11 answers
Devin
Student
Callahan, Florida
1
Question
Asked
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What's a great way to not forgetting things?
Write it down on a piece of paper (OR just type it on a digital #creative-writing notepad)
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11 answers
Marica Hueneke
Insurance Underwriting
24
Answers
Nolensville, Tennessee
Updated
Marica’s Answer
I often forget as well, especially as work days get going and there are interruptions. First, I always write everything down. I end my day with a "to-do" list for the next day and it's already waiting for me so I don't forget. Also, I use my online calendars for everything, meetings, appointments, reminders, etc. If I have an appointment I put it in immediately. If I need to remind myself of something in the future, I use my calendar reminders. An agenda always works well too and keep it with you all the time!
Jordan Masayko
Director, Operations
3
Answers
Mountain View, California
Updated
Jordan’s Answer
Hi Devin! I have found few different way to not forget things that work great for myself. First I always have a notepad and pen on my desk while I am at work so that I can physically write down notes during meetings or little thoughts that come to me in the moment. I have also found that we have an instant messenger type app that my work provides. When I am away from my desk and don't have a notebook to write down something, I will send myself a message so that I do not forget it. A good alternative to this could be texting yourself or sending yourself an email.
Nicole Gulotta, SPHR
Human Resources
1
Answer
New York, New York
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Definitely agree with everyone here who mentioned paper to-do lists! I bought a notebook in which each page is labeled with the date. This way when I know I'll have to remember something tomorrow or in a week, I turn to the page with that date on it and write it down there. I've also found the Google Keep app to be super helpful! You can make checklists on sticky notes and set the app to remind you at whatever intervals you'd like.
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1594
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
School courses require you to memorize mass amounts of information. Memorizing for one class can be difficult, but it can be even more frustrating when you have multiple classes. Many students feel like they simply do not have strong memory skills. Fortunately, though, memorizing is not just for an elite group of people born with the right skills—anyone can train and develop their memorizing abilities.
KEEP A TO-DO-LIST
If you would like to remember new material, a good trick is to write it down. An example of this is taking notes while reading your chemistry textbook or writing down grocery lists of items you need to buy. Writing is an act that requires full concentration, and it engages your mind, your hands, and your sight. With the multiple sensory registers working together, you can’t go wrong in memorizing the material. Also, studies have shown that writing down material is actually more powerful than typing it on a keyboard. This is because with writing, you are forced to copy down each word, letter by letter, whereas with typing, you are just tapping a series of buttons. A new saying goes, “The pen is mightier than the keyboard!”
ONE THING AT A TIME
Try to focus on the specific task you have to do by not worrying about the plethora of other things you need to get done. Because many of us are always so busy, we often focus on what needs to be done in the future rather than keeping our minds hammered in the present. This will definitely help improve your short-term memory because you will be able to retain more information about what is going on around you, since your mind is focused on the present and on nothing else. Although most people don’t realize it, this will also help to improve your productivity skills. Because your mind is fully engaged in the activity you are currently performing, you will put all of your effort into it and you will use all of your energy to make sure your final result is the best you can do.
AVOID DISTRACTIONS
If you are trying to study for your extremely tough history exam on the French Revolution that’s tomorrow, but you’re also stuck babysitting your little brother and his friends, then you know how difficult it is to retain information inside your head. In order to improve your short-term memory, it is extremely important that you avoid distractions. Since your short-term memory lasts for only 2-3 minutes, if distractions keep bombarding you, then they will override the information that you are trying to commit to memory. This will make it hard to study and remember facts, and it also reduces your productivity levels because you will have to continually repeat the same material over and over again, to no avail.
TEST YOUR MEMORY
Quiz yourself every so often by actively recalling the information you are trying to study. Make sure to actively quiz yourself—do not simply reread notes or a textbook. Often, students think they remember material just because it is familiar to them when they reread it. Instead, ask yourself questions and force yourself to remember it without looking at the answer or material. This will enable you to identify areas that you are struggling with; you can then go back to one of the memory tricks to help yourself memorize it. Also, avoid quizzing yourself immediately after trying to memorize something. Wait a few hours, or even a day or two, to see if it has really stuck in your memory.
SLEEP ON IT
Getting enough rest at night is extremely important for improving your short-term memory and your overall brain health. Researches suggest that everyone should be sleeping for about 7-9 hours, as this will allow your brain and your body to rest and recharge itself. While sleeping, your brain filters all the material it has consumed during the day time, deciding what is important to keep for future use and what can be thrown away as unimportant. Sigmund Freud believes that this is why we tend to have wacky dreams at night relating to random stimuli we received during the day – because our minds are processing out all of the useless material in the forms of strange dreams.
Remember Devin you can make an appointment with an academic coach to discuss memory techniques, create a study plan, or talk through any other academic issue.
Hope this was Helpful Devin
KEEP A TO-DO-LIST
If you would like to remember new material, a good trick is to write it down. An example of this is taking notes while reading your chemistry textbook or writing down grocery lists of items you need to buy. Writing is an act that requires full concentration, and it engages your mind, your hands, and your sight. With the multiple sensory registers working together, you can’t go wrong in memorizing the material. Also, studies have shown that writing down material is actually more powerful than typing it on a keyboard. This is because with writing, you are forced to copy down each word, letter by letter, whereas with typing, you are just tapping a series of buttons. A new saying goes, “The pen is mightier than the keyboard!”
