Whatever your status in life is, whether you’re a parent, a student, an employee, or a veteran, there is always something new to learn. If you’re a mother, you can learn how to make crafts. If you’re a student, you can learn more about science. If you’re an employee, you can learn about business. If you’re a veteran, it’s never too late to learn to play a musical instrument.
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However, learning something new can sometimes be challenging, especially when you have trouble remembering what you just have learned. In situations where you need to memorize what you just read, you want to be able to memorize your notes faster. Here are some tips that can help you:
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Exercise
Exercise doesn’t only benefit your body but also your brain. Exercise stimulates the mind, thereby enhancing learning. Therefore, if you’re having trouble taking in whatever you are reading, memorizing, or learning, go for a walk or visit the gym.
According to a 2013 research study, exercise can have immediate effects on cognition. After executing a 15-minute exercise program, the participants displayed a boost in their cognitive function and memory.
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Keep Writing
Write about what you need to learn and repeat. It may seem like a tiring work to do, but writing down your notes repeatedly can help you recall them. Studies show that listing down problems or facts on paper improves a person’s ability to remember them rather than passively memorizing them by re-reading. Moreover, one study also found that writing down lecture notes manually with a pencil and paper is more effective for better recall than typing them using a computer.
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Try Yoga
Yoga is another way to help the functions of your brain, specifically the grey matter. The functions of the grey matter include muscle control and sensory functions such as memory, speech, vision, and decision-making. Research shows that individuals who do yoga display lesser cognitive failures. Surprisingly, a 2012 research study discovered that doing yoga for 20 minutes enhances an individual’s brain functions. It helped the participants do better on functioning tests involving speed and accuracy.
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Study After Lunch
Whether you’re a morning person or a nocturnal, one study shows that working after lunch or in the afternoon can help you better remember what you’re working on a long-term basis.
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Relate New Learnings with Your Existing Knowledge
The Loma Linda University School of Medicine believes that one great way to improve memory is to associate new learnings to one’s existing knowledge. The university expressed, “For example, when you are trying to learn about Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, you can relate what you are presently learning with what you already know about Shakespear, his biography, or his works.”
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Avoid Multitasking
In this present age, people are so tied up with technology, and the majority of the world population have smartphones. So when you are doing a particular task, you can unknowingly or automatically pick up your mobile device and reply to a text, return a call, or check your social media account. Though multitasking can help you get things done on time, it will not benefit you when you are trying to memorize information.
According to a publication by the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, multitasking undermines efficiency, especially when doing a complex and new task.
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Teach Others What You’ve Studied
According to the Loma Linda University, sharing your new knowledge or skills with others is an excellent way to help you recall what you’ve just recently studied. The process of organizing your thoughts and forming them into words helps you better understand what you are studying.
With all that said, go on and finish what you’ve started. Don’t give up and keep learning. It’s a neverending process after all.
