Improve your memory, sharpen your concentration andenhance your processing speed with 10 brain-boosting techniques
Have youwondered why some people seem to be able to pick up new skills or knowledgeeffortlessly, while you even have problems recalling what you ate last night?
Though a minority ofthem may be gifted with exceptional intelligence, most people owe theiraccomplishment to certain techniques that they use in learning. Here are tencommonly used techniques to help you improve your learning speed and put you inthe ranks of the genius:
How to Boost YourLearning Power
1. Havea plan
A laissez-faire approach to learning won’t do. Do yourself a favor by coming upwith a plan. Is it to complete two books in a week, or to master the theory ofrelativity by this weekend? A road map will help to guide you, giving youdirection to focus your energy and time, rather than spending them in front ofthe TV.
A laissez-faire approach to learning won’t do. Do yourself a favor by coming upwith a plan. Is it to complete two books in a week, or to master the theory ofrelativity by this weekend? A road map will help to guide you, giving youdirection to focus your energy and time, rather than spending them in front ofthe TV.
Build a reward system intoyour plan to encourage yourself whenever a goal is achieved. A nice dinner atyour favorite restaurant or a book from your wish list, a small reward will goa long way to keep your motivation high. But all the plans in the world are notgoing to work if you don’t stick to them. While a plan doesn’t need to be castin stone, do give some respect to your own plan and learn to weed out thoselame excuses.
2. Pretendto be a teacher
When you are learning something new, pretending to be a master can help. Thismay sound contradictory, but by taking on the role of a teacher, you are forcedto get all the facts and concepts right, and think more broadly than learningjust for yourself as you anticipate possible questions from your students. Byexplaining what you’ve learned also increase your own understanding through theexchanges of ideas with others.
When you are learning something new, pretending to be a master can help. Thismay sound contradictory, but by taking on the role of a teacher, you are forcedto get all the facts and concepts right, and think more broadly than learningjust for yourself as you anticipate possible questions from your students. Byexplaining what you’ve learned also increase your own understanding through theexchanges of ideas with others.
3. Meditatefor unwavering focus
If your mind is stressful and imbalanced, chances are you will find itdifficult to focus and concentrate, let alone understand and absorb anyinformation. Learn to clear, relax and focus your mind with meditation forfifteen minutes before any intense learning.
If your mind is stressful and imbalanced, chances are you will find itdifficult to focus and concentrate, let alone understand and absorb anyinformation. Learn to clear, relax and focus your mind with meditation forfifteen minutes before any intense learning.
There are many types ofmeditation to choose from and there’s always something for everyone. Forstarters, try the breathingmeditation, as it is easy to pick up and work within minutes to prepare you fora reading marathon. If you can’t sit still, then a walking meditation may be the answer to your agitatedmind and hyperactive body.
4. Readout loud
If reading has been your predominant way of learning, try listening for a change.That is, read the information out loud, as opposed to reading silently, andunderstand what you are saying. Be creative: use different tones or alternateyour volume. Just make sure you aren’t disturbing anybody or causing any alarm.
If reading has been your predominant way of learning, try listening for a change.That is, read the information out loud, as opposed to reading silently, andunderstand what you are saying. Be creative: use different tones or alternateyour volume. Just make sure you aren’t disturbing anybody or causing any alarm.
Getting your ears into theact can enhance your understanding and help you to better recall informationwhen you need them. The reason is simple. By engaging more than one modalities,you create more ‘hooks’ for the brain to attach and link the information,increasing their chances of being retrieved. Although reading aloud may slowyou down, the time you saved in re-reading later makes the effort worthwhile.
5. Thinkin pictures
Albert Einstein thought in pictures, not words. In fact, he had a poor memoryfor words. So he visualized scenarios, such as light in the form of a trainracing down a railway track, to answer complex scientific questions. So didgreat inventor Nikola Tesla who carried out entire experiments inhis mind first before putting them into words.
Albert Einstein thought in pictures, not words. In fact, he had a poor memoryfor words. So he visualized scenarios, such as light in the form of a trainracing down a railway track, to answer complex scientific questions. So didgreat inventor Nikola Tesla who carried out entire experiments inhis mind first before putting them into words.
