Since you are going to take one of the toughest and trickiest written MBA exam – CAT 2013, you will need a lot to remember, a lot to analyse and plenty of the material to practice- the solution of which will come from the stock of your rich memory.
A sharp memory will definitely help you a lot while solving different sections of CAT which includes questions on Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning.
Although we all know that a great memory is required in this competitive environment, how to have it – is, probably, a lesser known phenomenon. This article of MBAUniverse.com Prep Team of Experts brings you 10 ways to sharpen your memory.
The part-I of this article brought you 5 ways to sharpen your memory. This article adds 5 more ways.
6. Have fun - Do something ‘out of the routine’ – Monotonous working brings boredom with it. Do some activity, go outside, enjoy the nature, play with children-they are experts to make you rich in your energy level. Keep a toy on your desk. Put up a funny poster in your room. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you feel good. Frame photos of you and your family or friends having fun. New experiences, such as taking a different route to work, trekking, water sports help fresh your mind and sharpen memory.
7. Use power of your Brain - The saying goes that you can’t teach old dog new tricks, but when it comes to the human brain, scientists have discovered that this old adage simply isn’t true. The human brain has an astonishing ability to adapt and change—even into old age. This ability is known as neuroplasticity. Brain can form new neural pathways, alter existing connections, and adapt and react in ever-changing ways. The brain’s incredible ability to reshape itself holds true when it comes to learning and memory. You can harness the natural power of neuroplasticity to increase your cognitive abilities, enhance your ability to learn new information, and improve your memory.
8. Take ‘Opportunity to Laugh’ – You might have noticed people in the park laughing at nothing, early in the morning. Why do they do it- because it is a well-established fact that laughter is the best medicine. This holds true for brain as well as the body. Unlike emotional responses, which are limited to specific areas of the brain, laughter engages multiple regions across the whole brain. Listening to jokes and working out punch lines activates areas of the brain vital to learning and creativity. The great psychologist Daniel Goleman writes in his book Emotional Intelligence, “laughter…seems to help people think more broadly and associate more freely.”
Laugh at yourself and share your embarrassing moments. Most of the time, people are very happy to share something funny because it gives them an opportunity to laugh again and feed off the humour you find in it. When you hear laughter, seek it out.
9. Throw away the stress – Probably, physical stress is not so harmful as the mental stress. When your mind is tired, you don’t like anything and the world becomes a useless place to live in. Keep that stress in check. It is one of the brain’s worst enemies. Over a period of time, if left unchecked, chronic stress destroys brain cells and damages the hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in the formation of new memories and the retrieval of old ones. It would then create difficulty in concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things.
10. Remain attentive – Memory, it is said, works faster on audio-visual than the reading only. Whenever you watch news, TV programmes, listen to Radio – be attentive and find out the usage in different contexts. Try to involve all your senses. You can’t remember something that you never learned. Similarly, you can’t learn something, if you don’t pay enough attention to it. It takes about eight seconds of intense focus to process a piece of information into your memory. Try to relate information to anything that is of interest to you- some personality, place, color, taste. Even if you’re a visual learner, read out loud what you want to remember. If you can recite it rhythmically, that will be even better. Focus on understanding basic ideas rather than memorizing isolated details. Practice explaining the ideas to someone else in your own words. Rehearse information you’ve already learned before someone, before the mirror, review what you’ve learned the same day you learn it, and at intervals thereafter.
So, there are lots of things you can do to improve your memory and mental performance. Memory, like muscular strength, requires you to “use it or lose it.” The more you work out your brain, the better you’ll be able to process and remember information. Go for more brain exercising activities, break your routine and get the challenge to use and develop new brain pathways.
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