Memory Improvement Tips

1. Organize
   List facts in alphabetical or chronological order. Get a general idea of the textbook material, note the simple to complex and general to specific. Logical facts are easier to remember.
    
2. Make It Meaningful
   Look for connections in what you are studying. For example, packing a parachute by itself can be boring, however, the excitement of jumping out of a plane gives a whole new meaning to this process. Focusing on the “Big Picture” helps provide meaning to the learning process and stimulates us to remember.
    
3. Create Associations
   Associate something new with something you already know. This creates a building process in your memory bank. If you already know a Bill Smith think of the Bill you know and associate him with the new Bill Smith.
    
4. Learn It Actively
   People remember 90 percent of what they do, 75 percent of what they see and 20 percent of what they hear. This saying is very accurate, as action is a proven memory enhancer. Move your hands, pace back and forth and use gestures as you recite a passage. If your body is actively involved it will help you to remember.
    
5. Relax
   Eating proper foods, avoiding caffeine before an exam and getting proper exercise will help you relax and feel more confident. Relaxing will enhance your ability to recall facts faster, with more clarity, and you will feel better overall.
    
6. Create Pictures
   Draw diagrams, make up cartoons. Use them to connect facts and illustrate relationships. When abstract concepts can be “seen” they are much easier to remember. You can be as creative as you want, as long as you understand your scribble.
    
7. Recite and Repeat
   When you repeat something out loud you anchor the concept better by using two or more of your senses. Repetition is the “Mother” of learning. If you use more than one sense you create a “synergistic” effect which is powerful memory technique. If you recite out loud in your own words, memory is enhanced even more!
    
8. Write It Down
   Writing notes to ourselves help us to remember. If we write down an idea or a passage several times, in different areas, we increase our chances to remember.
    
9. Reduce Interference
   Find an area free from distractions. Studies show that most students study more effectively in a quiet area in 1 hour than in a noisy area in 2 hours.
    
10. Over-learn
    When you think you got it don’t quit. Don’t miss a chance to review just one more time. Ever hear the expression “I beat that subject to death!” Do It!