We
all lead such busy lives these days that sometimes our brains get “too full”
and we feel like we have no more room for any additional information. And it’s
not just adults who suffer! As my 8-year-old niece often says, “It fell out of
my ear,” meaning her head is too stuffed with facts to fit one more in there,
LOL. Having a full brain can certainly make retrieving a particular fact
difficult, but I recently read an article by a psychologist with tips that
might help us remember the important stuff:
Names:
-When
introduced to someone new, try to immediately repeat their name back to them, as
in “Nice to meet you, Joan” or “My mother’s name is Joan, too!” This helps
cement a name to a face.
-Imagine
their name written across their forehead. The name will make more of an
impression if the person is bald, has bangs, etc. The individualness of their
forehead will help trigger name recollection next time you see them.
Numbers:
-Always
break down long strings of numbers into groups of three. Our brains are somehow
wired to remember information in groups of three (“Life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness” or “I came, I saw, I conquered” etc.)
Strings
of data:
-One
of the oldest and best-known retrieval cues is still the most effective: the
mnemonic. Roy G. Biv helps us remember the colors of the spectrum (red, orange,
yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) and HOMES helps us remember the names of
the Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior). Whenever possible,
come up with a simple, catchy word or phrase that will help prompt you to
remember a string of data.
There
are also some general tips for improving memory:
-Don’t
skimp on sleep. Instead of staying up all night cramming for an exam or trying
to figure out the next plot twist for your novel, you’d be better off getting a
full night’s rest so you brain is fresh are ready-to-think the next day.
-You
are what you eat. Stay away from brain-sluggish food like saturated and trans
fats, and eat lots of fruits and vegetables, especially blueberries and
Brussels sprouts! (Okay, maybe not Brussels sprouts, but definitely walnuts…)
-Read
a print book. Studies done in Norway showed volunteers remembered more information
they read in a print book than the same information they read on a computer
screen (or tablet, or phone).
-Chew
it over. Psychologists from the University of Northumbria found that volunteers
who chewed gum retained more information after a 20-minute memory test than volunteers
who did not chew gum. Chewing gum increases heart rate, so maybe more oxygen gets
delivered to your brain while you chew, oxygen that can aid in memory!
-Have
a latte. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that volunteers were
able to recall more images if they drank the equivalent of one cup of strong
coffee immediately after studying a series of images.
All
this scientific stuff is fascinating, but remember, if all else fails, try
tying that string around your finger. It actually does work!
What
about you? Any tips or tricks that have helped you remember things? Let me know!
Leigh
