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Tips for improving memory
1. Positive thinking – if you're feeling good, your brain is more likely to learn and remember. If you're feeling down, it is easy to be distracted by what troubles you. Consider dealing with negative thoughts before setting down to learn.
2. Deal with stress – while some stress in learning is good stress, because it can raise levels of brain activity, continuous stress produces chemical by-products which inhibit memory.
3. Get enough sleep , particularly if you have large amounts of material to learn, eg when preparing for an exam or interview. Dream (or REM) sleep is important for giving your brain the opportunity to process new information and consolidate learning.
4. Certain foods are thought to improve memory performance. They include:
Oily fish
Eggs
Beef
Whole-wheat
Chicken
Bananas
Dairy products
Some of these foods can be high in fat, so consider this in balancing your diet.
5. Exercise can improve general fitness, and therefore help your whole body work more efficiently. A short exercise break every 30-50 minutes when learning (even if it's just a quick stroll round the room, or going to make a drink) can help push oxygen around your body and to your brain.
6. Watch your sugar levels – low blood sugar inhibits learning and makes you tired. Ensure you eat regular small meals, with snacks (especially from the memory enhancing food types) to keep your blood sugar levels up.
7. Drink lots of water, or non-caffeinated drinks. Even a small degree of dehydration can reduce your alertness and ability to give your attention, and if you do not pay attention in the first place, you will not remember the material later.
8. Engage in the practice of observing details all the time, even when you're not trying to memorise something. Observation and attention giving is a learnt skill that you can develop through practice.
9. Practise remembering things. Give yourself a list of things to remember and test yourself each day (this is a good activity for those blank spaces in the day such as the commute to work, or in the lift.)
10. Practise using the mnemonic tools until you find what works for you.
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