Memory Tricks For Studying: Using Memory Tricks and Heuristics

How well do you remember things? It is likely that you would say “Not well enough!” Some people might have difficulty remembering names, facts, equations, lists, tasks they have to complete or learn a new language. So, can memory be improved? You will be surprised to learn that we all have an unlimited memory capacity and by following the right techniques, you can remember almost anything.

What Is Memory?

The brain's ability to store, encode, retain, and subsequently recall information and past experiences is known as memory. In general terms, it can be described as the use of past experiences that affect or influence present behaviour.

Stages Of Memory

There are three stages of memory. The first stage involves encoding the information. In this process, the information received is converted from physical stimuli so that it can be later be stored, which leads us to the second stage, storage, which is simply the act of storing the encoded information. Finally, the third stage of memory is retrieval or bringing information into awareness from memory.

How Does Memory Work?

We often compare memory with a computer because it is a system for processing information. Memory is the set of processes used to store, encode, and retrieve information over a period of time. For information to enter storage (including long-term memory), it must traverse three distinct stages of memory: Sensory Memory, Short-Term Memory, and finally Long-Term Memory.

We regularly use working memory to accomplish tasks and go about our daily lives. Here are a few examples:

• Asking for directions and remembering the address until you arrive at the destination.

• Remembering someone's name after learning it and keeping it in the memory throughout the conversation.

• Remembering an email address.

• Doing mental calculations to ascertain your total grocery bill while shopping.

Memory Tricks For Studying

We shall now discuss some memory tricks that work and some tips to improve memory.

The Big Picture Technique

Remember not to memorize everything you see, hear, or read. Make sure you understand the context. Begin with the general, then move on to the specific. Think of the big picture before you dive into the details. Make your topic meaningful. For instance, if you hear about Nanda or Mauryan in Indian History, don't simply try to cram it in. Instead, see the bigger picture. Are they associated with a particular period in Indian history? Does it fall under ancient India, medieval India, or modern India? When you mentally picture the time period of the Nanda dynasty, you can easily grasp that this kingdom existed before the Mauryan dynasty, from 322 to 345 BCE.

The Pomodoro Technique

Concentrating on “Pomodoros” rather than the number of hours will allow you to achieve great productivity in less time. The Pomodoro technique (in Italian Pomodoro is translated as tomatoes) may sound strange, but it is one of the most effective techniques for time management.

The Pomodoro Technique

This technique requires a task set, a 25-minute timer and a 5-minute break after the timer rings. Then the task set is reset and Pomodoro (timer) is started again. Our minds can't concentrate for too long, so taking a short break allows the mind to relax a bit for a while (but make sure the break is just 5 minutes long, not exceeding that). It is important to take a 25-30 minute break after completing 3-4 Pomodoros. This will give you some rest while also allowing you to accomplish all the tasks within the specified time frame.

Break down complex projects into manageable tasks so that you can finish them in one Pomodoro, which is 25 minutes. Make a list of what you have to do every day and allot Pomodoros to it, and you are ready for a productive day as long as you manage your breaks efficiently.

Put Mnemonics To Use

Mnemonics are an example of memory tricks that work practically. You can use them to remember information by linking it to a visual image, a sentence, or a word. If you used this example as a mnemonic device, you must have remembered the colours of the rainbow with the acronym VIBGYOR (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red).

Mnemonics can also be used in the following forms:-

Tricks to remember things - Visual Imagery

Information associated with realistic mental images is easier to remember. If you saw a white "Nehru Cap", you might immediately think of Jawahar Lal Nehru, India's first prime minister. Using visual imagery as a mnemonic device is a great aid to remember things as well as a great tool to jog your memory and visualize things when you have to take exams or make presentations.

Tricks to remember things - Chunking

Chunking breaks a large list of numbers and information into smaller, easier to manage chunks. For example, remembering a 10-digit phone number is much easier if it is broken up into three separate chunks (e.g. 312-536-007) rather than one long number (312536007). A few examples of chunking can be seen in the memorization of musical scales, the periodic table, and long lists of items.

Tricks to remember things - Memory Palace

A memory palace is by far the most powerful mnemonic device ever created. Those who have watched 'Sherlock' - the BBC series will know that Sherlock Holmes uses his 'mind palace' to remember practically everything. But this method of memorization exists in the real world as well. Developed in ancient Greece, the mnemonic device is also known as the 'Method of Loci' or the 'Cicero Method'.

So, how exactly does it work?

The memory palace technique entails associating information that you wish to remember with parts of a familiar place. For example, you can associate your home with pieces of information. Start by picturing yourself walking through your house and capturing every detail that you see. It is also a fantastic mental exercise. However, it is not necessary to only visualize as you can physically stroll through your home as well. The purpose of the memory palace is to engage all your senses - auditory, kinesthetic (touch), etc. Assign each item you want to remember to an object or a space in your home. Think about how you might use your wardrobe to store all the words related to the weather if you were studying a new language. By associating mental items with physical locations, your brain is better able to remember and store important things. Memory palaces help remember names, faces, languages, lists, academic material, etc.

What Are Heuristics And How To Apply Them

Heuristics are mental shortcuts that allow us to make decisions quickly without all the relevant information. In other words, they act as a rule of thumb to help you make decisions that have a high probability of being successful without having to think everything through. Heuristics don't always result in the best outcome, but they are useful when speed and precision are more important. Those who work in high-stress, high-uncertainty environments (soldiers, firefighters, health care workers, etc.) often develop simple heuristics.

Some examples of heuristics:

1. Educated Guess - The concept of "educated guess" refers to a heuristic approach that allows individuals to conclude without undergoing exhaustive research. An educated guess involves taking into account previous observations or experiences and applying these past patterns to a situation that may not have a more solid answer. For example, firefighters may know when a burning building will collapse by instinct: an experience-based mental heuristic.

2. Rule of thumb - A rule of thumb is another term for heuristics. An individual can use this heuristic to make an approximation without conducting exhaustive research. For example, you wear white or light coloured clothes on Holi!

3. Contagion heuristic - This leads us to avoid things we consider bad or contaminated. For example, during a bird flu outbreak, people might decide to avoid eggs, meat, and chicken together to prevent getting sick as a result of this simple solution.

To sum it up, here is a fun memory exercise which you may try.

Learn with the right hand, and then remember it with the left hand - As strange as it might seem, a study actually found this to be effective for improving short-term memory. When you are learning, clench your right hand into a fist. Afterwards, if you need to remember something, simply squeeze your left hand. Try it for yourself and see if it makes a difference! Such tips to improve memory can be invaluable when you’re trying to remember things fast.

There is still much to be discovered about how memory works in humans. Though it is not a perfect process, it is what allows us to form our identities. Despite our ability to memorize a huge amount of information, we are also susceptible to mistakes and errors. Whatever your goal is, be it to stay mentally sharp during an exam, to learn a new language, or to avoid embarrassing memory lapses, all it takes is experimenting with memorization tricks and techniques.

Yashodhra Arora is a counselling psychologist. She holds more than 10 years of hands-on experience in HR, and behavioural and career counselling of high school students, in India and the USA.