A good memory is an incredibly useful tool. Being able to recall facts or figures at a moment’s notice can come in handy on a regular basis. But how can you obtain a razor sharp memory? This article will give you some tips on what you can do to boost your memory.

Avoid cramming all your material into one short study session. Studies show that information is better retained, if you take some time to learn it. You can do this by scheduling short study sessions in the days and weeks, prior to an exam. Cramming everything into one sitting will only prove to be counter productive.

A great way for you to improve your overall memory is to make sure that you’re always focusing your attentions on whatever you’re studying at the time. The goal here is knowledge retention. A failure to focus fully on the subject at hand means the information may not be retained properly.

Regularly challenging your brain can help you improve your memory. Learning new, complex tasks such as a foreign language or how to play a musical instrument will help your brain stay active. Remember the old saying “Use it or lose it?” The same thing’s true for your mind!

If you find that your memory has deteriorated drastically in a short period of time, it is important that you see your doctor right away. Sudden memory loss could be a sign of a more serious medical condition, such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease, which can effect people of all ages.

Believing you have a poor memory is a self-fulfilling prophecy! If you are constantly telling yourself and other people that you have a bad memory, then that is exactly what you will have! As with anything, keeping a positive attitude will improve the situation so stop reminding yourself that you are forgetful and as your outlook improves, so will your memory!

When trying to remember something, having patience with yourself will help you greatly! The harder you try to think of something, the more stressed you become, and of course, the more stressed you become the more difficult it is to remember anything! Take a deep breath, relax, and try to clear your mind and before you know it what ever you were trying so hard to recall will pop right up in your mind!

It is important that you keep a daily routine if you want to improve your memory. By doing things at different times of the day, you may forget certain obligations. Try to stick with one routine for the weekdays when you are at work and one routine for weekends when you are home.

Reducing distractions in your immediate environment will go a long way in helping you to remember something. Phones ringing, children screaming or horns honking are not conducive to memory for anyone so limit the amount of distractions your mind has to deal with, and you will increase your ability to remember!

It may sound silly, but one way to improve memory is to surround yourself with good friends, and to maintain an active social life. A Harvard study suggests that those who had active and fulfilling social lives, showed rates of cognitive decline significantly lower than their less socially active peers.

Try to memorize things in sets of 7. According to studies, the human capacity for Short Term Memory, or (STM) is 7, add or minus 2. This is why humans memorize things best in groups of 7. This is also why, for example, your phone number is seven digits.

Try to use all five of your sense when trying to remember things. By using as many of your senses that the situation calls for, you will have a better time remembering it. If it is a location you are trying to remember, picture the way it smelled and the sounds associated with the area.

When you think about how your memory is, make sure you view yourself in a postivie light. If you think you have a bad memory, the self fulfilling prophecy will come into effect and you will have a harder time actually remembering things. Reward yourself for the things that you do remember, and you will see an improvement quickly.

Establish relationships with old and new information. To keep your memory in top form, keep information relevant in your mind. Your brain will automatically discard most facts it deems useless. It is often necessary to “update” memories. Think on them regularly and determine how they relate or hold up to new information.

Your memory is an amazing asset, and it’s one you should strive to improve. A strong memory can benefit you in a multitude of ways and can make your life much less stressful. Apply the advice given in this article and you’ll soon find it easier to recall facts, the moment you need them.

Why a Journal Can Help Your Memory was originally published on Spring