How to Learn Faster and Remember Much More
Table of Contents
Memorization is the imperative cognitive function that is responsible for our mental organization, especially during learning. To learn faster, it is needed to grow the capacity and speed of our memory. However, strong skills in encoding and retaining complex types of information and academic concepts are not enough.
It is of paramount importance to clearly understand the material during learning in your long-term mind storage to place the material during learning. For example, its visualization can be quite useful, as it will help to re-access encoded information and efficiently retrieve it. There is no limit to how much data we can put for storing. But it matters how easily and promptly we can recall it. To enhance your natural brain potential to remember endless amounts of data, let’s explore some obstacles that can stand in our way. Also, let’s unlock hacks for boosting and facilitating the process of knowledge and skills acquisition.
Why Are We Bad at Remembering?
Recollection of obtained facts, details, definitions and other types of content requires excellent memory and mental agility. Unfortunately, forgetting and remembering come hand-in-hand. But luckily, it’s a mutually exclusive concept. By discovering ways to improve memory, you can easily fight any signs of abnormal forgetfulness and other troubles with memory. One of the reasons we might be bad at remembering is a million distractions. Thus, during performing tasks that require memory, attention, and dynamic thinking, it is advisable to eliminate any type of distractions that prevent you from giving full attention. If studying in a noisy environment, your memory will be quite selective, so you won’t be capable of grabbing the necessary amount of data, and memory lapses will appear.
Another trigger for bad remembering can be our inability to make information associations. Creating connections between different pieces of information makes it easy to learn and encode. Association is a great and sometimes even fun memory and learning aid. You can connect together completely unrelated ideas or objects. For example, when trying to memorize the periodic table, you can connect elements, their atomic numbers, and symbols with something you know very well. It can be almost anything (names of favorite songs, colors, fruits, etc.) with which you can make vivid associations. Thus, you can create a system of such connections and recall them during exams or whenever you need them.
Sometimes, memory problems and poor remembering may have more personalized roots. It can be the state of being unable to actively use our senses. To deal with such trouble, you must train to activate your senses during your study sessions, as it is one of the ways to learn and memorize quicker. Some individuals may be bad at controlling emotions. Being over-emotional can suppress your memory, so learning outcomes will be poor. So their regulation and management can have a significant difference on how you process information. Meditation, techniques for breathing, mind walking, and guided imagery can assist in creating strong memories. Bad habits are other serious barriers on the way to regaining powerful brain capacity. So it is recommended to reconsider your lifestyle and detect and break the habits and regular tendencies that negatively affect your cognitive functions (lack of sleep and physical exercise, poor diet, overwork, etc.).
Getting rid of cognitive biases is another suggestion for those who seek solutions to how to learn more capably and simplify studying routine. This mental task is not so straightforward as dealing with emotions. There are different types of such biases that may provoke bad decision-making and poor judgment and reasoning. One of such biases is a confirmation one. It means that when we want to interpret information, we strive to adapt it to our values and beliefs, ignoring facts. Thus, if some ideas contradict our perception, we will reject or distort them. Obviously, such a pattern of thinking can have a really negative impact on our life, especially on learning. To overcome such biases, you have to be capable of reflecting on the past to detect some mistakes. Growing your mindset is also critical to achieving success in your career, academic heights, and even personal well-being. Remember that your attitudes and well-established point of view can change your perspective on the world, events, and life situations.
Ways to Learn Anything Faster
Memorization is one of the most dynamic mental processes. You can reorganize it, make memories stronger, launch your imagination, etc. There is a really impressive range of tactics for memory growing, as well as ways to learn and gain new knowledge more efficiently. Any individual can take proactive steps to reduce those negative factors that cause us bad remembering, reinforce memorization skills, and strengthen our learning.
Speak Out Loud – What You Want to Place in Your Memory
How to learn tons of encyclopedic information, theoretical definition, or long lists of hard-to-remember words? Just speak it loud. And remember that doing it only once can be weak, so try to repeat the text you strive to remember several times. Lots of studies found that saying something loud enhances better encoding, and as a result, you can easily recall data later. But of course, before trying this tactic, it is pivotal to deeply understand information, as, without understanding, it would be almost impossible to retrieve it from your long-term storage.
Writing By Hand is Better Than Typing
When jotting down any type of text, you spend more time with it. Writing information using a pen is more time-consuming. However, it will firmly imprint in your memory, as your brain interacts with anything you write down more efficiently. Moreover, such an approach will improve your literacy. So if you seek ways to learn something quickly, write it down in your notebook rather than print it on your laptop.
Don’t Forget About Rest and Sleep
Overloading your brain with information is not a good idea, as being tired, you will be unable to function appropriately, lose motivation, and your exhausted mind won’t be able to grasp anything easily. To learn faster, it is important to have relaxation sessions. You can divide information into chunks, and learn it one by one, making pauses between each set. Remember that rest and sleep are two essential components of any studying routine. So you can pick the type of relaxation that suits your preferences. It can be walking and breathing fresh air, listening to music, or physical exercises. You can be engaged in some more unique experiences, such as handmade activities, or switch to other mental tasks, for example, reading.
Try a Mnemonic Device
Mnemonic techniques are systems and schemes that reshape complex information into something easy and simple to remember. You can try a mnemonic device that activates your imagination and promotes brain connections to grow. With the right technique, you can even transform your learning style, and the memorization process will be fun and gamified.
Test Yourself
Take your notes or information you want to remember and actively recall it. This is how you can spot your weaknesses and find out where you must make more effort for memorizing. Remember that it is not just about re-reading, it is about the meaningful repetition of what has been encoded.
Exercise Regularly
Remember that mind power requires constant fuel. So no matter whether you are preparing for exams, want to regain strong cognitive functions, grow intelligence levels, or fight memory lapses, be consistent in your action and never give up. Challenge your brain daily, and you will be impressed with the results.
Explore Something Else
Try to reroute your mind from time to time during studying. Thus, being focused on academic content or on the implementation of specific tasks, you can switch to reading some interesting articles, for example, about how to learn something quickly. Such purposeful breaks allow you to boost productivity and refresh your brain.
Use Multiple Ways to Learn Information
One type of information can be processed differently. You can rehearse it verbally, create a visual connection, or write by hand. Let’s take a new language as an example. To grab new vocabulary fast, you can use several tactics at once. First of all, list words in your notebook, then speak out loud; after, you can generate a mental map applying one of the most exciting mnemonics, known as the memory palace.
FAQ
How do I teach myself to learn?
There is a set of mind-boosting steps that nurture curiosity, foster creativity, and encourage you to learn faster. Thus, any academic experience will bring pleasure and satisfaction.
How can I learn 10x faster?
You don’t have to be a genius to speed up your learning dramatically. All you need is the desire to unlock tips and tricks and the patience to use them.
What is the word for easy to learn?
Easy to learn means effortless and hassle-free knowledge acquisition.