Daily Routine, Creating Distinctiveness Can Help Improve Short-Term Memory, Neuroscience Professor Says
Sometimes, remembering things you do daily is difficult to remember. For instance, can you still recall what you wore in the office on Monday or what you ate for breakfast two days ago? According to an expert, forming a routine will make it easier for us to remember that stuff.
Daily Routine to Improve Short-Term Memory
Alexander Easton, a professor of neuroscience at Durham University in the U.K., said there are several types of memory. For instance, we have a memory of events in our lives, a memory for facts, and a memory for things we are actively using, like remembering the phone number while dialing it. Each form of memory is likely affected by various factors, including genetics, environment, and short-term impact like alcohol.
Recounting everyday memories can be challenging as it's difficult to distinguish too many similar events. However, Easton says we can overcome it through "routines."
Easton notes that remembering your two meals is unnecessary if you always eat the same thing for breakfast. He adds that you only need to remember what you eat for breakfast daily; you don't need to recall the specific occurrences.
Additionally, whenever you enter the house, put your car keys in the same location. This will make it easier for you to find them later. As long as you remember where you always put things, you don't even need to recall where you put them in the first place.
Departures from this regimen are also made more memorable by these routines. Per Easton, because this memory is so distinct, it will be pretty simple to recollect if you accidentally put your keys somewhere else.
"Creating distinctiveness, therefore is also very helpful," he adds.
The expert acknowledges that sometimes we have no control over where events occur; we may pay attention to the details that make them stand out, such as who we are speaking to, where we are seated, what time of day it is, and who else is present. It will be simpler to distinguish one memory from another and retain information if we can infuse individuality into our daily lives.
Memory is a skill that must be developed. Consciously paying attention to your surroundings and practicing mindfulness can help you identify important times and block out potential distractions.
"You remember what you pay attention to, so, knowing that, you can mindfully pay attention to the things you want to remember and not focus on things that are potential distractions," MIT neuroscientist Tara Swart Bieber said.
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Memory Palace Method To Memorize Longer Lists
The memory palace method is highly recommended if you need to memorize longer lists. The technique involves mnemonics to improve memory retention and recall.
The "memory palace" technique links certain items or subjects to specific spots along a path, in a room, or in another location. Simple words or phrases can represent complicated concepts or larger amounts of information, and memory palaces speed recall.
The memory palace method, also known as the method of loci, is said to have been created by Simonides of Ceos around 2,500 years ago in Roman legend. Still, it actually dates back to hunter-gatherer times and is used by many cultures today.
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