Have you seen the movie Limitless? If so, you might recall the protagonist who discovers a special pill that grants him the ability to access all his experiences and knowledge at will. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible in real life.
While we learn throughout our entire lives, we don’t remember everything we learn because we forget a lot of information. Why is this, and how can we improve our memory?
In this blog post, we will explore some simple tips to memorize faster and easier in 2023. With this tips and techniques, you can enhance your memory using a universal formula to retrieve information from your memory when you need it.
Also read: 7 Best Science-Backed Study Tips for Better Grades
Why Do We Forget What We Learn?
Your brain is like a hard drive with limited space. Similar to how Sherlock Holmes couldn’t name all the planets in the solar system, not because he skipped school, but because he was too smart to retain such unnecessary information.
Similarly, your brain protects you from overloading with information by deliberately erasing facts you don’t need. All new data is stored in the short-term memory, not the long-term one. If you don’t repeat or use the information, you’ll forget it quickly.
A German psychologist, Hermann Ebbinghaus, researched the memory and its mechanisms.
He introduced the forgetting curve, which shows that an hour after learning something new, we forget over half the learned information.
A day later, we remember only about 30%. This demonstrates the significance of understanding how to remember everything.
The Memorization Technique is a Spaced Repetition Forced Memorization which isn’t very effective in retaining information for an extended period.
Your brain needs to make sense of the information quickly and form strong associations to memorize it for an extended period. It all depends on why you’re learning something.
We also have article on: How Long Should You Study? The Optimal Time for Learning
9 Simple Tips to Memorize Faster and Easier
Now, let’s discuss some simple tips that will help you memorize things faster and easier.
- Try to comprehend what you’re learning
- Visualize information
- Associate information with something familiar
- Utilize acronyms
- Repeat information aloud
- Use mnemonic devices
- Practice retrival techniques
- Practice chunking techniques
- Learn to focus your brain
By following these above memorization tips and techniques, you can improve your memory and recall information when you need it.
So, let’s break them down and explain them one after other.
Try to comprehend what you’re learning
One effective way to comprehend what you’re learning is by asking questions. As you’re learning, try to ask yourself questions about the information you’re reading or hearing.
For example, if you’re learning about a historical event, ask yourself why it happened, who was involved, and what the consequences were.
By asking questions, you’ll be able to engage with the material on a deeper level and gain a better understanding of it.
Another way to understand what you learn is to relate it to something you already know. This technique is called “associative learning,” and it’s a powerful way to retain information.
For example, if you’re learning about a new scientific concept, try to relate it to something you already know. Maybe you can think of a similar concept in a different field, or perhaps you can think of a real-world example that illustrates the concept.
Visualize information
Visualizing information refers to creating mental images or visual representations of the information you are trying to remember.
This technique can be helpful for people who are visual learners and find it easier to remember information when they can see it in their minds.
For example, if you are trying to remember a list of items, you could try to create a mental image of each item and visualize them all together.
Associate information with something familiar
Associating information with something familiar is another mnemonic technique that can help you remember information more easily.
This involves linking new information to something that you already know or are familiar with.
For example, you could try to associate a new word with an object or person that you already know, or with a familiar phrase or saying.
Utilize acronyms
Utilizing acronyms involves creating a word or phrase from the first letters of the items or information you are trying to remember. This can be a helpful technique for remembering lists or sequences.
For example, to remember the order of the planets in our solar system, you could use the acronym “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos” (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).
Repeat information aloud
Repeating information aloud can also be an effective way to remember information. This technique involves saying the information out loud multiple times to help reinforce it in your memory.
If you are trying to memorize a phone number for example, you could repeat it aloud several times to help remember it.
Additionally, repeating information aloud can also help you to hear any mistakes or errors in the information, which can help you to correct them and remember the correct information more easily.
Use Mnemonics devices
Mnemonics are memory aids that use associations or patterns to help you remember information. One popular mnemonic is “ROY G. BIV” to remember the colors of the rainbow (which are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet).
Try creating your own mnemonics for the information you need to remember.
Practice the Chunking techniques
Chunking is a technique where you break up information into smaller, more manageable chunks.
For example, if you need to remember a long string of numbers like a phone number, try breaking it up into smaller groups of numbers, like 555-1234 instead of 5551234. This makes it easier for your brain to remember.
Practice the Retrieval techniques
Practicing retrieval means actively trying to recall information from memory. The retrieval has been shown to be highly effective in improving memory retention.
You can practice retrieval by testing yourself with flashcards, trying to recall information without looking at your notes, or even just asking yourself questions about the information you’re trying to remember.
Learn to Focus your brain
Finally, staying focused is key to effective memorization. Try to eliminate distractions while you’re studying or trying to memorize something.
Put away your phone, turn off the TV, and find a quiet place to study. The more focused you are, the more likely you are to remember the information you’re trying to learn.
How to Memorize Quickly?
When you need to learn information quickly, use it once, and forget most of it, such as typical exam preparation, repeat the information right after learning it.
The second repetition should be after 15 to 20 minutes. You don’t need to return to the information between repetitions. Just rest and do something different. Let your brain relax.
Repeat the material the third time after 6 to 8 hours, and have the final repetition 24 hours after the first contact with the information.
Try this method next time you need to memorize something quickly, and let us know how it worked in the comments section.
How to Memorize for a Long Time?
If you want to remember things for an extended period, you need to extend the memorization period. Here’s the memorization plan:
- Repeat the material right after learning, just like in the previous technique.
- Repeat the material after 20 to 30 minutes.
- The third repetition should be only after one day.
- The next one after two to three weeks.
- The final repetition is after two to three months. This way, you can learn something for an extended period because the brain believes that if you return to the information, it’s necessary, so it doesn’t erase it.
Final Thought
In conclusion, memory is a crucial part of learning and retaining information. By understanding how your brain works and using the right techniques, you can improve your ability to memorize and recall information. Try implementing these tips into your study routine and see how they work for you.