Think of the informationyou’re trying to grasp as visuals and make them as fun as possible. Go throughthe visuals in your mind and interact with them; don’t just be a passive observer.The more engaging the imagery, the faster you’ll be able to absorb andrecollect the information later. If you are new to visualization, try guided visualization first to realizethe potential of guided imagery before coming up with your own.
To further enhance learning,incorporate interesting charts, diagrams, photos and mind maps whenever youcan, especially when difficult concepts and theories are involved. Pictureshave the benefit of packing tons of words into easy-to-understand graphicalrepresentation. Recalling a picture is also much easier than stuffing tenparagraphs of text into your head. Creating your own visuals will help to etchthe information into your mind, but if you can’t, Google is only a click away.
6. Moveyour body
An unhealthy body begets a dull mind. To have a brilliant mind, you need a fitbody to keep it running at tip-top condition. Studies have linked regularexercise with increased blood flow to the brain and a higher number of bloodvessels in the brain. Start a moderate fitness regime by engaging in yourfavorite sports three times a week.
An unhealthy body begets a dull mind. To have a brilliant mind, you need a fitbody to keep it running at tip-top condition. Studies have linked regularexercise with increased blood flow to the brain and a higher number of bloodvessels in the brain. Start a moderate fitness regime by engaging in yourfavorite sports three times a week.
Dozed off while reading? Tofreshen up, make a point to get up and do a five-minute stretching for every40-minute of concentrated reading. For the more athletic ones, a jumping jackor a weightless squat is the best option. Not only will you get your bloodflowing and ward off deep vein thrombosis, your concentration will also get acaffeine-free boost.
7. Exerciseyour brain
Keep your brain fit with brainfitness programs, puzzles, sudoku, chess, computer games and mahjong, a popularChinese four-player game. Our brain is a complex organ consisting of billionsof cells called neurons that change with our life experiences. By engaging inthese activities and learning new things often, it is possible to train ourbrain to function better and prevent, or put off, the adverse effects of aging,Alzheimer’s disease, or brain injury.
Keep your brain fit with brainfitness programs, puzzles, sudoku, chess, computer games and mahjong, a popularChinese four-player game. Our brain is a complex organ consisting of billionsof cells called neurons that change with our life experiences. By engaging inthese activities and learning new things often, it is possible to train ourbrain to function better and prevent, or put off, the adverse effects of aging,Alzheimer’s disease, or brain injury.
8. Learnto the tune
Music is another way to enrich your learning experience and some music havebeen found to improve learning by helping you to recall better. But whetherit’s classical music, sounds ofnature, or melodies of nativeflute, the best music is one that works for you.
Music is another way to enrich your learning experience and some music havebeen found to improve learning by helping you to recall better. But whetherit’s classical music, sounds ofnature, or melodies of nativeflute, the best music is one that works for you.
9. Takethe right food
More and more studies have suggested that the food we eat everyday can affectour brain health. Taking the wrongtypes of food can negativelyimpact our intelligence and literally make us dumb. On the other hand, certainfood containing omega-3 fattyacids, vitamin D and choline, a type of vitamin B found in eggs, can sharpenmemory, improve alertness and increase stress resistance.
More and more studies have suggested that the food we eat everyday can affectour brain health. Taking the wrongtypes of food can negativelyimpact our intelligence and literally make us dumb. On the other hand, certainfood containing omega-3 fattyacids, vitamin D and choline, a type of vitamin B found in eggs, can sharpenmemory, improve alertness and increase stress resistance.
10. Getyour hands dirty
Are you trying to learn how to paint, massage, swim or drive a car? Instead ofspending time reading or thinking about it, why not try it out for yourself?New skills are best learned by real-life experimentation and you will learn alot faster through trial and error and training your reflexes.
Are you trying to learn how to paint, massage, swim or drive a car? Instead ofspending time reading or thinking about it, why not try it out for yourself?New skills are best learned by real-life experimentation and you will learn alot faster through trial and error and training your reflexes.
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