As a student, having a retentive memory is tied to your success in your field of studies. But having to deal with several topics daily, forgetfulness may set in at a point in time. The situation becomes more worrying during an examination. So how do you improve your memory as a student? This article seeks to take you through some tried and tested activities to help you remember what you learn.
- Exercise
Exercising has been proven to improve cognition and memory. According to a research, a 20 minutes exercise before an exam can better your performance. With walking being a type of exercise, you can decide to take a walk to school during exams.
- Read loudly when learning
Aside from Mathematics and subjects that involve calculations, reading loudly when studying can improve your memory. This may sound weird, but it really works, so give it a try. However, you can only do loud reading when studying alone, and not in a crowded area like the library.
- Have a rest/break
A tired and stressed mind cannot absorb any relevant information. Therefore, studying for very long hours without taking a break down your absorption ability. When you notice exhaustion, while learning, take a break, have a walk or nap to refresh your brain. You can have a 15 minutes break after 2 hours of learning.
- Play games
One of the fun ways to improve your memory is by playing games. Games like puzzles, chess, and Sudoku, among others develops your brain, make you smart, and improves your memory. Whenever you have free time, engage in some educative games and you wouldn’t regret doing that.
- Practices make perfect
One of the best ways of remembering what you’ve learned is by teaching others. Teaching others is a fine opportunity to test your understanding of the topic matter. It makes you go back to relearn or gain confidence that you are on top of the subject. In case you have no one to teach, stand in front of a mirror and give a presentation.
- Have adequate sleep
Sleep deprivation is one of the most visible causes of forgetfulness. After a long and tiring day, you need to have a good sleep, at least 6 hours as an adult. Having enough sleep resuscitates the brain and keeps it fresh for the next day. Failure to do so stresses your brain and makes absorption and retrieval of information difficult. On the other hand, a fresh brain easily retrieves whatever it stores.
- Practice makes perfect
There are people who naturally easily forget. They learn today, and the next day, whatever they learned is gone. If you are such a person, the best remedy is to practice until it sticks. If you need to go over a topic for 10 tens before grabbing it, just do it.
- Find new ways to learn
As a student, you must try different ways of learning to find one that suits you. Some prefer studying in a quiet and serene environment, while others prefer listening to music. Some students also like using video tutorials for learning, including watching YouTube videos or TED Talks on a subject. It is therefore better to identify a learning method that makes memorizing easier for you.
- Group studies
Having a group study creates a perfect image you can reflect on when having difficulty in memorizing. So, in case you forget about an answer during exams, you can recollect what a colleague said about it during a study discussion. This kind of memory is vivid and one of the best you can have.
- Meditation
Meditation is one of the surest ways to stay focused and relax the brain. It eases stress, depression, and improves creativity. As such, it can help students to concentrate while learning to improve retention. If you are new to meditation, you can learn more about it online.
