Santa can see your future in 2019 and it’s all about better executive function skills, healthy brain exercises.
It’s clear to all of us during this indulgent season that getting back to good healthy habits is super hard come January. So buck-up and establish one thing you want to do to improve your memory and start the “Habit of Memory Exercise.” It only takes a few minutes, say every other day eventually but consider this in making yourself successful in starting a new habit:
Establish a goal but don’t pick something too hard at first. Like memorize one phone number out of your Iphone/Android every other day or find 3 great, short poems by your fav author. Or, go to great quotes online and pick 3 for the week.
Give it meaning: like someone you like to talk or text a lot.
Get your phone calendar out and look at doable times to plug in a practice slot.
If you find after a few days it’s not working, you’ve got the wrong slot–time for a calendar redux!
Consider the brilliant, scientific formulas for study practice patterns that optimize your new habit’s success:
Practice session one: during the part of the day you are the most engaged and settled.
Session two: Revisit the content several hours later.
Session three: peek at the content as early as you can the next day.
Session four: Just before bedtime do a quick scan of the content on day two.
Session five: On the third day: review once without multitasking.
Session six: Wait three days and revisit during the same part of the day, if possible as session one.
Session seven: Revisit one week after that.
Session eight: Repeat.
Session nine: Revisit the content one month later.
Session ten: Put the reminders in your calendar so you do follow the schedule — well at least somewhat!
You will have used your working memory to enhance your long term recall. Now try it with something completely different like someone’s name or the title of a song. Remember from the previous blog’s entry, the idea of turning on your attention to this new system and pattern — in order to create a habit–is half the battle.
Remember me until next time!
HoHoHo,
Jenn Bulka, Memory Specialist
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