You can improve your short-term memory by using certain habits and exercises. Sleeping, eating a balanced diet, using all your senses, and playing educational games can all improve your ability to remember.
Short-term memory: how to improve it?
There are two types of memory: long-term and short-term memory. The first type uses the brain to store immediate information. An example would be the name of someone you recently met. The capacity of short-term memory is limited.
Meanwhile, we use long-term memory for work that requires more concentration or effort, such as an exam or something we do every day.
If you want to have a more efficient short-term memory, consider the following tips:
1. Focus on your attention
First of all, you need to focus on only one thing at a time. In recent years, the idea that we can do a thousand things at once has become quite popular. However, this is not the case.
Although we may be able to catch up on one task in the middle of another, or even complete another at the same time, we are unable to give attention to two or more tasks at the same time.
Why not? There will always be something that steals your attention, and you may not do a good job without finishing one. Our brain works better by focusing only on what is immediately in front of it.
2. Have fun with educational games
There are many ways you can stimulate your short-term memory. Your brain can respond to stimuli and exercise just like your muscles.
When you learn something new, the mind spawns additional neural pathways, thereby creating more connections.
Since the mind can create new paths, the key is to provide the material in such a way that it can build the rails that connect all your thoughts.
How can you do this? Playing memory games, puzzles, and other similar types of games.
3. Use all your senses
You don’t just create memories using what you see with your eyes. Of course, you keep in your memory such a scent from your childhood, like your grandmother’s freshly baked bread or the song your mother sang to you when you were scared. You can also use all your senses as an adult!
If you have trouble remembering people’s names, repeat them several times – out loud. Thus, your ears help to remember; if you want to remember how to cook a recipe, consciously taste the flavors using your taste buds.
4. Mnemonic
This method involves associating words, images, or sentences. With its help, your short-term memory will improve significantly. Poems can also be a huge help.
You can also create your own rules using personal information that is easy to remember, such as the first initials of family members or people you care about. Use combinations that are easiest to repeat.
5. Segment and organize
When you need to remember a 10-digit phone number, it’s easy to forget it if you try to remember everything at once. However, when you divide it into two parts or three pieces of three or four numbers, it will be easier to remember. Repeat the sequence several times until the new information is fixed in memory.
Another technique that can help you is segmentation. When you were in school, you probably had to create a mind map or highlight the main ideas in a text. Do the same with all the information you need to remember!
Concrete information and images help our minds significantly.
6. Healthy diet
There is undoubtedly a connection between your daily diet and brain activity.
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (found in foods like salmon, walnuts, and avocados) and plant-based protein (fruits and vegetables) prevents premature aging and mental or cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.
7. Sleep well
You should ensure that your sleep is healthy: from 7 to 9 hours. Go to bed and wake up at the same time if you can, and take a nap in the afternoon after dinner. Don’t watch TV in bed and don’t eat too much for dinner.
8. Do sports activities
Exercising can be helpful if your short-term memory needs improvement.
During sports activities, your body is saturated with oxygen, and this can also reach your brain. When this happens, you will be able to remember all the information you can get in one day. You can do cardio (bike, treadmill, running, etc.) to strengthen cerebral function.
Picture Credit: VistaCreate