.
You’ll recall more if you write down the most important points, or take notes on your laptop.
If you happen to be reading an article or a letter, you’ll have better recall if you read it out loud.
Pay Attention To Detail As Much As You Can
What’s obvious is you can’t absorb or remember information, if you’re not paying strict attention to it.
You can’t memorize information unless you’re actively taking it in, or if you don’t have an interest in it.
Find ways to stay as sharp as possible during these times, by getting adequate sleep and eating properly.
If at all possible, avoid all background distractions such as your TV or computer.
Develop A Healthier Lifestyle
Eating a healthy balanced diet while getting regular exercise, can be beneficial when it comes to memory recall.
What adopting a healthy lifestyle does, is it increases the amount and quality of blood and oxygen which is delivered to the brain.
What a proper diet does is it reduces certain medical conditions which contributes to memory loss, such as: Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and possibly stroke.
Exercising on a regular basis releases the pleasure chemicals, which improves mood while preventing depression.
Relating New Information To What You Already Know
New information is a lot easier to remember, once you can associate it to something you previously know and understand.
If you’re introduced to new information, you can attribute the new material to some other related information you’re already familiar with.
What you might even notice, is the new information is similar in content as well.
The Use Of Mnemonics
What this process involves is relating new information to visual images, acronyms, sentences, words, or rhymes.
For instance, you might remember your hairdresser’s name is Roseanne by picturing a Rose.
You might remember the order of certain colours of the rainbow by constructing a sentence.
You might recall certain medical symptoms, by using acronyms, for instance ‘AEIOU’: ache, eczema, itching, oedema, ulceration.
Exercising The Brain
Presenting mental challenges such as puzzles, will help the brain create new neuro connections.
Doing so makes it more effective as well as becoming more resistant to memory disorders.
To keep your mind as sharp as possible, adopt a new hobby, read an interesting novel, learn a new language, or do crossword puzzles.
Rehearse The Information
Always review any new information you’ve learned, and recall it later in the day or the next morning.
Continue to review it at regular intervals, until you’re completely comfortable you understand the material you’ve learned.
Being “Smarter” Is All About Better Memory
We all remember the “A” student when we went to school. Were they really that much smarter than the rest of us.
Were those scholars just brilliant, or were they just more efficient when it came to memory recall and retention.
Did these book smart people really have a higher IQ, or were their concentration levels just more efficient and organized better than everyone else.
Most likely, it just came down to a better short-term memory recall method, than being that much more smarter than you or I.