How to memorize fast? 13 effective tips

April 23, 2024

Throughout the day we face a lot of information , that bombards us continuously and that we must process in order to be able to adapt to the environment.

Much of this information is not excessively relevant except at the time it appears, but sometimes it may be useful to keep it in memory. For example, at an academic level we are asked to capture, maintain and retain in memory the data we receive.

But to memorize something usually is not worth exposing yourself once to such information: just by hearing a few words or reading a few lines we will not retain them unless they have marked us deeply. It is also desirable that the memorization process not be eternalized, but that it be efficient and allow room for our attention to be directed to new elements.

How to memorize fast? Throughout this article we will propose a series of different strategies that can help us to accelerate and facilitate the retention of information.

Related article: "Types of memory: how memory stores the human brain?"

How to memorize fast: strategies and procedures

There are many elements that influence our ability to encode and retain information. Y Some of these elements can be manipulated in order to favor learning . Next we will see a series of possible methods or procedures to help us memorize.

1. Review the information

Something basic to learn and memorize something is to make this information enter our mind on several occasions. With a single presentation it is very complex to keep something in your memory , unless it has a profound emotional impact. The review and repetition serve to reinforce the footprint that this information leaves in our memory, in some cases until it becomes something automatic.

This is especially useful for information unrelated to each other or that we can not link with other knowledge of our day to day, such as a list of words or multiplication tables, but it is also applicable to other types of information.

2. Make schemes and summaries

Just reading a text and waiting for it to end up being recorded in memory can be a slow and inefficient process. It is advisable at the time of accelerating to make summaries of the treated content and even schemes in which to synthesize and organize the information. This allows to work at the mental level with information, processing and manipulating it in such a way that we make it understandable to ourselves .

3. Read and repeat out loud

Several studies show that compared to the silent reading is more effective and efficient when it comes to memorizing the fact of verbalizing what we are reading, because not only work at the level of visual representation but also at the auditory and motor level .

4. Explain it to another

It may be advisable to make a small exposure or explanation to another person of the content that we have to memorize. In a similar way to the previous point, the fact of mentally working with information to put it in our own words and express it helps us to make sense of what we have learned, something that undoubtedly favors faster and more efficient memorization.

5. Employs multiple pathways

When we think about studying or memorizing something, we will probably get the image of someone staring at the same information presented in the same way. Although the repetition of information is necessary, it may be useful for the material to be presented through multiple channels. Of course, with some perseverance and caution, If each repetition is different, this can cause damage when focusing in the content itself.

In addition, using different routes will make people who have more facility for a specific type of memorization can increase their chances and the speed at which they learn (there are people for example who retain more visual information than verbal or vice versa, or the that pictograms or drawings work better than letters).

6. Use metaphors, acronyms and acronyms

A good strategy that facilitates the memorization of a content is not limited to represent it as such but try to generate metaphors with the concepts or join the initials or parts of the words to learn to form a new shorter and more easily memorizable .

You may be interested: "Lewis's active and inactive memory theory"

7. Create your own story

Another method that facilitates the quick memorization of some type of information is to find a relationship between the different concepts to be retained and to elaborate a small story or even a single sentence that contains both. In this way the memory of one will elicit that of another.

8. Relate the new to the old

Another strategy to learn, and that in fact is often done naturally during the learnings that we most easily perform , is to link the new information to memorize with knowledge or previous experiences. This helps to make sense of the information and attribute a meaning to it.

9. Find a favorable place

Context is important when facilitating or hindering the learning process. In order to favor memorization, it will be advisable look for an environment with adequate light intensity and to be able to be natural , with a comfortable temperature and in which we can maintain a comfortable position but not excessively lax. It is also important that there are no other distracting elements present (mobiles, screens or consoles out of reach) and that sufficient space is available.

10. Context dependent memory

Several studies show us that the conditions in which we acquire knowledge also influence their recollection: when we receive information in a certain place or in concrete circumstances, it is easier to remember it when these conditions recreate again. For example, if we learned something underwater, it would be much easier to remember it again in a new dive than on the surface. It is because of that It is useful to always study in a space similar to the situation in which we are going to apply this knowledge .

11. Link information to something you're passionate about

Although it is not always possible, it can be very useful to relate what we want to learn with something that generates interest and satisfaction. In this way the knowledge to be memorized can be easier to retain by linking with the positive emotions related to our hobby. For example, people who like theater can come well to perform a small theatrical performance that integrates what they should memorize.

12. Take breaks regularly

Many people spend long hours watching and reviewing the material to learn, and may even spend sleepless nights to keep trying to memorize. Although elbow is not bad, the truth is that it has been shown that Tugging around for hours and hours is not as efficient as making short one-off breaks of a few minutes in which we can disconnect and relax and then get back to studying.

Obviously neither should abuse: perhaps a break every hour that lasts about five minutes could go well, although it will depend on the pace of work and not break a particular moment of concentration.

13. Basic requirement: eat and sleep correctly

In order to learn and maintain good functioning and mental efficiency, it is necessary to maintain a sufficient quantity and quality of sleep that allows us to regenerate and replenish our energies . The same can be said about nutrition: eating well will help us to have energy and to favor mental functioning.