Anyone who has written an exam knows that sinking feeling too well, where you cannot remember what you studied the night before. It’s a common problem most students face, and there’s nothing to be ashamed about this. It’s not a disorder, and neither does it mean you haven’t worked hard enough. So, how do you deal with it?
Memorizing and recalling facts, line by line, by reading the same books won’t help. There’s no foolproof theory or trick to get this right because our brain has many memory triggers. These get activated by different types of stimuli, and this explains why people respond to these differently.
When you do rote learning, you use brute force to memorize stuff. However, this doesn’t mean you understand what you read. Most importantly, it can be a very unexciting and unproductive exercise. Studying should be about learning and discovering new things.
So, what are the best ways to keep those facts where you want them to be?
- Understand what you read: When you can comprehend what you read, you are more likely to remember the facts. If you cannot understand the material, it’s better to give more time to it. If you can connect the concept with other concerts, you will find it easier to learn.
- Use the mind’s eye: We can always visualize things when we read them. Use images to remember important facts because tying data to pictures helps in memory retrieval.
- Learn in small chunks: If you can break down a large amount of information into small manageable sections, you can work faster.
- Take “smart” breaks: If you treat your brain right, it will treat you well. Studying for many hours at one go is rarely productive. You won’t remember things better if you cram too much information in less time. It’s wise to take short breaks when you study for exams to let your brain “cool down.” This practice helps you remember more.
- Lifestyle changes: Eating healthy, drinking lots of water, and doing yoga and breathing exercises can help. These are healthy habits that boost our memory recall power.
- Set up a memory palace: A mind or memory palace is very effective for recalling facts. It’s similar to using mental images for sorting through and storing important information. Here, you use a familiar environment for storing facts, like your study or bedroom. As you walk through the space mentally, you can place the information in different locations and let your mind link these two together.
- Spaced repetition: Review the study material time after time, but at intervals. When you read through textbooks intermittently, you can slow down memory deterioration. Make flashcards for exams and review these every few days.
- Active reiteration: An easy way to trick your brain to remember what it learnt is to teach it to someone else. To teach someone, you must summarize, draw conclusions, and have an in-depth understanding.
- Read on paper: Surveys suggest that most students prefer to study on paper to computer screens. When they use textbooks, they can highlight important sections and write on margins which helps them to remember the material better. Unlike screens, paper reading helps spatial memory. You can easily recall information from where it was in a book.
College years aren’t relaxed and laid back. There’s always a lot to read and remember. However, if you can use these simple tips, you can trick your brain into becoming more productive. It may take some practice, but the best habits are formed only through repetition.
