Royane Real
Fun and Free Games to Improve your Memory
By: Liz Jones
Introductory comments by Royane Real
Author of : “How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better and Be More Creative”
Can you ever remember a time when you loved learning? If you have forgotten what it's like to be curious and interested in everything, I can guarantee that there was a time when learning was one of your biggest thrills.
When we’re young and going to school, our brains are like little sponges soaking up huge amounts of information, memorizing it and recalling it later for exams. It’s not unusual for young children to learn and remember thousands of new facts and formulas every year.
Once we stop being students, many of us stop giving our brains a big workout on a regular basis. It’s as if we put our brains on the back burner. Many of us only learn enough to get by in our jobs. As adults, many of us don’t make learning new information a priority. When we don’t use our brains very much, our brains begin to get rusty. Thinking and remembering become more difficult.
I’m making an analogy here, since our brains don’t really get rusted in the same way as neglected machinery. It is true however, that our brain performance will improve if we make the effort to keep learning new things, keep memorizing and keep thinking.
Once we leave school, most of us stop trying to memorize things unless we need to remember something for work. The power of using our memories is something that can be improved if we make the effort to exercise this aspect of our minds.
Whenever you learn something new, you are physically changing something in your brain. New connections get made in new areas. When you review what you have learned, those connections become stronger. Reviewing the material several times will strengthen your recall.
Want to improve your memory? Seek out ways to exercise your memory powers daily. For example, memorize a short speech or poem, and recite it out loud, whether or not you have an audience.
Why not try some of the memory improving exercises listed in this article to give your brain a good workout? You’ll get even more exercise for your brain and your creative side if you make up your own memory improving games and puzzles.
( This introduction which appears above is written by Royane Real who is the author of the book “How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better and Be More Creative” Download it today and learn more ways to get the maximum use of your brainpower. It’s available at http://www.lulu.com/real )
Feature article:
Fun and Free Games to Improve your Memory
By: Liz Jones
Do you have a good memory?
If I asked you what your bank account number was or your credit card number would you be able to recall them without looking ???
I have a memory like an elephant (so my husband says, but that's a different story) but the secret really is practice.
Take for instance the 16 digit card number across your cash card. The way to remember it with ease is to break it down into 4 lots of 4 digits. Learn the first 4 digits on day 1, then day 2 add the next 4, repeating the first 4 from the day before. Within 4 days you can remember the whole number.
So why is this so important? Well, in examinations you will rely on your memory skills very heavily, so it's paramount you improve and practise as much as possible.
Remember learning your times tables?? Repetition, almost parrot fashion, was the key to cementing the information into your brain cells. This is how our children are taught at school and we can help them as well as ourselves to improve our memories by playing games that practise the recall of information.
One way of remembering information is to make up a story that connects the items or facts. It’s also important to involve your emotions. Why do you think we can all remember what we were doing when Kennedy was assassinated, or Princess Diana was killed?
Because we felt an emotion when we heard the news and THAT is what the brain can remember. Anyway, back to the story making.
Game 1: Take 10 household objects and place them on a table or tray. The first person picks an item, eg an orange, and says "In the orchard, ripe, juicy oranges were falling from a tree.... the second person picks up the tale and another object eg a key, and carries on the story. "But the gate to the orchard was locked and John had brought the wrong key".... Person three picks up the tale with the next item, eg a mobile phone " So he called Sally on his mobile phone to see if she could help" and so on until all the objects have been involved in the story. At the end, all the group must recite the whole story without the items in the room.
Game 2: Bling Jigsaw is another fun and inexpensive way to give the memory a boost. Get a jigsaw puzzle and complete it first. (Not a 1000 piece one of course) Then take a good look at the picture and break it up. Without using the box you have to complete the jigsaw again this time from memory. Start with easy jigsaws and work your way up.
Game 3 "Pairs". You will just need a pack of normal cards for this one. Spread all the cards out face down on the floor or a table and take turns in turning over only 2 cards at once. If you get 2 of the same numbers you can pair them up and keep them. If not place back down where they were found. Take turns each until all the cards are paired up. The person with most "pairs" wins.
About the Author:
Liz Jones is a training consultant who works in the financial services industry. She lives in England and has 2 children. Her website is http://www.lazykidsway.com
Article source: http://www.articlerich.com
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