This led your memory into being less than what it could be.
The truth is: your memory is probably extraordinary. Your memory would blow your mind if you lived up to it’s potential.
It’s possible remember absolutely anything. You can even remember information you read only once. Your memory may have disappointed you in the past. As you learn how to use it (and how not to,) you’ll see it improve.
Some of you may be worried that you’re not “smart” enough (whatever that means.) I promise you that your memory isn’t limited by your intelligence. Biology isn’t the limiting factor. Anyone can struggle with their memory and anyone can improve it. The more you overcome this belief, the more you’ll strengthen your memory.
There are many misconceptions about what memory is and how it’s supposed to work. That leads to most people having a terrible memory. (Or at least thinking they do.)
By figuring out why your memory sucks, you can work on improving it. Even changing one or two of these factors can dramatically improve the way you remember.
1. You Don’t Give A Damn!
The vast majority of memory problems are related to motivation.
The problem isn’t that the brain is incapable of remembering the information. The problem is that the brain doesn’t think the information is worth remembering.
No… just wanting to score a couple points higher on a test isn’t caring about information. Points are just a number on a sheet of paper. If your brain is just thinking about your score then you won’t remember it.
Instead you can look a little deeper. What feeling would you get knowing that you learned the new information? (Or if you impressed someone or proved someone wrong with the information.)
Having a deeper motivation will improve your memory.
The best place to start is clarifying your motivation for trying to remember it. If you find the right motivation then you can get yourself to remember anything.
2. You Can’t Be Schwarzenegger Without Lifting Once In A While
You’ve probably heard this one before. It’s one of the most common memory problems for adults. People that don’t practice using their memory develop weaker memories. People that practice develop stronger memories.
These days it’s easy to never need to remember information. In seconds you can look up virtually any random fact that you need to know.
You have a phone to store phone numbers.
You have search engines to find random facts.
You have Facebook for relationship statuses.
You have everything you need or want to remember at your fingertips. Memory is almost never required outside of school.
Most students have a lot to gain from developing a strong memory. For that reason, there are times when you should spend the extra energy to remember stuff. Knowing where to look them up isn’t enough when the tests start showing up.
3. This Stuff Is Boring And (Unfortunately) You Know It
If something is boring then you’re going to struggle to remember it. Your brain can remember information that is important to your survival. It’s not designed to remember random facts that have little to do with anything important to you.
Does that mean you can never memorize the periodic table or the list of presidents? Of course not. You just need to find a way to make the information less boring to you. This is usually just an outlook problem.
I may find the periodic table to be a boring list of completely irrelevant information, I am not a chemist (nor do I care to be one.) There are some people that could hardly imagine not having memorized the periodic table. They look at that information and think about the potential awesome that could come from memorizing it. If I asked one of them why they found the periodic table interesting, they could probably convince me that it’s at least a little bit interesting.
Everything is interesting if you’re looking at it right. If the information you’re trying to remember is boring then do one of two things.
Don’t waste your time on it.
Look at it differently until you find it interesting.
4. Timed Repetition Hasn’t Blown Your Mind Yet
When you go out of your way to try and memorize information, it doesn’t mean you’ll remember it. It can be damn discouraging to forget it later. A week or two later, the information that seemed easy to you can suddenly seem impossible to remember.
This is one of the difficult parts of memorization. It’s never permanent.
You need to reinforce information that you’re trying to remember at a lengthening interval.
So… if you learned something new today you should review it tomorrow. Then you should review it a week later. Then review it again a month later. Then review it again a year later. These specific intervals may not be ideal. The important part is that those intervals exist. Working in an lengthening interval is essential.
Reviewing information is another way your brain can label information as important. If you memorize something and never need to use it again then it’s just taking up space. It might as well be forgotten. Teach your brain that you’ll use that information again and you’ll never forget it.
5. The Impossible Still Isn’t Possible
I got a message from one student talking about how he was struggling to memorize a chapter from his textbook. He was trying to memorize the chapter in less than a month. He was trying to do this word for word.
This was his last ditch effort to pass a class he’d been failing all semester.
Now… I’ve memorized large chunks of big textbooks but not out of necessity. I did it out of pure novelty (and development of nerd cred.) It’s possible to memorize your textbook but you sure as hell shouldn’t have a tight deadline to do it.
