Have you noticed that we’ve become extremely forgetful nowadays? We forget why we entered a room or the answer to a question we just memorized. Not only is this frustrating, it also makes studying, passing exams, and carrying out our day-to-day activities extremely difficult.
But why do we forget?
In 2015, research was done by De Montfort University, Leicester, indicating that people who are continually engaged on mobile phones and the internet are more susceptible to cognitive failure, resulting in an increased propensity to forget things.
Many scientists feel that our minds are growing into “butterfly brains” because we spend so much time multitasking on smartphones and computers. We have progressively lost the ability to hardwire our brains to remember things due to our reliance on Google to get information.
So, how can one ensure that they never forget anything?
Neurotherapist and director of Circle Case Management, Yvonne Spijkerman, has a solution to this. He says, “If you don’t utilize it, you lose it,” she says. “In other words, if you depend on Google, you’re not employing your brain’s memory function. Similar to continually utilizing a sat nav, you go to destinations without ever really understanding where you are.”
The following tips will ensure you never forget anything, enabling you to breeze through your exams!
There is no alternative to the conventional method of education. As soon as you scribble anything down on paper, your brain begins to work on remembering and forming connections between the written information. Saying things aloud increases the likelihood of remembering them by 50 percent. You may also consider singing it. Researchers and academics think that musical memory is stored in a distinct region of the brain, which aids in memory improvement.
Focus! Instead of having a life that causes you to rush into things, consider living a life of concentration, in which you focus on one item at a time. Students may be seen holding a smartphone with one hand, with their thumbs continually moving around the screen while simultaneously doing other duties. This causes their brain to become muddled and unable to readily digest information. For instance, if you are preparing to study a topic, ensure that your phone is either in quiet mode, or many feet away. You will be able to concentrate on your topic and retain more information as a result.
If you have written down forthcoming events and posted them on your refrigerator door, there is a good probability that you will recall them more readily. Why is this so? Because you constantly pass the refrigerator, your brain reminds you of the forthcoming days, etching the information further and deeper into your memory each time you do so. Therefore, the next time you are studying, consider incorporating visuals such as infographics, presentations, and movies.
To strengthen our bodies, we go to the gym and lift weights along with other exercises, correct? Similarly, to strengthen our brain, we need to keep it active. Try tackling crossword puzzles or Sudoku to keep your mind and brain engaged. However, it’s recommended that you do these tasks on paper or notebooks, rather than on a smartphone.
Surely you are already familiar with the proverb “a healthy mind resides in a healthy body.” It simply means that you should make it a habit to wake up early and engage in some kind of exercise, such as jogging, walking, yoga, etc., whatever you feel comfortable doing. Exercise improves blood circulation, supplying your brain with the oxygen it needs to function optimally. In the end, it’s all about you and your mental and physical wellness.
