As students, we all have had a time when we have struggled to remember something we learnt. When students fail to remember the concepts from chapters that were taught recently, parents often feel that their children are not attentive and are neglecting their studies. However, that might not always be the case. A weak memory power often stands in between students and their success. Although we do not have any control over the memory power that we are born with, there are steps that we can take to strengthen it.
A good memory power is the best gift that a student can have. It makes it easier for them to recall critical concepts and answer the questions correctly in the examinations. Not only does this increase the chances of success in academics but also assists them in building a strong career. On the other hand students with poor memory are required to work harder to score good marks as their brain does not retain the knowledge. This blog is especially for students who are struggling with poor memory power. Here we have curated 12 memory retention tips that will not only help students succeed in academics but also enjoy a stress-free life.
Are you a student who struggles to remember your study lessons?
Then keep reading this blog
How can students improve their memory power?
Your memories are much more important than you think, they shape our present and future personality and behaviour. Usually as we grow older our memory power starts to grow weaker. However, differences in memory power are common amongst people of the same age cohort. We try to follow certain tips and practices to enhance memory for as long as possible. The good news is, irrespective of the capacity of your memory you were born with, there are ways to strengthen it. As a student you can improve your memory by adopting various strategies such as regular study sessions, staying organized, and taking the help of mnemonic devices. There are also some other popularly used strategies that you can consider including maintaining an organized study environment, exercising regularly, eating healthy diets comprising brain foods, and more. All these practices can make it easier for you to remember your learnings by enhancing your memory retention power. There are many more tips than the ones we mentioned that you can follow. In the next segment, we are going to mention 12 tips to improve student memory.
Here are 12 ways to improve memory power for students
Let us look at the top 12 memory enhancement techniques that you as a student can adapt to maintain a strong memory power and reach the pinnacles of life.
1.You should Indulge in Physical Activities Daily
Raising blood flow to the whole body, especially the brain, helps in sharpening your memory. Doctors recommend most adults go for regular walks, weekly exercises, or aerobic activities like jogging to keep the body fit and sharpen your memory. Not only does these activities improve the blood flow to the brain but it also stimulates the growth of new brain cells. If you are a student then you must make it a point to walk for at least 10 minutes a day to nurture your memory power.
2. Regular Study Sessions
As a student, you must study regularly and consistently over time. You can adapt spaced repetition, this method helps to reinforce learning by requiring you to study in shorter and consistent intervals. Regular study sessions help you retain the information for a long span. You can create a study timetable that breaks down the subjects and topics into manageable potions. Regular review sessions should be spaced out over days or weeks to help consolidate the learning.
You can use rhyming phrases or songs to make the information more memorable. For example, you can use a popular song to memorize a list. You can also create vivid mental images that are associated with the information that can make it easier for you to recall.
4. Active Learning
Another way to strengthen memory is to engage in active learning. Discussions and teaching others is the best way of participating in active learning . The more you do these activities the more you get the opportunity to apply the knowledge you have learnt and it deepens the understanding and the memory power. Also, you can use knowledge in a practical scenario or solve problems related to the topic to reinforce your learning. You could do this through projects, experiments, or real-world applications.
5. Healthy Diets
Food has a very important role to play in influencing our brain’s health and helps keep our memory strong. So, as a student, you need to be very careful about what you are eating. For example, a good choice would be to consume foods rich in antioxidants like berries and dark chocolates. Foods like salmon and walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids that support brain health. Most importantly, you should include vitamin-rich foods like leafy greens and eggs in your daily meals. You should consider eating a diet that is rich in a variety of nutrients to support overall health and cognitive function. It is better to avoid excessive sugar and processed foods which can weaken your memory and concentration.
Related Blog: https://collegemarker.com/blogs/the-best-brain-foods-for-students-for-a-sharper-mind/
6. Adequate Sleep
To balance between adequate study time and screen time you might neglect your sleep hours. However, sleep is highly important as while we are asleep the brain processes and consolidates the information from the day, transferring it from short-term to long-term memory. Here are a few things that you can do to maintain sleep hygiene.
- Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
- Create a restful environment
- Avoid caffeine or screen time before going to sleep to improve sleep quality
7. Mindfulness and Meditation
Another good technique to improve memory for students is through mindfulness and meditation. Stress and anxiety can impair memory and cognitive functions. Meditation is an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety. These practices help improve concentration and attention thus making it easier to encode and retrieve information. Here are some practices for you to adapt to meditate effectively
- Choosing a quiet space for medication
- Setting a fixed time
- Focus on your breath
- Acknowledging your thoughts without judgment while you are meditating
- Practicing medication regularly
8. Stay Organized
Did you know staying organized can help sharpen memory? We will explain how. A tidy study space minimizes distractions and cognitive overload which helps you to focus better. You can use several tools to help you in the organization process. Planners, to-do lists or digital apps to keep track of assignments, deadlines, and study schedules. You can organize tasks to prevent last-minute cramming and improve memory retention.
