I read a lot and want to always be able to remember and recall those things, but I forget (for eg. general knowledge items...or anything and everything about our world that's worth commiting to memory)! Or when a topic comes up when I am talking to a friend and I KNOW I would have been able to contribute better if only I could remember...but when it's time to recall, I can't. And then it's almost as if I never read it! So all that time and effort that goes into reading (although enjoyable) is basically not being used to its full potential. Any tips on how I can remember things better when I am reading something?
210453
When you read, read aloud anything you think is important and repeat it to yourself a couple of times. You have a better chance of remembering. Or another option is to carry around a recorder and record anything important and listen to it later. Works for me for studying for Geo. exam.
609659
memory has to do with how you store the information in your mind, and strategies you have for recall.  There are very easy ways to accomplish this, and have easy, long-term recall of school data. Email me at coach4learn@yahoo.com and Id be happy to give you more info on that.\n\nP.S. Im a vegetarian too!!!
181310
its funny, I have been called by my wife and others an encyclopedia of useless information (until of course she needs to know it) ...I wonder how much of that I would truly consider important and how much just sticks up there for some other reason...I would imagine even if it seems trivial to others it must have some import to the person who remembers it or why would they bother ....\n\nDang you for making me think this early in the morning!!!!\n\nedited to answer additional info: I write this information down. Repeatedly if necessary. I find that writing something down puts it in my memory. Can't explain why but it just does...
415952
Have you tried reading them out loud? You will be busy talking, and pick up pieces here and there. Then you can go back and read what you missed silently. That helps sometimes.  Or, it just may be that you have to have more time to process what you're reading. It's ok. keep plugging away.
569933
Memorizing vocabulary is difficult.  Flash cards are good.  Or relate the word to something that is easy to remember.  Or use root words, root words are the best way to help.
99233
Think this through, what is it that your doing which is taking away so much time from you obtaining knowledge and reading great books?  It seems to me everyone has misinterpretations of what it means to read a book and obtain knowledge, just relax, read small paragraphs of classics even if it wouldnt make sense to you, read them for they make you think.  Just follow current events you gain knowledge by whats happeining around you also you follow change.
297587
The basic truth is that you can't completely forget anything! Get used to it!
160442
Read what you are trying to learn on to tape. Then listen to the tape. It sounds like you learn more by listening. Trust me it works. You have to read the book anyways, might as well tape yourself and listen back.
623022
write them down, say it to yourself while you're writing it down, then repeat it out loud after you're written it down, and be aware that you're trying to remember.  \n\npracticing memory skills can definatley lengthen your short term memory.
433107
Say it out loud. Always helps to memorize faster. Also, take it apart and study it closely section by section. Also, study the main points since they can help build up the rest of the sentence. If you just can't memorize, you can write on your hand and look at it occasonally. ^-^
51490
Here are two things that may work for you. I had a friend tell me once that they would study by using the melody of a song. They would take the information they needed to know and memorize in the melody of their favorite songs. This way they knew the melody and words to the song and by replacing the lyrics with the subject they were studying they could remember what they needed to know.\n\nAlso, I had a teacher once tell some tips for remembering things. If he needed to remember a persons name, he would associate it with something to help him remember. If he needed to remember where he put his keys, when he would put them down he would imagine and act as though he was going to slam them right through the table. This way he would remember doing that and remember where he put them.\n\nHe also said he had a trick for studying for finals. What he would do is take the time to right up all his notes from the year/semester for the class. Doing this will help get you started studying because you will remember some of what you type. He would then start to memorize his notes. Taking away more and more as he remembered it until he would read all of his notes back to himself without looking at the paper once.\n\nHope this helps
115529
Only way to learn fast is to be cool and composite, plan in well advance, try to discuss with friends and try to create a photographic memory because that lasts longer.  Get some time to relax and take some time off from daily activities.  When you learn try to create some links with that what you want to remember.  Get a sound sleep, worrying about anything makes you more vulnerable of forgetting.
