Forget an appointment or lost your keys? There are tricks that can help remember things better. For example, Femke Bol set a cross on her good ankle before the start of a competition. You can do this even more.
“Having something in your head and remembering for later is really an art,” says professor Katinka Dijkstra. At Erasmus University Rotterdam she investigates the relationship between aging and memory. If you want to learn to remember better, then she is all kinds of tricks for that. “That what Femke Bol did work very well.” She wanted to start running with her other leg, and therefore put a cross as a memory aid.
A cross or scribble on your hand, an elastic on your finger or wrist: these are all ways that can help you remember that there is still something you have to do. But maybe you are someone who then forgets what that cross on your hand was again. Then, according to Dijkstra, you can best put what you really should not forget at the front door. She also mentions pill boxes and calendars as external tools.
If you have to take medication every morning or evening, then place a pill box in a handy place. You can of course use a calendar to remember important dates, but don’t forget to turn the page to the correct month. If these tricks do not work for you, then that is not crazy, says neuroscientist Job van den Hurk.
“There are people who compare the memory with a hard disk. After all, it is also a place where you store things. But the memory doesn’t work that way.” Our brain is good at remembering things that are relevant to us, he explains. “It is a kind of association machine. The context in which something takes place makes a lot of difference.”
Don’t just throw your keys somewhere
At the start of her running competition, the context was clear to Bol. But a cross on your hand may not always be. What will help? “We often remember things that evoke strong emotions. And we are also very strong,” says Van den Hurk.
He recommends working with the memory palace. In it you go from room to room in mind and you can visualize what lies where. “Suppose you are going to go shopping, but have difficulty remembering what you need again. Imagine there is a sprinkle in the living room and cheese in the hallway.”
Keeping your attention there is also not unimportant. “For example, you often throw your keys somewhere. But that also means that you often forget where that was again.”
So if you really have to remember something, then it is good to do that concentrated and consciously. Furthermore, Van den Hurk tips the trick to link two separate things together.
“Suppose you don’t forget to buy eggs, but you also want to congratulate your neighbor with getting her driver’s license. That is two boring, non-relevant facts that have nothing to do with each other. If you imagine giving the neighbor eggs as a gift, you will probably not forget them.”
Positioning something physically helps
Imaginating something physical also helps, says Dijkstra. “Suppose you should not forget to close the window. You don’t necessarily have to do that, but only making the movement with your arm can be enough.”
To remember telephone numbers, she recommends linking numbers to something from your long -term memory. “For example, the year 1945 or the year in which you were born. Those are four numbers.”
Dijkstra is not a fan of repetition. According to her, repeating a name with every new person you get to know does not work. “Try to make a story of it instead and form a unique image with that person.”
Van den Hurk states that instead of repeating it is better to make it an active action. Try to remember what you have to remember to someone else. “One of the worst ways to learn new material is to sit in a lecture hall and listen to the teacher.”
What is really effective: sleep well. “It has been clearly demonstrated that good sleep is important for the long -term memory,” says Van den Hurk. If you notice that you are getting a little more forgetful, go to bed a little earlier. That will hopefully go a long way.
Forget An Appointment or Lose Your Keys? There are tricks that can help you remember things better. For Example, Femke Bol Put a Cross on Good Ankle Before the Start of a Competition. Here’s what else you can do.
“Having Something in your head and remembering it for Later is a real art,” Says Professor Katinka Dijkstra. At Erasmus University Rotterdam, She Studies The Relationship between Aging and Memory. If you want to go to remember Better, there are all child or tricks for that, accordance to her. “What Femke Bol Did Works Very Well.” She wanted to start running with her other leg, so she put a cross as a reminder.
A cross or scribble on your hand, an elastic band around your finger or wrist: these are all ways that can help you remember that is something you still need to do. But Maybe you are some who’s forgets what that cross on your hand was for. Then, Accordination to Dijkstra, you can best put what you really can’t forget at the front. She also mentions pill boxes and calendars as external aids.
If you need to take medication every Morning or Evening, place a pill box in a convenient place for you. You can of course use a calendar to remember important dates, but don’t forget to turn the page to the correct month. If thesis tricks don’t work for you, that’s not surprising, says neuroscientist Job van den Hurk.
“There are people who compare memory to a hard drive. After all, it is also a place where you store things. But memory dosn’tn’t work like that.” Our brain is good at remembering things that are relevant to us, he explains. “It’s a child of association machine. The context in which something takes place makes a big differentence.”
Don’t just throw your keys somewhere
At the start of her running competition, the context was clear for bol. But a cross on your hand may not always be. So What Helps? “We of Remember Things That Evoke Strong Emotions Better. And We Are Also Very Strong Visully,” Says van den Hurk.
The Recommends Working with the Memory Palace. In it you go from room to room in your mind and you can visualize for yourself what lies where. “Imagine you’re going grocery shopping, but you have trouble remembering what you need. Then Imagine There’s Chocolate Sprinkles in the Living Room and Cheese in the Hallway.”
Keeping your Attention is also important. “For example, you of just throw your keys somewhere. But that also makes you often forget where that was.”
So if you really need to remember something, it is good to do it concentrated and consciously. Van den Hurk also suggests the trick of linking two separate things together.
“Imagine you have to remember to buy eggs, but you also want to congratulate your neighbor on getting her driver’s license. Those are two boring, irrelevant facts that have nothing to do with each other. If you probe aforge won forbor of forbor of a forbor of a forbor of forpbor of forbor of forbor of forbor of forbor or forbor of forbor of forbor or forbor of forbor of forbor or forbor of forpbor of forbor or forbor orpbor of forpbor orpbor’s as a foror’s as you. Theme. “
Physically Portraying Something Helps
Physically Portraying Something also Helps, Says Dijkstra. “Imagine you must not forget to close the window. You don’t necessarily have to actual do that, but just making the movement with your arm may be enough.”
To Remember Phone Numbers, She Recommends Linking Numbers to Something from Your Long-Term Memory. “For Example, The Year 1945 or the Year you were Born. That’s Four Numbers Right Away.”
Dijkstra is not a fan of rehearsal. Repeating a name with every new person you meet does not work, accordance to her. “Instead, try to make a story out of it and form a unique image with that person.”
Van den Hurk States That Insead of Repeating, It is Better To Make An Active Action Out Of It. Try to Explain what you need to remember to Someone Else. “One of the sausage ways to learn new material is to sit in a lecture hall and listen to the teacher.”
What is really effective: Sleeping Well. “It has bone very clearly demonstrated that sleeping well is important for long-term memory,” Says van den Hurk. If you Notice That You Are Becoming More Forgetful, Go to Bed A Little Earlier. Hopefully that will get you a long way.