How to Improve Your Memory Power – 7 Effective Techniques

When I was an undergraduate student, I had to take 5 classes in a foreign language to complete my degree.

I took classes in Englisg and Hindi, fulfill my requirement – and needless to say – I’m glad that’s over with.

I’ve literally spent hundreds of hours memorizing verb conjugations. And I’ve probably killed many trees with all the note cards I’ve used up.

The more I memorized, the easier it became – not because I was getting smarter – but simply because my brain was used to memorizing a lot of information every single day.

Pretty soon I was able to memorize stacks of vocabulary cards very quickly. It just took practice, and anyone can do it.

Here are some of the strategies I used to help me memorize my vocabulary terms and conjugation rules quickly:

Make Creative Associations
When I was memorizing a new word or grammar rule, I tried to develop a fun way to make it stick. The more outlandish the association, the better it would stick. For example, let’s say that I had to remember that word “domus” is Latin for home. I would simply imagine a huge dome hanging over moose. (The classical Latin pronunciation sounds like “Dome-oose.”) That association would help me remember the word easily. I know this sound simplistic, but it really works. I would sometimes draw out fun associations on the back of my vocabulary note cards to really make these bizarre associations remembered.

Break-up Your Study Time
Our brains tend to remember less the longer we study. That’s why it’s often easier for us to remember the beginning and end of a lecture than all the details in between. So I found that by studying in short one hour stints helped me remember more. Everyone is different, so find out what amount of study time is perfect for you. You might find that you can memorize more in three one-hour sessions than one four-hour session.

Use Your Mind and Body
Sitting at a desk staring at some grammar rules might work for some people, but I always learned quicker by actively doing something with the information. I would draw association pictures or read my book aloud to help make things more permanent in my mind. I also found that studying note cards while walking around campus was a way to keep myself energized and focused.

Repeat What You Need to Know
One way to help something stick in your mind is to recite it to yourself. Read it aloud to yourself – and then read it again. The key here is to saturate your mind with the content in every way possible. One fun way to do this is to imagine your vocabulary cards or textbook being read by someone you think is funny. Imagine your textbook being read by Jon Stewart. It will at least keep things a bit more interesting.

Reduce the Noise
Some people study well listening to music. It really depends on the subject matter. However, if you find yourself drifting off, or focusing on the words of the song, it’s probably best to dismiss the music for a while. If you enjoy music, listen to some classical music or some other music that helps you focus. You basically want to situate yourself in a place with the least amount of noise interference.

Stay Positive (if possible)
You’ll remember far more information about a subject if you try to find it interesting. If you think the topic is boring and useless, than you’re going to make memorization that much harder. Look for some sort of connection on how the subject you need to learn about fits in with your life.

Study When You’re Most Productive
Everyone has their best study time, and often it’s during the daytime. There’s just something about memorizing and studying when it’s daytime that can keep you more motivated and more focused. I find that I’m most productive during the early morning. I often go to a coffee shop around 6:30 a.m. and just drink coffee while I write and study. Find your best time to study and keep on that schedule. It will do wonders for your memory power.

Manage your Anger to improve your Life

First, you must determine that your anger is a problem or else you cannot do anything to solve it. Ask yourself how frequently you get angry, and whether you overreact, or whether your anger is in proportion with the situation at hand. Do you find yourself pouting or holding grudges? Does your anger scare others or yourself and does it have a negative impact on your lifestyle. Do you feel yourself beginning to lose it and then do you feel as though there is no control to it?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then you certainly have problems with anger and you must understand that there are terrible consequences to this kind of anger. You might destroy many important relationships in your life, you might create a dangerous or hostile living environment, you will not be as productive at home or work, you might endure health problems and excess stress, you might get into trouble with the law, and you might even be tempted to engage in some violent behaviors.

First, you must determine that your anger is a problem or else you cannot do anything to solve it. Ask yourself how frequently you get angry, and whether you overreact, or whether your anger is in proportion with the situation at hand. Do you find yourself pouting or holding grudges? Does your anger scare others or yourself and does it have a negative impact on your lifestyle. Do you feel yourself beginning to lose it and then do you feel as though there is no control to it?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then you certainly have problems with anger and you must understand that there are terrible consequences to this kind of anger. You might destroy many important relationships in your life, you might create a dangerous or hostile living environment, you will not be as productive at home or work, you might endure health problems and excess stress, you might get into trouble with the law, and you might even be tempted to engage in some violent behaviors.

