The SuperMemory series of post are oriented toward improve the memorization techniques and the memory in general.In this post I will tell you 5 simple tricks that can boost your memory performance!
I always wanted to be like those super-memory people appearing on TV shows, or like Rain Man, the famous autistic character played by Dustin Hoffman.
Sleep Well
This has been previously covered in a earlier post. Good sleep is crucial for a good memory, and research shows sleep has a great impact over memory and brain performance in general.Coffee and Sugar... not so bad
Some research studies have shown that one cup of coffee with sugar enhances both memory and attention span (there is a correlation with memory and attention). The experiment was carried out at the University of Barcelona, Spain with 40 volunteers, and the results published in the journal of Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental.People taking coffee with no sugar didn't performed as good as the sugar-coffee ones. So using sweeteners like saccharine might not be as beneficial for the memory.
In fact, nutrition is an important aspect of memory and learning in general. I will write some tips on food in the future, since it seems more important than people often believes.
Remember what you have just learned
Several studies have confirmed that trying to remember what you have just studied or memorized is much more effective than repetitions in a single session. A good way to retrieve what you have just study is to test yourself and see what you can remember.Focus and Understand
Attention span has a big impact on the memorization process. And so is understanding, because it helps the brain to "chain" the new items to previous learning ones (more on this in future posts). In fact some studies shown that many "memory problems" are, in fact, focus problems. The brain simply can't remember what it has not been aware of.Do some Exercise
Even a short and intense physical activity can improve your memory. But if you don't like intense exercises, just a walk can be better than nothing. A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has shown that walking two hours a week (1 hour each session) improved the memory of many patients.Tips
My takeaways for this first little research on memory is:
- Sleep well (read the Sleep Well post for more info)
- Wake up and have my daily coffee with sugar (Hmm)
- Try to focus and understand what I'm studying
- Do some exercise
- Try to recall what I've just studied
- Play N-Back to see if my working memory improve (read below!)
There are other funny ways to improve memory. One of them is playing memory games like N-Back. Not all games has been proved to be effective, though.
References
- Spoonful of Brain Power [Daily Mail]
- How to Improve Long Term Memory [The Guardian]
- Regular Exercise changes the Brain to improve Memory [Harvard Medical School]
- Memory Loss often a Focus Problem [abc News]
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