Memory Improvement Tips: Making the Most of Your Brain!

The human brain is powered by billions of neurons and is one of the most remarkable instruments in nature. It processes thousands of automated tasks every second, just to keep the body functioning. In spite of all this processing power, the actual conscious mind seems to be a terribly limited thing. It is strange how a person can easily forget very basic facts that they promised themselves to remember, or fail to recall a detail or object he or she reviewed just a few minutes ago.

The most important of memory improvement tips is that memory is broken into sections, which include long-term and short-term memory. Short-term memory deals with day-to-day details that might not be important tomorrow. Long-term memories have been retained as essential, but does not tend to form instantaneously. While the brain holds more information in permanent storage than can be found in any library, conditions must be met for commitment. Otherwise, people’s minds would become confusing.

Short-term memory is limited to less than ten items, in general. These are things that are important in the short run, but have not yet been committed. Humans frequently run through many things that only need instantaneous attention, and then are easily forgotten. Think of it as a shortcut in human programming that saves on resources and processing time. It is, however, very frustrating for a student cramming for a big exam, who needs memory improvement tips.

Something that is repeated or absorbed and is regarded as “important” may be committed to mid-term memory. This goes past short term memory and stores information for the next day or so. This is why cramming is effective, where a few hours of work can allow a person to pass a test, but the knowledge is not permanently retained. For something to be committed to long-term memory, it must be reinforced a number of times, and one of the best memory improvement tips is for a student to give him or herself the chance to absorb it all.

This raises a couple of important points:

Repetition is essential to remembering. This involves cramming, but also for things that are remembered for life. If a fact is stated several times over, at different times, and it strikes the person as important, then it is likely to be committed. Something repeated times aplenty over a short period of time, such as cramming, might make its way to mid-term memory, but might be largely forgotten until given a reminder.

For true, long-term memory, the real memory improvement tip is commitment of time.  The brain can only absorb so much. It is a chemical engine and it runs out of juice from time to time. Study for 30 minutes then give yourself a break before resuming study. Also, spend lots of time studying.  A leisurely pace can allow a student to truly contemplate what is being said. A person who rushes will retain some information, but possibly not enough.  Haste makes waste. Of course, someone who truly values the topic of study will likely do these things automatically.