Short Term Memory : How to Maximize the Potential of Your Memory

Article by Lilian Price

Most people believe that memory will deteriorate as you grow older and there’s really nothing that you can do to halt it. Fortunately, the reality is different. In this brief article, I’ll tell you the kind of steps to take in order to retain, or even enhance, your memory irrespective of your age.

Try to memorize things in sets of 7. According to studies, the human capacity for Short Term Memory (or STM) is 7, add or minus 2. That is why human beings memorize things better when it is in groups of 7.

Did you know that, even late in life, you can grow new brain cells within the memory center of your brain? Research has shown that proper aerobic exercise, like running and bicycling, can stimulate the growth of brain neurons in the brain’s hippo-campus. Hence, if you want better memory, try to add aerobic exercises to your daily endeavors.

Challenge your memory. Push yourself to remember little details. There are many games online and on video game consoles that are specifically designed to challenge your memory. Play them regularly. Get your brain in the habit of remembering things. Your memory is like a muscle. You need to exercise it.

In case you need to remember relatively complicated information, give mnemonics technique a try. It works by associating information with common and familiar things. When you make that association, you can think of the common item, and it will trigger your memory of the more complicated piece of information.

Never cram everything that needs to be remembered into a single study session. Researchers have found out that information retention is better if you make time to master it. You can do this by scheduling short study sessions in the days and weeks, prior to an exam. Cramming the whole chunk into one short sitting will mostly likely be counter productive.

Exercise every day. When you are engaged in physical activity, blood will circulate in your brain. This will help to keep your memory in shape. In the event that your are not the “let’s get physical type”, there are plenty of ways that you can get your blood pumping – try walking or riding a bike.

If you want to remember something new, say it! All new materials ought to be remembered by reading them aloud. When you read them out loud, your brain forms a memory pathway via sight and hearing. This gives two paths of retrieval when you want to recall this information at a future date.

When trying to remember a small group of items try to sing them. Make things that you need to remember into little songs. Studies conducted on songs show that it is easier to remember them than just remembering groups of objects in a list. Try to think of them in terms of jingles you hear on television and the radio, they are very easy to remember even when you hear them only once or twice.

Some experts believe that, on average, your short-term memory can hold a maximum of seven items for approximately 30 seconds. However, there are ways to improve this capacity. One of them is by “chunking”. “Chunking” refers to the process of taking small or singular pieces of information and consolidating them into larger “chunks” that are easier to remember. For instance, instead of storing the nine digits of a social-security number separately, it’s better to remember them by splitting them into three units this way: the first three numbers, the two middle numbers, and the last four numbers, in the way the number is written.

For important things you have to remember on a certain day, use a pen and write the information on your hands. This is a technique that has been used for generations and it works because you know the information is on you at all times. Just make sure you do not wash your hands!

Consuming certain type of food and staying clear of others can enhance the function of the brain and prevent the onset of dementia. Foods to go for include those full of Omega-3 fatty acids, vegetables and fruits that are high in antioxidants, moderate amount of wine and grape juice. The resveratrol present in these drinks will increase the brain’s blood flow and keep Alzheimer’s disease in the back burner. Try to avoid foods that are high in saturated fats. The culprits are red meat, ice cream and butter.

Many people use visualization to remember information. Try visualizing what you wish to remember, create mind pictures, and draw diagrams or charts to aid in remembering information in textbooks or during lectures at school. The mind has the power to recall images and remember visual details, including long-forgotten ones.

To keep memory loss at bay, make the effort to socialize with your friends regularly. Interacting with loved ones and friends helps to prevent depression and stress, both of which seriously impede memory function. Set time in your schedule to relax and enjoy with your friends. Your memory will thank you for it.

Break complicated information down into small memorable pieces. This trick is often used to help individuals remember large numbers. For instance, your credit card numbers, phone number and social security number are all broken down into small, hyphenated sections to make them easier to recall.

A great tip for improving your memory is to make sure that you change your study habits from time to time. This is a great method as it will help to keep your memory active. Shifting locations will stimulate the mind and open up its ability to store much more in the long term memory sector.