The truth is, if I was in that student’s shoes, I’d be screwed too. Even with my years of practicing crazy memory tricks, I would be under some major pressure. I wouldn’t be able to thrive. (Instead I’d be using those crazy memory tricks to prioritize important information. Then I’d only get that important stuff to stick. And heck, I’d work not to get in that tough spot in the first place.)
Memory isn’t a bucket that you can drop information in and keep. Memory is a chain that needs every link to connect to another link.
Sometimes the links fail to connect while you’re not immediately holding that connection. Those disconnected links will be lost. It’s not easy to connect information. It’s difficult. Any attempt to simplify it past a certain point will end up just reducing your ability to remember it.
Have reasonable expectations with your memory or you’ll never be able to live up to them.
6. You Haven’t Been Replaced By A Robot (Yet)
Memory is a bodily function. It benefits from every other aspect of your body being in a reasonable spot to work at full efficiency.
Don’t ask me why you’re struggling to study half way through an all-nighter. The problem is obvious.
You’re trying to study when your brain is screaming, “SLEEEEEEEP!” Your memory will suffer if you don’t sleep well. (Sometimes the reduced efficiency is worth it but I’d never recommend it. It’s too rare a situation.)
This goes with many other areas of your life as well. If you’re not eating enough food then it makes sense that your memory isn’t working at its peak. If you’re living slovenly and hardly ever moving from your chair then your memory will struggle. If you’re running marathons all day and everyday then again, your memory will struggle.
Memory needs your whole body working in alignment to work at its peak efficiency.
7. Stress Murders Motivation
“I need to remember this or my life is over!”
No… That’s just a bold face lie to try and stress yourself out. Look at it reasonably.
Excessive stress is just as bad lacking some of the factors in number 6. Stress is great for improving your ability to perform physical acts like escaping angry baboons. It’s not great for creative tasks like trying to store something in your memory.
A certain amount of stress is okay. It may even be ideal. Then again, it’s much easier to get excessively stressed than to not get stressed enough. Everyone around you is reinforcing how important grades are. Very few people are reinforcing how unimportant your grades are in the grand scheme of things.
Be very careful not to get too stressed out about school.
8. Everyone’s Lied And Now You’re Using It Wrong!
If I were to slam a nail with the handle end of a hammer and say “this hammer sucks,” you’d look at me like I were nuts. That’s how I feel about most people looking to improve their use of memory.
Most people are using their memory wrong. They believe that, since it can remember certain random things like the smell of a hottie or a the look of a hottie or the taste of… chocolate, that it can also easily remember the random information that it’s reading out of a textbook. That’s just not the case though.
The thing about memory is it needs to think something is important to remember it. Assuming Darwin was right, remembering hotties comes naturally. Remembering food is also natural. Remembering the leader of France in 1872 is not natural unless he or she happens to be physically attractive or tasty.
Reading information is a terrible method of trying to remember information.
Remembering information is best done through the actual recall of hard to remember information. Reading the first side of a flash card doesn’t help you remember information very much. Remembering that second side of the card is using your memory in the right way.
Of course, that’s not the only way people use their memory wrong but that’s a subject explored throughout this article. Don’t expect to use your memory wrong and still remember stuff.
9. You Think Your Vacuum Is Jealous
(You think your memory sucks that much.)
The more you think your memory sucks, the more your memory is going to end up sucking.
This may sound like positive thinking hoohaa or gobbledeegook but it’s true. The human body is at the mercy of its own self-imposed limitations.
So… thinking you can fly can’t make it possible to fly. Thinking you can’t remember something can create limits on your ability to remember something.
You need to accept that your memory is pretty darn boringly average. That’s the statistical case so you might as well believe it. Average memories are powerful enough to do virtually anything with the right study tools.
(Now don’t you go crazy and start thinking that you might have an extraordinary memory because well… gosh darnnitt you might end up proving yourself right.)
Your memory doesn’t have to continue sucking. By learning to fight off these 9 reasons your memory sucks you can make the most out of your memory. More importantly, you will be able to score higher grades with less stress than ever.
How To Make This The BEST Semester Of Your Life
1 Free Ebook + 1 Free Members Only Access
All we’re looking for is an email to deliver it to you & the chance to help you with our members only exclusive emails.