Everyone gets angry, that is a fact of life. But some people do not have as good control over it as others. You have to understand what triggers your anger, which people, situations or events make you furious and livid? You need to understand that you have triggers and then you must Observe, Analyze, and Change.

As you begin to observe, this is the first step in determining the roots of your anger. You must take notice of what situations and incidents cause you to lose all control. What actions are you doing when your anger begins? What are the people around you doing and what kind of environment are you in. When you get angry, how high is your stress level, and did you sleep well the night before. You need to be able to distinguish certain features that might provide some insight into a pattern of anger that you might fall into once in a while. Once you determine your pattern, you are now aware and you can stop yourself when you find yourself falling into your pattern. When some component of your pattern occurs, quickly remind yourself not to fall prey to it.

Next, analyze exactly what is triggering your anger. Anger is not always irrational, because sometimes there is a very good reason, but more often than not people's emotions get so wildly out of control, they don't stop to decipher the actual problem. Stop and think, what is making you so angry? Is it a foul mood that is transferring to anger? Is it hurt? Or helplessness? What is happening around you that is causing you to get angry and that is the best way you can deal with it. You have to understand what mood you are in and to see what the actual sane and rational reason is that is causing you to react.

Finally, you need to figure out how to change these patterns and reactions. If you see yourself about to get angry, take a deep cleansing breath three times. If a person is your trigger and you feel yourself about to explode, calmly tell that person to leave or excuse yourself so that you do not lose your control or cool. You have to take these steps and at first it will feel like you are repressing yourself, but actually you are simply changing your pattern of response. How you choose to respond is up to you, and choosing a healthy way will keep you healthier and happier.

Move Beyond Your Circumstances

“I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.”

- Gerry Spence

No matter what is going on in your life there is always a solution.

Regardless of what aspect of your life you may be struggling with; you can totally change any undesirable circumstance. First you have to believe it.

Many people have absolutely no confidence in a better future; they accept things just the way they are as if they have no way of changing a thing.

If you hold onto this limiting belief you will continue to experience lack and you will more than likely never change a thing. But, if you start to open your mind to new possibilities; you will be able to take the steps in the direction of claiming your desires. Beyond your circumstances is a world that exists which you have to learn to tap into.

You learn to tap into it by consciously controlling your subconscious mind.

What you tell yourself about an event or situation is imprinted in you mind as reality. Your subconscious can’t differentiate from what’s real or imagined; therefore it’s important to choose your thoughts wisely.

Once you begin to shift your beliefs from impossibilities to possibilities you will be on the path to creating a more fulfilling life on any level.

As you open yourself up and tap into your latent potential; what you can achieve is limitless. Your faith will be revealed by your courage to let go of your old, limiting beliefs and trust in the certainty of reaching your goals.

Have you ever wondered why some people are successful and others aren’t? Why some people have money and others live paycheck to pay- check? All of our circumstances; whether positive or negative; are a reflection of our belief system. If you don’t like how you are living; it’s time to learn the secrets of tapping into the power that exists inside you.

It’s not something you have to go get, you already possess it. You simply need to learn to believe in your future again. Learn the technique of redirecting your mind to thinking positive, empowering thoughts. Decide what you want and then go after it with a passion and confidence that is backed by an unquestionable conviction of your ability to attain it.

Possessing this new found burning desire will make you unstoppable. It gives you a “purpose” you didn’t have before; which will become your driving force. As you persevere in moving in the direction of realizing your dreams; you will find yourself attracting to you those people and circumstances that will help you in achieving exactly what you desire.

This is called, “The Law of Attraction.” We attract into our lives that which we believe and whatever we continue to think about all day will be what we experience. So, when you grasp the concept that you really do have the power to change any aspect of your life; you can begin to take the right steps to take yourself beyond on any given circumstance