9. Stay Hydrated
You need to stay hydrated to stay mentally and physically fit. Even a little dehydration can impair cognitive functions like memory and concentration. Therefore you must ensure regular intake of water throughout the day. Given your busy schedule, you may often forget to drink water at regular intervals. You can adapt the following practices to help stay hydrated throughout the day.
- Consider carrying a water bottle
- Set reminders to drink water, especially during study sessions
- Maintain a water tracker
10. Mental Exercises
Mental exercises are a great thing when it comes to memory enhancement techniques. To improve your cognitive functions and stimulate the brain you can engage in activities like puzzles, crosswords, Sudoku, or chess . Moreover, challenging your brain with new skills like learning foreign languages, playing musical instruments, or acquiring new skills can improve your memory by enhancing neutral connections.
11. Healthy Social Interactions:
Social engagement stimulates certain regions of the brain that are involved in emotional regulation and memory. Engaging in meaningful conversations and interactions can boost cognitive function. You can even consider joining study groups to discuss and review materials. Often when you are explaining critical concepts to peers and hearing their perspectives it can deepen your understanding of the topics and help in memory retention.
12. Limit Multitasking
Given our fast-paced lives, we often indulge in multitasking to save time. However, we seldom realize that we are hurting ourselves by doing so. Multitasking can divide your attention and reduce the efficiency of the cognitive processes. We suggest you should concentrate on one task at a time to process and store information more effectively. For help, you can use the Pomodoro technique which requires you to work for 25 minutes, take a short break and then resume the work. By implementing this technique you will stay focused and be more productive.
Personal Tips to Increase Students’ Memory Power
In the previous segment, we have suggested 12 tips that will help increase memory capacity in students. These tips are very easy to incorporate into your lives. Following them consistently will help you retain the lessons taught in class. In this segment, we are bringing 5 personal tips for students like you to follow and boost your memory.
Creating a regular study routine that includes specific time slots for reviewing the lessons is a must. Consistency helps reinforce learning and builds a habit in your. You can consider breaking your study sessions into smaller manageable goals. For instance, you can master a particular chapter or concept in each session.
You can create mind maps to visually organize the information that you gathered. Mind mapping helps in connecting concepts and improving your ability to recall information through visual memory. To make things easier, you can also use mind-mapping tools.
Join or form study groups where you can discuss and review material with peers. Collaborative learning can improve different perspectives and reinforce memory. You can engage in meaningful conversations and social activities. Social interactions stimulate cognitive functions and can improve memory.
Daily Journaling has several health benefits. Not only does this practice help you to heal faster physically but it also improves your long-term memory. Journaling trains your mind to reflect on your memories from time to time. As a student, writing down the prominent events will prevent you from forgetting anything crucial.
Our brains are developed in a way to remember visual information more than auditory information. So, if you want to remember things long-term then it is best if you can incorporate visualization in your study process. Leveraging visualization is an important key to retaining your learnings.
Things to Avoid to Improve Memory Power
If you have read the blog till here then you must have an idea about the important tips and practices that you can adopt to increase memory capacity. As much as these tips are important there are certain activities which you should refrain from. These activities are harmful to your memory and can end up hurting your information retention ability. Here are certain things which you must avoid to improve memory power
Prolonged stress can damage brain cells and impair memory. Cortisol, the stress hormone, is harmful to the hippocampus which is a crucial area for memory formation. You can practice stress management techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. Most importantly, following a balanced lifestyle with regular breaks and leisure is a must for every student.
Indulging in Unhealthy Diet
If you indulge in diets that are rich in sugar, unhealthy fats, and processed foods then it might have a negative impact on your brain health and cognitive function. You should limit the intake of sugar and carbohydrates and opt for diets that are rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats to strengthen your memory.
Smoking negatively affects blood flow to the brain and is associated with cognitive decline and memory problems. You can consider avoiding smoking to strengthen your memory power. Sometimes, quitting is difficult, so if you feel that you need assistance in quitting smoking then you must consult with the respective authorities.
Negative Thinking can adversely impact your memory capacity. Pessimistic thoughts and self-doubts can create mental barriers which in turn make it tougher to focus and remember information. You can cultivate a positive mindset and practice self-encouragement. Engaging in activities that boost your confidence and mood can control your negative thoughts and help you enhance your memory.
Constant Exposure to Digital Screens
Being constantly engaged in cell phones and laptops before going to bed can negatively impact your sleep quality. It leads to eye strain which can cause memory and cognitive function impairment. You can actively reduce eye strain by using blue light filters, limiting before-sleep screen time, and taking regular breaks.
Conclusion
A few years after a child is born, the parents start worrying about their schooling and career. An important determinant of the student’s academic performance is their memory power. Each one of us is born with a different capacity of memory. Students with a sharp memory can expect a greater chance of success and study at ease as compared to their counterparts with comparatively weaker memory power. Often the latter have to put in greater effort and invest more time to score similar results. That said, fortunately, as a student you can follow certain tricks and tips to sharpen your memory power. In this blog, we have dished out 12 easily implementable ways that can improve memory for students. We do not just stop there, we go ahead further to point out some activities that you should refrain from to protect your memory power. We are hopeful that following these memory enhancement tips will help you retain knowledge and prepare for examinations easily.
