How to Memorize Quickly
You have a big test coming up and tons of things to memorize. You keep forgetting the things you need to buy in the grocery. Do these situations sound familiar to you? If you’re having trouble memorizing things, here are a few things you can try to sharpen your memory.
Tips:
Read and reread. If you are trying to memorize a concept from your class, the best way to remember it, is to read until you can explain it in your own words. Your brain will also remember where certain information is written. For example, you are studying about child’s growth and development. If you read your book a few times, you’ll remember that on the left page, there is a picture of a child crawling and on the right page, a child walking. You’ll know that a child learns to crawl first before he learns to walk.
Summarize. After reading a lengthy article from a book, shorten it with your own words.
Make a list. It’s not only the list that helps you remember the ingredients for that sumptuous dinner you will prepare. The act of writing it down is a great help, too.
Use bullets and symbols. Single words and short sentences are easier to remember than long ones. Break down long paragraphs into simple sentences. For example, you can use arrows to show a child’s progress from being an infant to a toddler. If you’re trying to remember a list of names with their corresponding contributions, you can write the name and use an equal sign prior to writing that person’s accomplishment.
Make an outline. This will help you organize your thoughts, especially when you are trying to memorize many concepts.
Use acronyms and mnemonics. You can easily memorize a list if you try to make out a sentence or a phrase with it. An example is “Some Says Money Matters But My Brother Says Big Brain Matters Most”. These represent the functions of each of the 12 cranial nerves. Letter S means sensory, M is motor and B stands for both. Another example is ADPIE. Each letter corresponds to a nursing procedure.
Use post-its. Write short notes on a post-it and stick it on an area that you always see, like on your bathroom mirror or on the door.
Make flashcards. Test your memory by making flashcards. Write the questions in front and answers at the back of the card. Quiz yourself as often as you can.
Discuss it with your friends.Talk to your friends and classmates about a certain topic that you want to remember. This way, all of you will be able to share different ideas about one topic.
Make an audio file. Record your voice while reading the summary or list you made. You can listen to it on your portable player anytime you want.
Memorizing is easy if you know which technique works best for you. Choose the one that you’re comfortable with and use it as often as you can.