ORGANIZE YOUR SPACE - To improve your memory, you need to be able to focus. Distractions of any kind will prevent this, so make sure your space is clear of clutter and has all the materials you need for your study session.
VISUALIZE THE INFORMATION - Use the Method of Loci. This is a technique where you visualize a house, associating rooms in the house with bits of information. New information goes into a new room. Open a drawer to find a chemical formula.
USE ACRONYMS AND MNEMONICS - Create patterns and words with from the information you need to remember. Associating the first letter of each item with a word, phrase, or rhyme, can make information easier to recall.
USE IMAGE-NAME ASSOCIATIONS - Recalling names can be easier by associating images and names in a clever, unique way. Remember the names of the presidents by associating a facial feature with their name, such as ‘Mutton Chops Van Buren’.
USE THE CHAINING TECHNIQUE - Create a story or sentence around a bit of information so that it can be more easily recalled. Remember the order of the planets by telling a tale about them going on a picnic.
LEARN BY DOING - Learn information by acting it out. Using hand gestures and other movements can help you better remember information with muscle memory. If you can’t move around when studying, use your imagination to picture it in your mind.
STUDY IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS - Your memory can be triggered by different cues in your environment. If you are having trouble remembering the material you are studying, try moving to a new spot to help the information stand out in your mind.
REVISIT THE MATERIAL - Review the material you studied a couple days after your study session. Make a mental note of anything you have forgotten, and review those areas again.