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Keep using your mind, play memory games.\n\nAssociate between names, faces, objects, smell, feelings.\nTie-in your senses with the memory.\n\nYou can also try mnemonics, debeloping visual or verbal stories about waht your memorizing
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10 Steps to Improve Your Memory\n\nGET ON TRACK TO A BETTER MEMORY\n\nUnderstand How Your Memory Works \n\nUnderstanding how memory works will give you insight into ways of taking control in order to increase your memory power. A summary of the major factors involved in memory functioning: \n\n• Memory is the process of registering, consolidating, storing, and recalling information and also is the result of that process. \n\n• Memory is an electrochemical process of the brain and nervous system in which specialized brain centers receive, consolidate, store, and respond to new information.\n\n• The more memory traces you amass from sensory experiences, thoughts, feelings, and actions, the more ways you have to recall a particular piece of information.\n\n• A stimulating environment makes a major contribution to improving your memory.\n\n• People learn incidentally in the process of living and intentionally through deliberate study.\n\n• New information becomes a memory by moving from sensory memory to short-term memory. There working memory creates the connections to consolidate it into long-term memory.\n\n• Memory contains two kinds of material: knowledge—both general and personal—and procedures. Procedures do not require conscious attention in order to function.\n\n\nEquip Your Memory Tool Chest\n\nNatural abilities which you can use to maintain and improve your memory are: \n\nsensory awareness\nmental images\nwords and messages\nmaking associations and connections\ngrouping \nrepetition\nrehearsal and review\nspacing\nusing memory aids as reminders\n\nSensory awareness involves collecting information from your senses to amass the memory traces which help you remember people, places, or events. \n\nMental imaging is to visualize in your mind an image of something or someone you want to remember. \n\nWords can be used to help you remember in a number of ways. Talking to yourself creates verbal memory traces. Acronyms, rhymes, or jingles may help jog your memory.\n\nMaking new connections is the process which relates new information to what you already know thereby making the new information easier to recall.\n\nSorting and grouping are ways of categorizing data to provide memory traces to aid in recall. Relationships among major groups and among the items in each subgroup create the connections which make all items memorable.\n\nRepetition helps you to hold information in your short term memory as your working memory organizes and integrates it into long term memory. \n\nRehearsal and review, both reinforced by repetition, help you to remember tasks or events that will take place in the future and to recall information or events from the past. \n\nSpacing is the practice of leaving intervals between learning sessions in order to reinforce memory traces.\n\nMemory aids are concrete reminders—notes, calendars, pill safes—which help you remember. Other people may also be effective memory aids if they have ways of remembering to remind you.\n\n\nFind the Motivation and Commit Yourself\n\nImproving your memory relies on motivation. When people are motivated, they pay attention and concentrate in order to consolidate what they are experiencing into lasting memories. When people are motivated, they often set goals.\n\nWe are motivated by seven urges which push us toward goals. These urges are: the urge to live, with goals of survival, comfort, and to find meaning in living; the urge to be free with a goal of self-determination; the urge to enjoy with a goal of happiness; the urge to understand with a goal of knowledge; the urge to create with a goal of originality; the urge to connect with a goal of love; and the urge to transcend with a goal of unity.\n\nYour goals for your memory project are determined by your goals for your life. In looking at the natural urges of all of us, you may choose to set goals related to your health or your lifestyle habits or you may decide to find greater meaning in the events an
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Concentrating and Reading\n\nIt is often difficult to concentrate during your studies. Here are some techniques that many students have found helpful. \nAsking Yourself Questions \nGetting the Most from Your Reading \nRead the Ideas \nAsking Yourself Questions\nThe key to maintaining focus is to stop periodically and ask yourself questions, such as \nHow does this relate to what I already know? \nIf this is true, what else follows? \nWhat else could these facts mean? \nWhat assumptions are being made? \nWhat's the evidence for this? \nCan I think of a good example of this? \nWhat are the unique points of this? \nGetting the Most from Your Reading\nCheck off (with a light pencil mark) each paragraph that you completely understand. If you start to get lost in the reading, you will know exactly where: just after the last check! \nIf a section is too difficult for you, try reading in a whisper. Hearing what we read is like reading it a second time. \nSimilarly, it is good to stop regularly and summarize out loud what you have just read. \nTry to link new information with the information you already know. Ask yourself, ``How do I already know this?'' You can also ask yourself questions such as the focus questions above. Active linking creates powerful memories. \nTake a few seconds to visualize what you have just read. \nDon't forget to jot down key words and concepts. If you read, `rite, and recite (``3R''), you've got a better chance of retaining crucial information. \nAfter taking a short break from studying, and before you start up again, take a few minutes to review the information you have just learned. This will give you a sense of progress and motivate you to continue on. \nRead the Ideas\nWhen you are reading \nStop at the end of each \nParagraph \nPage \nMain Section \nClose your book \nRecall the ideas from memory \nRecite the ideas out loud in your own words \n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\naugustine@columbia.edu\nLast update: February 4, 1996
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for me to remember vocabulary words, i try to write down the words many times (so i could also remember the spelling) then put down the definition. from the definitions i try to make sentences. i patch the words with some of their synonyms to make them easier to understand. \n\nyou have to use those words when you want to remember them. it's always better that way. use them in essays, letters, etc. when i teach vocabulary words, the kids retain the words when i instruct them to use those words in their assignments.
623499
People who do not re-read what they have written really should.  I do it every single time. Not only to be curteous to the person who asked the question, but it is also a good habit to practice. It is obvious that many people that answer/ask questions on here do not do that, and they end up looking really idiotic.