Education Blog

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Ok, how many people have post-it notes on their computer? There are probably fair amounts of people who have at least one if not more around their computer or desks. Here’s another question: Do those post-it notes make their way into other parts of your life? Are they on the dashboard of your car or tucked inside a study notebook? Do you keep any signs by your door so you don’t forget things as you leave your home? Everyone has different memory issues, some more severe than others. The question of the whole matter of memory is this: Can you improve your memory so you can remember the important stuff?

The answer is yes! Barring any medical conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or some learning problems, the average person can improve their memory skills, no matter what their age is. First of all, let’s talk about the everyday habits in your life that could be affecting your memory. Getting enough sleep and rest is probably the number one contributor to forgetfulness. How can you expect to perform at work or school effectively if you stayed up until all hours of the night partying with friends at a bar or watched a late, late movie on TV? You cannot and will not perform to the best of your ability in any scenario without adequate rest.

Your diet and mental state also affect memory. If you eat a diet high in starches, sugars and saturated fats, you will likely feel sluggish and tired. However, if you introduce more fruits, vegetables and whole grains into your diet, you will start seeing a noticeable difference in your thought processes. Your mind will seem less “cloudy.” Mental state also plays a part in the memory game. If you are experiencing depression or anxiety, your memory becomes impaired in this instance too. Exercise has been known to help stave off those feelings of anxiety and depression, releasing mood-enhancing endorphins as well as circulating more oxygen into your brain, boosting memory power.

Another way to exercise your memory is to stimulate your brain. Try working on crossword puzzles or playing games like chess or cards. Keep those brain synapses firing. There are also different techniques that can assist you with your memorization skills. One such technique is called Mnemonics, which helps create links between certain pieces of information and your memory. It is a popular method that many teachers use on their students to help them remember important information. For example, you might recall your biology teacher or scout leader helping you discern the difference between a king snake and a coral snake. They used the rhyming phrase, “Red and yellow, kill a fellow,” so that you knew and remembered which of the two snakes (which look almost alike) are poisonous.

Rhyming, in fact, is one of the most popular forms of Mnemonics. Music associations are probably second when it comes to prompting your memory. Some students these days combine the rhyming and music in memorizing key facts for tests in school. Other Mnemonics, which might help you include imagery or creating a mental picture in your head. For instance, if you lost your keys, you would think back to the last time that you knew for sure you had them. Then visualizing in your mind, you re-trace your steps, which usually triggers your memory. Mnemonics also applies techniques like creating acronyms, sentences, word associations and categorizing data, all in the name of prodding your memory or helping retain information.

Because the brain is still a mystery to us, so are our memories. Why do we all remember some things but not others? Can you explain how that Ken guy remembered all those facts to win over a million dollars in the game show Jeopardy? Everyone has different “triggers” which helps your brain remember things. Some people will learn and remember by doing something repetitively. Perhaps there is a mathematical formula that seems to escape you. By practicing problems using that formula over and over again, don’t you think that eventually you will retain that formula information?

If you get tired of little post-it notes cluttering up your life, you need to do something about it! It is up to you to experiment and try different methods in order to find something that works for you. And if you do find something that works, be sure to share your secret. Now, where did those post-it note pads go?

---

• Gadgetry Takes a Hit as Nervous Consumers Plan for Lean Holidays (New York Times)
  
  Demand for electronics is falling sharply portending extra discounts for customers in coming months but a very unhappy holiday season for retailers.
  


• Internet Searches Good for Aging Brains, Study Says (NewsFactor via Yahoo! News)
  
  According to a new study from the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior at UCLA, using the Internet and other types of communication technology can boost aging brains.
  


• Surfing the Web Stimulates Older Brains (MedicineNet.com)
  
  Title: Surfing the Web Stimulates Older Brains Category: Health News Created: 10/15/2008 Last Editorial Review: 10/15/2008