How to Develop a Super Memory

Effective learning is important not only to school children but, to everyone. Ask yourself these three questions. (1) Is knowledge really so central to my life? (2) Is active recall stuff really critical? (3) Why should I rewrite on a paper or computer something that I just heard, read, or talked about?

I can answer all three with a firm yes. You want a simple example? The grocery list. How many of us try to remember everything that we need only to get home and realize we forgot something? It happens all the time. What are the consequences if we forget something? Money, time, gasoline use, but most of all embarrassment to ourselves.

No need to worry. I am going to give you six steps for helping you improve on your learning capabilities. First you have to have a hunger for knowledge. You have got to want to know things, why they happen or work. Maybe you want to show off in front of the boss. If you spend time surfing the web, you are already in this category. You are looking for knowledge. Second, locate sources of information. If you wanted information on a small subject like planting a garden, wouldn't you go to several sources for information? The more sources you have the more information you will get. Three, determine what you need to know. If you aren't going to grow onions, don't learn about them. Many times this can be switched with the number two step. Find out first what you need to know and then locate your sources for information. Usually it doesn't work that way. You usually learn as you research.

Okay, I believe we all agree with those first three steps for improving our learning capabilities. Now let's look at the next three.

Fourth, formulate knowledge for active recall. Effective learning is based on active repetition. No acquired memories will last forever. We will forget. However, by recalling things and events over in our mind, we have a tendency to remember. Recall means that your brain must generate an answer. Make it easy on yourself. Only focus on things that you need to remember. Fifth. Used spaced repetition. This will enhance your learning skills as well. You must repeat to remember. Intervals makes it easier to retain information. Last, do not neglect knowledge management. What this means is you must not forget that your needs will change. Things all around us are in constant change. When learning about gardening, the use of chemicals, such as sprays, is always changing. This is a form of knowledge management.

These six steps will help as long as you are persistent and work at it. As we age, we have a tendency to be more forgetful. We forget where are car keys are, where we put our purse, took off our shoes, and set down our book. Many of us develop a routine of placing things in the same place each and every time. This is repetitive learning. We don't lose them because we have developed habits. If we can do the same thing with repetitive events in our minds then we too may become as wise as King Solomon was.

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