By Kathy Barnikel

Introductory comments by Royane Real

Most of us could benefit from learning a few tips on how to improve our memory.  In the following article the author Kathy Barnikel gives you some techniques that will help you remember better.    

These tips are particularly useful if you are studying for an exam.  She provides an example of how you can review your material a few times so that the repetition will make the memory stronger.  

Another way to improve your memory is to to tell somebody else a quick summary of what you are studying.  In your own words, give your study buddy or a friend a brief five minute summary of the topic you are learning about.  Find a few ways to tell them why this topic is interesting and important.  The very fact that you have talked about the topic is a way to signal your brain to remember the information later.

While you are giving your five minute summary of the topic you are studying, let yourself really feel some excitement.  Strong, positive emotions help to cement your memories in place, and will improve your ability to recall the information later.

( The above introductory comments were written by Royane Real.  You can learn more ways to improve your learning and your memory in her book  “How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better and Be More Creative”  It’s available at http://www.lulu.com/real )

Feature article:

How To Improve Your Memory In 5 Steps With Memory Techniques

By Kathy Barnikel

People assume that memory deteriorates as you grow older, but this is not necessarily true for everyone.  It depends on how you exercise and use your memory during your lifetime. Although there are some people who have a hard time remembering facts and figures, appointments, peoples names, sequences etc., this need not be the case for you.

What is important to know is that memory can be improved.  Although everyone can benefit from memory techniques, the younger you are when you start the better your memory will be as you get older. To give you an idea of how you can actually improve your memory, here are some good steps to follow:

1. If this is your first encounter with the data, concentrate. Attempt to take in all the facts and figures as much as you can. Digest the information. Try not to process the information too superficially, pay attention.  If you do not take in the information in the first place, how are you expected to remember it?

2. Association is a very powerful memory technique. Associate the information with something you know and already remember. It does not have to be related to what you are trying to remember.  Connect the data to anything you can identify with easily and have an emotional connection to.

Your main goal here is to easily recall the data every time you are reminded of that something. You are just trying to create a hook that you can use to later fish out the data you want to recall.

3. Test yourself.  After reviewing the data and associating each individual item to something, start recalling them one by one in the right order in your mind. Repeat this until you get everything correct.

4. Take a short break and then go back to your data and try to recall all of it once more, and check how well you can recall the key facts. If you are successful, repeat this step three times over the course of the day. If you can now recall the data accurately then this means the data is now transferred to your long term memory and has a better chance of staying there and being available for recall.

5. Review the data the following day. Go over the memory technique steps again until you can recite the data on your own. If you fail to recall all the data given to you after the five-minute lull time, go back to step one. Repeat the steps until you can accurately remember every single piece of data fed to you.

After several tries, you will notice that it is getting easier and easier to follow the steps with new data, and that you can recall things with less effort. You'll be amazed at how you can become a memory genius in no time.

Review the data again after one week, and then after one month.  If you can still recall it, then the chances are that you will always remember it.

These are really easy memory techniques to learn and follow that will stimulate your mind and improve your memory. It is okay to fail a few times; this is part of the learning process. Just regularly apply this simple guide whenever you want to memorize something.

<br><br>Kathy is a psychologist and writes articles and courses for Accelerated Learning, Personal Development, and Self Help Issues. Learn more about Memory Techniques at <a href="http://www.accelerated-learning-principles.com/memory_techniques.html">Memory Techniques</a> <br>

( Note from Royane - this link above and the one below don't seem to work anymore. )

Article Source: http://www.articleselections.com  

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