Contents
Hello dear blog readers! This article is for those who have problems with short-term memory, that is, who find it difficult to keep information in their heads, answer difficult questions, and even improvise, adapt to the situation. So today we will look at methods that will help train and increase its volume.
Some general information
Figuratively, this is a kind of “vessel” in which data is temporarily stored, which we can easily get and use at any time, for example, in solving a problem, drawing up a plan, or when answering an unexpected question. Such a mini computer, with a volume of 4-9 memorized objects.
Do you know what else we need it for? To read books and newspapers, or rather, to understand what they are talking about. That is, to remember events from previous pages, heroes, and in general, why do you need it. Due to the fact that the world is saturated with information, a person risks losing the ability to concentrate, but short-term memory helps the brain determine what is necessary for us and what is not useful at all.
That is why it is recommended to exclude viewing of news and social networks. The material indicated there does not help a person to develop at all, but only overloads him and adds work to the brain, which is why there is not enough strength and energy to perform his duties. As a result, stress arises, then various diseases and even depression.
The most common causes of problems:
- Circulatory disorders in the brain
- Diabetes
- Thyroid disease
- Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases
In addition to these reasons, most often deterioration occurs as a result of a person’s unconscious attempt to forget some kind of traumatic situation, acting as a mechanism for protecting the psyche from abnormal events. Only, in this case, not only what hurts and worries is forgotten, but, in general, all information that is in no way connected with this situation. About what these mechanisms are, you can know from this article.
Recommendations
- To begin with, before you start exercising, eliminate information overload from your life. Sometimes this is not easy to do, but it is quite possible to reduce the frequency of watching TV.
- When you begin to implement the techniques, you will notice that it has really become easier to memorize the material, to find answers to various questions. Only now these changes will be unstable if, having received the desired result, you stop training. So set aside at least 20 minutes a day to complete tasks. And not a month or two, but on an ongoing basis.
- Whatever techniques you perform, even from morning to night, there will be no effect if you suffer from insomnia or have not given enough time to sleep. With lack of sleep, oversleeping, by the way, too, a person is absent-minded and inattentive, which is why he loses the ability not only to remember, but in general, to track, to notice. So sleep for at least 8 hours in order to maintain not only the possibilities and sufficient volume of your “vessel”, but also your health in general. Check out the article here, there you will find detailed recommendations on how to normalize it.
- It may sound surprising, but exercise is not only good for your general health, it is also effective for your head. And in order to better remember the material, focus on strength and cardio exercises. That is, do jogging, swimming, and do not forget about squats with push-ups.
- Minimize the amount of alcohol you drink. I think even children know about its effect on the body, so make your training process easier. By the way, nicotine also reduces concentration and, accordingly, the ability to remember the necessary material. So, if you are addicted to cigarettes, check out the article on smoking.
- Review your diet, you need to eat enough vitamins B, C, E, beta-carotene and omega-3 fatty acids. Simply put, eat protein foods, fruits, berries, vegetables and nuts, and fish more often.
Methods
1. Meditation
It not only has a positive effect on our health and emotional state, but also ensures the development of short-term memory. Do you know why this happens? Because during meditation a person is maximally concentrated on his feelings, he is not distracted by external stimuli and is able to choose one from the stream of thoughts, or stop it altogether.
Once scientists conducted an experiment among students. One group lived according to the usual daily routine, the other devoted 8 minutes to doing spiritual practices. Literally after 8 days, it was found that the short-term memory of those young people who meditated improved, they showed the most effective result compared not only with other guys, but also with their previous indicators.
So take on board the article «The easiest to learn and effective way to meditate» and start training.
2. Math exercise
There is an interesting exercise that came up with the mathematician Leonardo of Pisa. Do it every free minute, on the way to work, home, while waiting in line, and so on. It is necessary to calculate a sequence of numbers, and this can be done by adding the next number in the account to the sum of the previous ones. To make it clearer, I will give an example: 1+1 =2, then we add the last number to the total, like this 1+2=3, and then according to the scheme 2+3=5, 3+5=8, 5+8= 13, 8+13=21…
Due to the fact that you will constantly need to keep a sequence of numbers in your head, your brain will be in good shape.
3. Grouping technique
Studies have shown that it is easier for a person to remember numbers by grouping them in 3 pieces. After all, you must admit that it is more difficult to learn the number 983523851 than 983 523 851? So open the phone book at any convenient moment and learn the numbers of your friends and relatives.
4. Online simulators for memory development.
There is a very interesting site. Wiki. There are exercises for the development of memory and logical thinking. Lots of interesting puzzles in the thinking section. Look, I often practice in the classes on this site. Like and rested, playing. At the same time, it’s good for the brain.
5. Mnemonic
You can learn more about it from the article about mnemonics, and now I will give an example of one exercise. Try to «associate» the necessary information with some taste, smell, color, sensations, music … Connect the olfactory or auditory center, and then the material will settle in your head for sure.
For example, you can sing any digital code, or a term to a melody that you like. And as soon as you need to remember it, you, having heard this motive, will instantly reproduce it. Keep simple advertising songs in your head, and unconsciously, and here you will make an effort and even show a little creativity, so that you can definitely remember everything you need.
6. A game
There is a game called Memories, it consists of didactic cards related to a wide variety of topics. The bottom line is that you lay out these cards face down, face down, and open them one by one, trying to remember where which one is, and if you find a match, remove them from the total. It can be played by one person or several.
The spirit of competition will give excitement and sharpen attention. The main rule is that only two cards are allowed to be opened, if a pair could not be found, the move goes to the next participant, and these open cards are turned back, but the positions are not changed.
7. Method «Matches»
Take 5 matches and throw them on the table so that they lie in a pile or next to each other. Carefully examine them for a minute, then cover them with something and try to reproduce their location with other matches. Then compare the result, it turned out for you or not.
Conclusion
And that’s all for today, dear readers! Finally, I want to recommend that you take the “What is your memory level” test and check how much your “vessel” has, perhaps you are doing great and there is no need to worry. Training will not hurt anyone, and it is important to develop with any test result, you just will be calm. Good luck and inspiration!