For example, “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. ” This mnemonic is often used to help people remember the order of operations for solving algebra problems. P stands for parentheses, E-exponents, M-multiply, D-divide, A-add, and S-subtract in the sentence. A popular mnemonic device in the musical world is Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge, which stands for the notes in the treble staff: EGBDF. [2] X Research source The fake name acronym ROY G BIV has long helped people remember the colours in the rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. [3] X Research source Math uses the acronym PEMDAS for remembering orders of operations, while English grammar uses FANBOY as a memory tool for conjunctions. [4] X Expert Source Ted Coopersmith, MBAAcademic Tutor Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
If you need to memorize the names of 5 coworkers you have just met, think of an image that you can associate with each person’s name. For example, you could associate Charlie with the image of the cartoon character Charlie Brown, Michael with an image of the archangel Michael, Cindy with iconic supermodel Cindy Crawford, Donna with a 50s doo-wop singer, and Herbert with a bowl of sherbet.
If you are studying in a library, then make sure that you are in a section where some noise is permitted.
Continue through the pile in this manner to memorize the information.
For example, after reading a paragraph on how the heart pumps blood, explain it to yourself briefly in 1 to 2 sentences.
Color-coding your notes by topic. Memorizing a 3 to 4-word phrase or 3 to 4 numbers at a time. Focusing on the key terms in 1 paragraph or page in a textbook.
In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Thirty days has September, April, June, and November.
If you prefer, you can also record yourself reading the information and then listen to the recording repeatedly. This is a good option if you have a log commute or if you just learn better by hearing things.
For example, you could relate the material you need to memorize for a math test to the rules of baseball if you are a sports fan, or use a cooking analogy to help you remember a chemistry concept if you are a fan of cooking.
For example, if you need to memorize 20 new vocabulary words for a test, then you might only need to study for 30 minutes per day over the course of a week. However, if you need to memorize lines for a leading role in a play, then you will need to start memorizing 3 to 4 weeks in advance and plan to study your lines for at least an hour daily.
For example, if you need to be able to explain photosynthesis for a science test, then see if you can do this without checking your notes first. If you need to be able to recite a poem from memory, then try to recite it.
You don’t have to get in a long workout to reap the benefits of exercise for better memorization. Even taking a 15-minute walk before you start studying can help. [19] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Doing 20 minutes of yoga before working on memorizing something is another great way to boost your brain function. [20] X Research source
You can drink green tea hot or iced.
If you have trouble staying focused, try setting small goals and rewarding yourself with a short break each time you meet one of them. For example, you could make it your goal to focus on studying for 25 minutes, and then reward yourself with a 5 minute break.
For example, you could work on memorizing at around 2 or 3 pm.
Try going to bed a little earlier than you normally do, such as 10:00 pm if you normally got to bed at 10:30 pm. Make your bedroom a relaxing space that you only use for sleep. Don’t work, eat, or do other daytime activities in your bedroom.