ONE THING AT A TIME
Try to focus on the specific task you have to do by not worrying about the plethora of other things you need to get done. Because many of us are always so busy, we often focus on what needs to be done in the future rather than keeping our minds hammered in the present. This will definitely help improve your short-term memory because you will be able to retain more information about what is going on around you, since your mind is focused on the present and on nothing else. Although most people don’t realize it, this will also help to improve your productivity skills. Because your mind is fully engaged in the activity you are currently performing, you will put all of your effort into it and you will use all of your energy to make sure your final result is the best you can do.
AVOID DISTRACTIONS
If you are trying to study for your extremely tough history exam on the French Revolution that’s tomorrow, but you’re also stuck babysitting your little brother and his friends, then you know how difficult it is to retain information inside your head. In order to improve your short-term memory, it is extremely important that you avoid distractions. Since your short-term memory lasts for only 2-3 minutes, if distractions keep bombarding you, then they will override the information that you are trying to commit to memory. This will make it hard to study and remember facts, and it also reduces your productivity levels because you will have to continually repeat the same material over and over again, to no avail.
TEST YOUR MEMORY
Quiz yourself every so often by actively recalling the information you are trying to study. Make sure to actively quiz yourself—do not simply reread notes or a textbook. Often, students think they remember material just because it is familiar to them when they reread it. Instead, ask yourself questions and force yourself to remember it without looking at the answer or material. This will enable you to identify areas that you are struggling with; you can then go back to one of the memory tricks to help yourself memorize it. Also, avoid quizzing yourself immediately after trying to memorize something. Wait a few hours, or even a day or two, to see if it has really stuck in your memory.
SLEEP ON IT
Getting enough rest at night is extremely important for improving your short-term memory and your overall brain health. Researches suggest that everyone should be sleeping for about 7-9 hours, as this will allow your brain and your body to rest and recharge itself. While sleeping, your brain filters all the material it has consumed during the day time, deciding what is important to keep for future use and what can be thrown away as unimportant. Sigmund Freud believes that this is why we tend to have wacky dreams at night relating to random stimuli we received during the day – because our minds are processing out all of the useless material in the forms of strange dreams.
Remember Devin you can make an appointment with an academic coach to discuss memory techniques, create a study plan, or talk through any other academic issue.
Hope this was Helpful Devin
Yasemin G.
Aspiring physician
635
Answers
Updated
Yasemin’s Answer
Hi Devin! I think we can all forget things, the human mind can forget things that may seem boring or unpleasant and remember more important events! I would recommend carrying a planner as a to-do list and if you have a smartphone you can also use the reminder app as well. If you want to remember things for exams I would recommend spacing out studying, such as studying a topic one day, and then giving a rest and then studying again to see how much you have retained it. It will help you memorize the information better and you won't forget it on exam day!
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
Patrick Coulson
Chief Growth Officer
13
Answers
Cleveland, Ohio
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
The old school way of keeping a notepad with a To Do list works easily. Keep a list for each day. Check off what you complete. At the end of the day create a new list for the next day.
One key to success I have found each day is "closing out each day" by reviewing my To Do list and moving what I did not complete to the list for the next day.
There is satisfaction in checking off what you completed and you limit the chance of forgetting what you still need to do by moving the task you did not complete to the list for the next day.
One key to success I have found each day is "closing out each day" by reviewing my To Do list and moving what I did not complete to the list for the next day.
There is satisfaction in checking off what you completed and you limit the chance of forgetting what you still need to do by moving the task you did not complete to the list for the next day.
Sarah Tarta
Consumer Banking Associate
8
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Sarah’s Answer
I use a variety of different methods to remember the things on my to-do list! Google calendar is the only reason I can stay organized and on top of everything - a great way to set reminders as well as take notes. I have notes on both my phone and my notebook - there's just something so satisfying about checking off a to-do item in a notebook. I also use the sticky notes app on my laptop so that when I am on my home screen, I am easily reminded of things to do.
Bryan Miao
Finance Manager
8
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Bryan’s Answer
I have bad memories as well, i use Siri to set reminders for me on my iphone all the time. And I use outlook calendar to set follow up meetings or reminders as well.
Victor Yuditsky
Director of Analytics
21
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Victor’s Answer
To do lists (paper, electronic, et.) may not be the most innovative way to remember multiple tasks but it's effective. Will probably increase stress level now that you can't forget anything that should be accomplished.
Shelby Steuber
Teacher
66
Answers
LaBelle, Florida
Updated
Shelby’s Answer
So this is going to depend on you. The first question I would ask myself is "how do I learn best?" As a teacher, I find that a great key to remembering things is to figure out what methods help you learn better first. For myself, I learn best by hearing things and writing/working things out myself. Therefore, when I am trying to remember something, I say it out loud to a friend or to myself, or I go and write it down on a piece of paper. Some people need auditory reminders, so for that I suggest making alarms on your phone with reminders of what you're trying to remember. If you learn kinesthetically (through physical movement), try and think about what you're trying to remember when you are doing some sort of physical activity. Hope this helps!
Livia Thayna Pino
Accountant
4
Answers
São Paulo, Brazil
Updated
Livia Thayna’s Answer
Hi.
A to-do list is a powerful tool. You can also train your brain to say words in a positive way.
Instead of saying: I'm not good at Maths or Geography. You can say: I'm always improving my knowledge of Math or Geography.
You will train your brain to think with a positive view.
I also recommend the mind map practice, you can draw what you want to remember and link these drawings with the main subjects or key words.
Best of luck.
A to-do list is a powerful tool. You can also train your brain to say words in a positive way.
Instead of saying: I'm not good at Maths or Geography. You can say: I'm always improving my knowledge of Math or Geography.
You will train your brain to think with a positive view.
I also recommend the mind map practice, you can draw what you want to remember and link these drawings with the main subjects or key words.
Best of luck.