We learn new things every day. It’s a constant stream of information that feeds our brains but sometimes it disappears almost as quickly as it enters. And, when we don’t give our brain a way to keep that information, it implodes on itself and is no longer readily available.
So how you can retain the information you learn? Just like we take Professional assignment writing services UK when we got stuck with our coursework, we can also take professional advice to improve our learning. In this article, we’ve explained some proven tips, recommended by professionals to help you retain the information you learn daily. Let’s explore what they are:
Mixing New And Old Information
Mixing the new information with the old will help you retain the new and recall the old. It’s a proven technique. You can use flashcards or revise your notes in different environments such as walking or driving. Use mnemonics or memory aids like rhymes and acronyms. This will also help you make your learning easier by using your imagination while studying.
Use Advanced Reading Techniques
Reading is a learned skill, so if you’re not at the point where it comes naturally to you, don’t worry, you can learn it. Follow the three reading steps to retain more of what you read:
Skim Read:
Skim through the material first. Scan your eyes over the entire piece before focusing on any one part of it. This will give you an overall understanding of what’s being said and help you decide how much time to spend on each section later on.
Focus Reading:
Second, read purposefully and quickly through each section once. This will helps increase focus when going back for a second pass at the text. It also allows us to grasp all of the main points without getting bogged down by details that aren’t important.
Take Notes:
Take notes while reading so you have something tangible to refer back to later if necessary. It’ll help keep everything fresh in our minds longer than just looking at words alone would do.
Use The Power Of Mind Map
The mind map is a great visual tool that helps you organize your thoughts and retain the information you learn. A mind map is similar to an outline but on a much larger scale. It consists of keywords, phrases, and other elements that represent different points within the topic being studied.
A mindmap can be created in several ways:
- On paper with pen/pencil or highlighter
- Using software such as iMindMap or FreeMind
- Using a whiteboard
Take Breaks
Studies have shown that humans can only concentrate for about 20 minutes at a time before they need a rest. So, if you’re studying or reading for more than 20 minutes straight, take a break to give your brain some rest and energy. During your break time, do something you like the most. Take a power nap or go for a walk. But even if you don’t have time for either of those things, just taking five minutes off from studying every hour will help massively.
Focus On The Main Idea
Before you begin any study, try to figure out the main ideas of a topic. Ask yourself: What is this lecture/book/article about?
Don’t get caught up too much on details or minor points. Instead, get a good understanding of the main arguments and ideas that are presented by an author or lecturer before you start reading or listening to them in detail. Once you have done this, make sure that your notes reflect these more important points. So that they are not lost when you go over them later on.
Discuss With Others
The best way to retain the information we learn is to teach and talk about it. This means that you should discuss your learnings with others, even if they are not experts in the subject.
Talking through what you have learned and finding out how others understand, helps reinforce your own understanding of the information. Talking about things also helps improve your memory because it provides additional context for recalling memories later on. When discussing something, try putting yourself in a situation where others may be confused by what they are learning. And then talk with them like you are clearing their confusion.
Don’t Overload Your Brain
The most important thing is to not overload your brain at once. That means you shouldn’t try to learn too many new things at once. Also, don’t try to learn things that require you to use a lot of different techniques at the same time, that too in a short period. For example, if you’re learning about history, don’t also start reading about current events or science all at the same time. It’ll just confuse your brain.
The study, Sleep, Study More
Another important factor in remembering information is sleep. In fact, sleep is a critical part of learning. It’s a process that involves your brain organizing and processing the events of your day. The best way is to take a short nap when you feel tired of studying continuously.
During sleep, our brain shifts events from our short-term memory to our long-term memory and strengthens connections between brain cells. A study conducted at Stanford University found that individuals who slept for eight hours or more performed significantly better on tests than those who got less than seven hours of sleep. Even when both groups studied the same material before bedtime.
If you are struggling to retain new information after studying it, try taking a break from studying for at least 10 minutes. And use this break time to take a power nap. Research has shown that this technique helps clear out some of the clutter accumulated during the study time.
