Page 2 - ProMind Complex (Carl Henderson) : Flip It & Read It

6 Simple Memory Techniques

Anyone Can Try Today

My name is Carl Henderson and I'm a Professor of Psychology living in Austin, Texas.

And even though I'm not proud of it - I must confess you something:
You see, I've always been envious of people with exceptional memories. You know, the kind of people

who amass encyclopedic knowledge with seemingly little effort, while the rest of us struggle to
remember the name of the person we were introduced to seconds ago.

I've always wondered how this is possible.

For three decades I had the pleasure of working with some of the brightest minds who have studied
the intricate processes of human memory.

Now, as I near the end of my career, I want to share all the mountains of knowledge I've gathered all
these years...

And help people all over the world live a better life by spreading awareness on how anyone can better

manage their memory.

Because you see, even not all of us have a computer-like memory, there is still hope.
Just as we can strengthen any other muscle in our bodies, we can train our brains to remember more

and learn anything faster.

Here are some research-proven strategies that can effectively help your memory, enhance recall, and
increase retention of information.

1. Drink water.This may sound so simple, but it is so important. Your brain is 80% water, so avoid
anything that dehydrates it – such as caffeine or alcohol. Being dehydrated by just 2% impairs

performance in tasks that require attention, immediate memory skills, and physical performance.

2. Add in additional sensory information. When learning something new, try to incorporate as

much appropriate sensory information as possible. Take in what you hear, see, smell and touch to give
the information more context.

3. Get good sleep. Sleep rejuvenates all the cells in your body, gives brain cells a chance to repair

themselves, helps wash away neurodegenerative toxins that build up during the day, and activates
neuronal connections that might otherwise deteriorate due to inactivity. Research has demonstrated

that sleep deprivation can cause dramatic memory deficits. Practice good sleep hygiene to optimize
your sleep habits.

4. Utilize Mnemonic Devices Mnemonic devices are a technique often used by students to aid in

recall. A mnemonic is simply a way to remember information. For example, you might associate a term
you need to remember with a common item that you are very familiar with. The best mnemonics are

those that utilize positive imagery, humor, or novelty.

5. Avoid toxins. Smoking and drug and alcohol abuse increase your risk for dementia, so if these are
a problem for you, stopping immediately decreases these risk factors. Even a glass of beer or wine per

day can be harmful to the brain and can make it look toxic. And recent research demonstrates that

smoking negatively affects the hippocampus, the brain's major memory center.