6 Memory skills that help everyone

6 Memory skills that help everyone

One of the most essential skills to develop would be the ability to learn something and retain it once learned. Unfortunately, lots of learning techniques that we tend to pick up at school - cramming or highlighting - don't help with long-term recall.
To help you get over these bad habits, we scoured several sources for learning tips and gathered a list of cognitive exercises, though, one thing is for sure: If it's difficult, it's a good thing.

When you're trying to recall an idea, method, or technique from memory, you're doing something called retrieving. The reason retrieval is so effective is that it strengthens the neural pathways linked to a given concept.
Flashcards are of great help: They force you to recall an idea from memory, unlike highlighting — where you're not burning anything into your brain.

When you try to convert a new idea into your own words, you're elaborating.
"The more you can explain about the way your new learning relates to prior knowledge," the authors of "Make It Stick: The Science Of Successful Learning" write, "the stronger your grasp of the new learning will be, and the more connections you create that will help you remember it later."
For instance, if you're in math class and trying to understand discounts, try to link the concept to your real-life experiences, say, by imagining what would be the new price of the product you'll pay once your favorite shop has a seasonal discount.

It's always tempting to look for an answer elsewhere than inside your own brain. But, when you try to give an answer before it's given to you, you're generating. This way, you are far more likely to actually remember the solution rather than when a solution is given to you.
In an academic setting, try delving into finding answers on your own before seeking guidance from your teacher, or in the case of a professional setting, seeking guidance from your boss.

Harvard Business School researchers have found reflective writing to be super powerful. You can take some moments to yourself after an exam or a meeting and reflect on a few things such as: What went well? How could it have gone better?
Researchers found just 15 minutes of written reflection at the end of the day increased performance by 23% for one group of employees.