Improving Memory: 10 hacks to remember anything

We learn things throughout our entire lives, but we still don't know everything because we forget a lot of information. Why does this happen?

Your brain protects you from overloading with useless information. That's why all new information is stored in the short-term memory, not in the long-term memory. If you don't repeat it or use it, you forget it very quickly.

In order to keep the information in your head for a longer time, you need to try to put it into your long-term memory. Forced memorization is not very effective in this case because your brain can't make sense of the information quickly and form strong associations. If you want to remember things for a long time, you need to extend the memorization period. It should be as long as a few days or even weeks.

10 memory hacks

Understand what you learn. As a matter of fact, things that you understand are memorized 9 times faster.

Learn the most necessary information by heart and forget the rest. You need to set your priorities correctly. Try to remember things in detail.

Learn opposite things. For example, if you are learning a foreign language, memorize day and night. Opposites are easier to memorize.

Take this into consideration: things at the beginning and at the end are memorized the best.

Build your own "mind palace." The idea is to associate certain things with a certain place. For example, if you are in your room, try to connect a thing you are learning to something in your room. Repeat it a few times. After that, try to recall what the room looks like in your memory, and repeat the things you learned this way.

Associate new words with those you already know. If you are learning a language, you can memorize something new based on what you know.

Make up stories. If you need to memorize a lot of information in some particular order, try to put the pieces into a story. It's important that the pieces are connected to each other with some kind of plot.

Use a voice recorder. Record the information you are learning, you can record yourself and listen to the recording a few times. This method works best for people who memorize audio information better.

Visualize. Use body language when learning. This will help you trigger your muscle memory.

Choose only the best materials. Don't use outdated books and methods of learning. Things might have changed a lot since the books were written. Don't waste your time on something that may turn out to be wrong.

At the end of the day, the brain is still a muscle. And to keep mentally fit, you should make it trained well. Repetition is one of those basic memorization hacks that never get old.

Got any other effective hacks? Please let me know if any other memorizing hacks have worked for you in the comments section below.