We get emails all the time telling us that they sign up for the ebook but they stayed for the emails. Give them a chance and you might be surprised.
You can learn the strategies students around the world have been using to take their grades to the next level. You’ll learn the most science-backed study strategies and how to actually follow through with them. (And it’s actually actionable – not the usual “work harder” junk.)
Or don’t and keep doing what you’re doing.
fantastic put up, very informative. I’m wondering why the opposite specialists of this sector don’t notice this.
You must continue your writing. I am confident, you’ve a great
readers’ base already!
Hi! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group
of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!
I got this site from my friend who informed me about this web site and at the moment
this time I am visiting this website and reading very informative content at this place.
Informative article, just what I needed.
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and
found that it is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels.
I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your
writing. Cheers!
Those guidelines additionally worked to become a good way to recognize that other people online have the identical fervor like mine to grasp great deal more around this condition.
What’s up colleagues, its impressive article regarding cultureand completely explained, keep it up all the time.
(Thanks a lot very much for the high quality and results-oriented help. I won’t think twice to endorse your blog post to anybody who wants and needs support about this area.
This is an excellent article with relevant content. All the tips mentioned here are handy.
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I will certainly comeback.
Having read this I believed it was very enlightening. I appreciate you spending some time and energy to put this informative article together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worthwhile!
Way cool! Some veryextremely valid points! I appreciate you writing thispenning this articlepostwrite-up and theand also theplus the rest of the site iswebsite is also veryextremelyveryalso reallyreally good.
I always used to read piece of writing in news papers but now
as I am a user of web therefore from now I am using net for articles or reviews, thanks to web.
Generally I do not read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this
write-up very pressured me to check out and do so!
Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, very nice article.
Simply desire to say your article is as amazing.
The clearness in your post is simply cool
and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject.
Well with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post.
Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying work.
It’s great that you are getting thoughts from this article as well as from our discussion made here.
smartstudentsecrets.com does it again! Very informative site and a thought-provoking article. Nice work!
I used to be suggested this blog by way of my cousin. I’m not sure whether this submit is
written by him as no one else recognize such exact approximately my problem.
You are incredible! Thank you!
I enjoy your take on this topic and look forward to additional posts and comments here. Keep up the good work!
does it again! Very interesting site and a well-written post. Thanks!
First off I would like to say superb blog! I had a quick question which I’d like
to ask if you do not mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your head prior to writing.
I have had trouble clearing my thoughts in getting my thoughts out.
I do enjoy writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are wasted just trying to figure
out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips? Kudos!
Your mode of describing the whole thing in this post is genuinely fastidious, all be able to easily know it,
Thanks a lot.
May I simply just say what a comfort to discover an individual who actually knows what they’re discussing on the web. You actually realize how to bring an issue to light and make it important. A lot more people ought to check this out and understand this side of your story. It’s surprising you’re not more popular because you most certainly have the gift.|
Hi there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the
same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!
I enjoy reading through an article that can make people think.
Also, many thanks for allowing me to comment!
Can you tell us more about this? I’d care to find
out some additional information.
Hi there, I desire to subscribe for this webpage to obtain newest updates, so where can i do it please assist.
Hi there, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one
and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam comments?
If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can advise?
I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any assistance is
very much appreciated.
That is a good tip especially to those new to the blogosphere.
Brief but very accurate info… Thanks for sharing this one.
A must read article!
It’s perfect time to make some plans for the long run and it is time to be happy.
I have read this put up and if I could I wish to suggest you some fascinating issues or advice.
Maybe you can write subsequent articles relating to this
article. I wish to read even more things about it!
I read this paragraph completely regarding the resemblance of newest and preceding technologies, it’s remarkable article.
My family members always say that I am killing my time here
at net, however I know I am getting knowledge everyday by
reading thes nice posts.
It’s amazing to go to see this web page and reading the views of all mates on the topic of this article,
while I am also zealous of getting experience.
Greetings! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group
of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You
have done a wonderful job!
Greetings! Very useful advice within this post!
It’s the little changes that make the biggest changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for
the long run and it is time to be happy. I’ve learn this publish
and if I may just I desire to suggest you some interesting
issues or tips. Perhaps you can write subsequent
articles referring to this article. I desire to learn more things approximately it!
