Throughout the day we deal with a large amount of information which continually bombards us and that we must process in order to adapt to the environment.
Much of this information is not excessively relevant except at the moment it appears, but sometimes it can be useful for us to keep it in memory. For example, at an academic level we are asked to capture, maintain and retain in memory the data we receive.
But to memorize something, it is generally not enough to expose yourself to said information once: just by hearing a few words or reading a few lines we will not retain them unless they have deeply marked us. It is also desirable that the memorization process not take forever, but rather be efficient and allow space for our attention to be directed to new elements.
How to memorize quickly? Throughout this article we are going to propose a series of different strategies that can help us speed up and facilitate the retention of information.
How to memorize quickly: strategies and procedures
There are many elements that influence our ability to encode and retain information. AND some of these elements can be manipulated in order to promote learning Below we will see a series of possible methods or procedures to help us memorize.
1. Review the information
Something basic to be able to learn and memorize something is to make this information enter our mind on several occasions. With a single presentation it is very complex to keep something in memory, unless it has a deep emotional impact. Review and repetition serve to reinforce the mark that said information leaves in our memory, in some cases until it becomes automatic.
This is especially useful for information that is unrelated to each other or that we cannot link with other knowledge of our daily life, such as a list of words or multiplication tables, but it is also applicable to other types of information.
2. Make outlines and summaries
Simply reading a text and waiting for it to be recorded in your memory can be a slow and inefficient process. When it comes to speeding it up, it is advisable to make summaries of the content covered and even diagrams in which to synthesize and organize the information. This allows you to work mentally with the information, processing and manipulating it in such a way that we make it understandable to ourselves
3. Read and repeat aloud
Various studies show that, compared to simply reading silently, verbalizing what we are reading is more effective and efficient when it comes to memorizing, since We not only work on it at the level of visual representation but also at the auditory and motor level
4. Explain it to someone else
It may be advisable to give a short presentation or explanation to another person of the content that we have to memorize. In a similar way to the previous point, the fact of working mentally with the information to put it into our own words and express it helps us to be able to give meaning to what we have learned, something that undoubtedly favors faster and more efficient memorization.
5. Use multiple routes
When we think about studying or memorizing something, we probably get the image of someone staring at the same information always presented in the same way. Although repetition of information is necessary, it can be helpful for the material to be presented through multiple avenues. Of course, with some perseverance and caution, because If each repetition is different, this can cause problems when it comes to focusing in the content itself.
Furthermore, using different routes will allow people who have more facility for a specific type of memorization to increase their chances and the speed at which they learn (there are people, for example, who retain visual information more than verbal information or vice versa, or who that pictograms or drawings work better for them than letters).
6. Use metaphors, acronyms and acronyms
A good strategy that facilitates the memorization of content is not to limit yourself to representing it as is but to try to generate metaphors with the concepts or put together the initials or parts of the words to be learned. to form a new one that is shorter and more easily memorized
7. Create your own story
Another method that makes it easier to quickly memorize some type of information is to look for a relationship between the different concepts to be retained and create a short story or even a single sentence that contains both. In this way the memory of one will elicit that of another.
8. Relate the new to the old
Another strategy to learn, and that in fact It is often done naturally during the learning that we most easily do, is to link the new information to be memorized with previous knowledge or experiences. This helps to make sense of the information and attribute meaning to it.
9. Find a flattering place
Context is important when it comes to facilitating or hindering the learning process. In order to promote memorization, it is advisable look for an environment with adequate light intensity that can be natural, with a comfortable temperature and in which we can maintain a comfortable but not excessively lax posture. It is also important that there are no other distracting elements present (mobile phones, screens or consoles out of reach) and that there is enough space.
10. Context-dependent memory
Various studies show us that the conditions in which we acquire knowledge also influence its memory: when we receive information in a certain place or in specific circumstances, it is easier to remember it when these conditions are recreated. For example, if we learned something underwater it would be much easier to remember it on a new dive than on the surface. It is because of that It is useful to always study in a space similar to that of the situation in which we are going to apply said knowledge
11. Link the information to something you are passionate about
Although it is not always possible, it can be very useful to relate what we want to learn with something that generates interest and satisfaction. In this way, the knowledge to be memorized can be easier to retain as it is linked to the positive emotions related to our hobby. For example, people who like theater may find it useful to perform a short theatrical performance that integrates what they need to memorize.
12. Take breaks regularly
Many people spend long hours looking at and reviewing the material to learn, and may even spend sleepless nights trying to memorize. Although kneeling is not bad, the truth is that it has been shown that Studying for hours and hours at a time is not as efficient as taking short occasional breaks for a few minutes in which we can disconnect and relax and then get back to studying.
Obviously it should not be abused either: perhaps a break every hour that lasts around five minutes could be good, although it will depend on the pace of work and whether it does not break a specific moment of concentration.
13. Basic requirement: eat and sleep correctly
In order to learn and maintain good functioning and mental efficiency, it is necessary to maintain a sufficient quantity and quality of sleep that allows us to regenerate and replenish our energies The same can be said with regard to nutrition: eating well will help us have energy and promote mental functioning.
