So many students find themselves asking, is it possible to improve your memory? If you have ever found yourself forgetting the answers to your questions after revising the past one or two hours to your examination, you probably wish that there was a way you could improve your memory. The good thing is that numerous different ways could aid students in improving their memory. To begin with, making use of reminders, setting up online calendars, and noting down important meetings or appointments could come in handy if you are working towards improving your memory. Creating a to-do list could aid in ensuring that you do not forget about the tasks you need to complete. However, what about the important concepts you need to make it stick in your long-term memory? There is no doubt that it may take some effort or require you to change your typical studying routine dramatically. If you are a student and wish you had a better memory, check out some of the tips discussed in this article. These tips will increase your ability to retain information.

Avoid distractions

It goes without any doubt that you will have difficulty concentrating on your studies if you are always distracted. It is important to note that distractions are part and parcel of life, and researchers believe that it could be a good thing in small doses. Taking a small break during your studying session could aid you in refreshing your mind and preventing stress as well as burnout. However, when studying, you should prevent distractions through all means. Evidence shows that for every distraction, such as a call from a friend, noise, or unnecessary movements, it could take the brain three to five minutes to get the brain back on track. If you want to improve your memory, you must train yourself to concentrate on one thing at a particular time.

Focus on your attention

It is indeed true that maintaining your focus could aid in improving your memory. One of the major components of memory is your attention. For information to move from your short-term to long-term memory, you need to direct all your attention to what you are doing at a particular time. As mentioned above, you might consider studying at a place with no distraction. Although it may be difficult to eliminate all sources of distractions, especially when noisy roommates constantly surround you, you can always set aside a short amount of time to be alone. Request your colleagues not to call or text you at a specific time of the day. Also, you can ask your roommates to give you some space for a couple of minutes or hours.

Use credible sources when revising

Indeed, it is true that many students do not like writing academic papers because they are not only time-consuming but also tiring. Rather than going through an entire published book, journal, or article, most students would prefer obtaining information from blog articles, which in most cases contain biased information. We are all aware of how difficult it could be to get rid of information from the brain. That is why you should use credible sources of information when doing your revisions. Not only will information stick in the long-term memory, but you will also not have to go through the lengthy process of trying to understand specific information differently. You can click on this link to access more information on why you should always strive to use credible sources.

Avoid cramming

Unfortunately, most college students get excited when they participate in activities or events outside the classroom. They often forget that the sole reason they got college admission was because of their academic performance. The majority of the scholars make the mistake of waiting until the last minute so that they can begin working on their assignments. There is no doubt that it is always tempting for the students to postpone their studies until the last minute. Unfortunately, when they realize that time is not on their side, they often result to cramming for their examinations, which leads to lowered comprehension, more stress, and poor academic performance. Evidence shows that cramming for an assessment a few hours before taking it may lead to fear and anxiety. Most importantly, students should never forget that cramming makes the information to be stored in short-term memory; hence, it is easily forgotten.

Organize your studying sessions

Researchers believe that a good organization improves memory retention. Information is always organized in the brain in form of clusters, which is a good thing since students can take advantage of that ability to organize and structure the materials they are studying. You may try to group similar terms or concepts together and thereafter develop an outline for the textbook readings as well as the lecturer’s notes. When you are organized, you will identify a place that is ideal for your studies, which means that you will not be distracted, and hence, you will direct all your concentration to your studies. The bottom line is that you must strive to be organized if you want to improve your memory.

Read out loudly

According to researchers, people are more likely to improve their memory by reading something out loud. Psychologists and educators have also gone the extra mile to discover that having learners teach concepts in class enhances their ability to understand and recall information. In essence, reading and speaking various concepts aloud is an effective way of remembering information as compared to just reading silently or just listening. Students should never forget that the dual effect of speaking and hearing aids in encoding the memory more strongly.

Ensure that you take care of your mental and physical health

As you strive to practice all the tips discussed above, you should not forget to care for your health. Otherwise, you will have difficulty comprehending and recalling information if you are unwell. Many students are always too busy trying to learn and understand new things that their health takes a back seat. We always tend to forget that we cannot perform at 100% when we are sick or stressed out. If you need to improve your memory and always remain at your best, always ensure that you are taking steps towards ensuring that your body and mind remain at their best. Also, remember to have a sufficient amount of sleep. Evidence shows that sleep has a positive impact on information retention. Indeed, taking a nap after you have studied something new can actually assist you in learning faster and remembering better.

Life in school is not always easy and a great percentage of students face a lot of challenges trying to remember what was taught in class. In order to ensure that you perform well in school, please use the above-given tips to improve your memory. We are all gifted differently and you should never feel ashamed to try. With determination, discipline and effort, you can always improve many different areas of your life.