An impressive share, I simply with all this onto a colleague who was simply carrying out a little analysis for this. And that he in truth bought me breakfast since I ran across it for him.. smile. So i want to reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending some time to talk about this, I feel strongly concerning this and love reading regarding this topic. Whenever possible, as you become expertise, do you mind updating your blog post with an increase of details? It truly is highly a good choice for me. Big thumb up due to this post!
There couple of fascinating points with time in this post but I don’t know if these center to heart. There’s some validity but I am going to take hold opinion until I explore it further. Excellent article , thanks and we want more! Added to FeedBurner likewise
Oh my goodness! an excellent post dude. Thanks a ton However We are experiencing problem with ur rss . Don’t know why Cannot sign up for it. Is there everyone acquiring identical rss problem? Anybody who knows kindly respond. Thnkx
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog
before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
Anyhow, I’m definitely delighted I found it and
I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently!
some genuinely interesting information, well written and broadly speaking user friendly.
I have been surfing online more than three hours today, yet
I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough
for me. In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made
good content as you did, the web will be much more useful
than ever before.
First of all I would like to say excellent blog! I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if you do not mind.
I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your thoughts before writing.
I’ve had a difficult time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts
out. I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually
wasted just trying to figure out how to begin. Any
suggestions or hints? Many thanks!
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thanks,
However I am going through problems with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I am unable to join it.
Is there anybody else getting similar RSS problems?
Anyone that knows the solution will you kindly respond?
Thanks!!
Wow, this was cool. Keep writing this kind of blogs, you will get a lot of people to this blog if you continue doing this. I will be coming back this domain more often. thx
Thanks for finally talking about >9 Reasons Your Memory Sucks –
Smart Student Secrets <Loved it!
Everyone loves what you guys tend to be up too. This kind of clever work and exposure!
Keep up the wonderful works guys I’ve you guys to blogroll.
Hey there this is kinda of off topic but I was wanting to know if
blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise so I wanted to get advice from
someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
Unquestionably believe that which you stated.
Your favorite justification seemed to be on the net the simplest thing to be
aware of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people consider
worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out
the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal.
Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your content seem to
be running off the screen in Firefox. I’m not sure
if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser
compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you
know. The design and style look great though! Hope you get the issue resolved soon. Thanks
I’ll immrdiately seize ｙoᥙr rss as I can’t in finding ｙоur email subscription hyperlink ᧐r e-newsletter service.
Ɗߋ you have any? Pⅼease aⅼlow mｅ recognise
ѕo thɑt I mɑy subscribe. Ꭲhanks.
Grеat web siute yοu’ve got hеre.. Ιt’s difficult tⲟ fond excellent wruting
ⅼike үours thse ԁays. І seriolusly appreϲiate people like you!
Take care!!
whoah this weblog is fantastic i like studying your articles.
Keep up the great work! You already know, many persons are searching round for this
information, you could aid them greatly.
Incredible story there. What occurred after? Take care!
Thanks for some other informative website. The place else may just I am getting that type
of information written in such a perfect method? I have a undertaking that I’m just now operating on, and
I’ve been at the glance out for such information.
Awesome post.
Thanks for another informative website. The place else may I am
getting that type of information written in such an ideal means?
I’ve a challenge that I am simply now working on, and I’ve been on the glance out for such information.
This is a topic which is near to my heart… Cheers!
Where are your contact details though?
You made some decent points there. I looked on the web for
more information about the issue and found most people will go along
with your views on this site.
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this
superb blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to new updates and will share this site with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
Hello, just wanted to mention, I loved this post.
It was helpful. Keep on posting!
hi!,I really like your writing very a lot!
percentage we be in contact extra approximately your article on AOL?
I need a specialist on this house to resolve my problem. Maybe that is you!
Having a look ahead to peer you.
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem together with your website in internet
explorer, might test this? IE still is the market chief and a good part of other folks will omit
your great writing due to this problem.
It is appropriate time to make a few plans for the longer term
and it is time to be happy. I have learn this publish and if
I may just I want to recommend you few fascinating things or suggestions.
Maybe you could write subsequent articles relating to this article.
I wish to learn more issues approximately it!
Hey, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your blog site in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, amazing blog!
Thanks for any other excellent article. Where else may just anybody
get that kind of information in such a perfect means of writing?
I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the
search for such info.
It’s perfect time to make a few plans for the future and it’s time
to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I desire
to counsel you few fascinating things or suggestions. Maybe you could write subsequent articles referring
to this article. I desire to learn even more things approximately it!
Your way of describing the whole thing in this post is genuinely nice, all
be able to easily know it, Thanks a lot.
I every time emailed this webpage post page to all my associates, since if like
to read it afterward my contacts will too.
Hello I am so excited I found your blog, I really found you by error, while I
was searching on Aol for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say
thank you for a remarkable post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have
time to browse it all at the minute but I have saved
it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I
have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the
awesome b.
My brother recommended I might like this website.
He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You
cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
Appreciate this post. Let me try it out.
I could not resist commenting. Perfectly written!
Hello to every one, the contents existing at this web site are truly amazing
for people experience, well, keep up the nice work fellows.
I’m gone to inform my little brother, that he should also go to see this webpage on regular basis
to obtain updated from latest news.
Hi colleagues, fastidious post and nice arguments commented
here, I am truly enjoying by these.
It’s awesome to visit this site and reading the views of all friends about this post,
while I am also zealous of getting know-how.
I was able to find good advice from your blog posts.
I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your
authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get
got an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following.
unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly
the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.
I’ve been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or
blog posts on this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site.
Studying this information So i am happy to express that I have an incredibly just
right uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I such a lot surely will make certain to do not put out of your mind this web site and
give it a look on a relentless basis.
My spouse and I stumbled over here different page and thought I might
as well check things out. I like what I see so i am just following
you. Look forward to looking over your web page yet again.
For most recent news you have to pay a visit the web and on world-wide-web I found this
site as a finest web page for hottest updates.
I always spent my half an hour to read this
blog’s articles or reviews every day along with a mug of coffee.
Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great content on our website.
Keep up the good writing.
I’m pretty pleased to find this website. I wanted
to thank you for your time for this fantastic read!!
I definitely appreciated every part of it and i also
have you saved as a favorite to check out new information on your
website.
It’s funny how in my early teens when I got my very first cell phone, I was able to remember all my friends and families numbers off by heart. Now, I can barely remember my own at times.
I have a feeling relying on technology is really messing our minds up. Do you think we could live without that technology now though? I doubt it haha
#7 is a big one for me. When I’m stressed out, I feel like a chicken with its head cut off just trying to focus. My lack of focus then makes it hard to recall anything. Considering bad memories also seem to run rampant in my family, I’m going to keep this list in mind!
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you so much, However I
am having issues with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to subscribe to
it. Is there anybody getting the same RSS problems?
Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
I once read that taking down notes in class using a pen and paper instead of typing them on your laptop or taking pictures of them with your phone can help you remember the information better. Sure, it will take more time and effort on your part, but I’ve tried it and it has definitely helped me. I think that this practice can be pretty helpful, especially if you’re struggling with nos. 2 and 4!
I went through school with a pencil and paper, and fully agree. I still use a pencil and paper on Sunday mornings and for any type of learning situation I find myself in. I’ve found that if I’m not actively taking notes, even if it’s stuff I already know or stuff that isn’t actually interesting enough to write down, I cannot pay attention. So for me, I don’t take notes to review them later; I take notes so I can pay attention during the lesson.
I haven’t ever tried taking notes on a computer, so I don’t have anything to compare it to, but there’s definitely something to be said about the feel of a word being formed by your own hand. I do know that when I write things on a computer, I often don’t remember them and have to go back and read what I’ve written more often than the things that I’ve hand-written. I think there’s just more of a connection, and I write more slowly than I type (70+ wpm), so I think that’s part of it.
Some of those reasons contribute to my main problem, which is mental illness taking toll on my mental capacity. I’ve changed a lot since it became serious enough to start medicating. I’m not sure what’s clouding my mind more – the illness or meds fighting it. I’m really glad that I don’t have to study as much as I used to.
I’ve been told that if you have to read something long and boring, there’s an easy (but repetitive) way to memorize it. Read a paragraph at a time. Read it once in your head, and then once out loud. Once you’ve done that, try reading it without looking. It’s supposed to help you really understand what you’re reading, even if it’s boring.