15 simple brain hacks to improve your memory

Key takeaway

• Memory isn’t fixed. It can be strengthened with habits like regular exercise, visual aids, making associations, mindfulness, repetition, healthy foods, and memory exercises.
• Short-term memory is the information your brain remembers for a short time, while long-term memory is the information you hold on to for years.
• Stress, diet, sleep, and exercise are all lifestyle factors that can affect how well your memory functions.

Source: Flickr user pennstatelive.

Between balancing multiple classes, busy schedules, and trying to remember when you last did laundry, keeping track of everything in college can be tricky. From learning new material to retaining that information for exams, your memory plays a huge role in keeping up with classes, deadlines, and even everyday responsibilities.

Think your memory is “bad”? The good news is—it isn’t. Memory is a skill you can improve, and science backs that up.

Short-term vs. long-term memory

To understand how memory works, it’s first important to understand short-term vs. long-term memory:

• Short-term memory: You know when you remember a Wi-Fi password just long enough to type it in, or you hold onto your professor’s instructions right before writing them down? That’s short-term memory. It is the information you hold in your brain for a short period of time—no longer than a few minutes.
• Long-term memory: When you can drive a car or solve a math problem you practiced all year without thinking through every step, that’s long-term memory. This is where information is stored for much longer periods of time—like days or years.

For information to move from short-term memory to long-term memory, it takes consistent reviewing, recalling, and repeating information. Over time, it is easier to recall this information with little to no effort.

What can affect memory?

Even with great study habits, certain factors can still affect how well your memory works:

• Stress: If you are experiencing high levels of stress, this can make it harder to focus and store new information.
• Diet: Science has proven that foods with healthy fats, antioxidants, and complex carbs actually fuel our brain, while high sugar intake and processed foods can impair it.
• Sleep: Sleep is when information gets transferred from short-term to long-term memory. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, it can affect how well you learn and recall new material.
• Exercise: Regular exercise helps stimulate the part of your brain responsible for retaining memories.

15 simple brain hacks to improve memory function

Here are 15 super simple ways to improve your memory.

1. Move your body regularly

Did you know that even just taking a brisk walk can greatly improve your memory? Here’s how: Exercise increases the flow of oxygen within your bloodstream, which in turn increases the amount of oxygen reaching your brain. With that oxygen comes valuable nutrients that keep your brain functioning at a high level.

Hitting a weekly exercise class with your friends is a great way to incorporate exercise into your routine. If you’re not the type to head to the campus rec centers, try walking to class rather than hopping on the bus. The walk will get your blood flowing and also release endorphins, boosting your mood and making your class time more enjoyable!

2. Create visual aids

By representing the information that you are studying in a visual format, you are giving your brain a secondary way to connect with the information. This gives your brain another way to “see” what you’re studying.

Try drawing a diagram or creating a Mind Map to help you store and later retrieve the information you need to remember. The physical act of drawing a diagram can help you commit it to memory, but it will also help by creating a new connection between your brain and the material. These visual aids are especially great for science and history classes.

3. Read out loud to yourself

Have you ever noticed that when you’re editing a paper, it helps to read it out loud? You’re able to hear things that you may have missed when you were reading in your head. This can also help your memory. By reading out loud, your brain picks up on the things that you may have skimmed over without knowing it. Test this hack by reading your notes out loud or even your textbook.

4. Take a shower

This one might surprise you, but there is science behind it. Taking a shower gives your brain a much-needed break, which can allow you to come up with your best ideas or finally find a solution to a difficult problem. While you shower, your brain naturally wanders, allowing thoughts you’ve been working through subconsciously (like that physics problem you just can’t solve) to come to the forefront. Taking this break allows you to let your mind reset, and solutions often feel clearer.

5. Quiz yourself

Quizzing yourself on the material you’re studying is one of the oldest and most common tricks to help with memorization. It helps you to identify what you know well and what needs more practice. Over time, it makes information easier and faster to recall, which in turn helps you study more efficiently. One of the simplest ways to do this is with flashcards. Making them by hand adds a layer because you’re writing everything out, but there are plenty of online tools with premade cards, like Quizlet.

6. Make associations

By increasing the number of connections between topics, you give your brain more ways to access that information. One of the best ways to increase these connections is to use outside information from something you already know. You can make associations through images, stories, a personal connection, or videos.

7. Practice mindfulness

Short study breaks can give your mind and body the time to relax during long study sessions. Just taking a five- to ten-minute break to meditate, breathe, visit with friends, or dance around your room to your favorite jams can actually increase your productivity and creativity. These mindful breaks can help reduce stress, give your brain time to process information, and keep exhaustion at bay. Find simple ways to slow down and be present so you can remember what you are studying.

8. Write it down… the old-fashioned way

One of the great things about being a student in the 21st century is the amazing amount of access to technology. Information is literally at our fingertips. However, the physical act of putting a pen or pencil to paper can actually help you commit information to memory. It may be faster to take notes on your laptop in class, but turning those digital notes into the old-fashioned variety is a great way to help internalize the information. Plus, you can make it fun by incorporating colored pens or highlighters!

9. Get enough sleep

You’ve heard it time and time again: Getting a proper amount of sleep (between 7 and 9 hours) can massively benefit your life. One of the most important ways that sleep impacts students is through memory. As you sleep, your brain processes the information stored in your short-term memory and sorts through what you’ve done that day. Sleep also includes naps! If you find yourself more than a little sleepy after a long, intense lecture or study session, take a nap. Twenty minutes is just enough to recharge your batteries, but if you have a full 90 minutes, go for it and let your REM cycle help you remember what you just learned in class.

10. Practice repeating information

Repeating information over and over might sound simple—and it is. Just saying something out loud or reviewing it multiple times can help information move into your long-term memory. Sometimes it really is the simplest study habits that work best.

11. Eat brain-friendly foods

While it may be tempting to grab something like fast food or a sugary soda to power through your study session, these options often lead to quick energy crashes and trouble focusing. Instead, choose healthy foods like berries, nuts, whole grains, and lean proteins to help fuel your brain, support focus, and improve your memory.

12. Reduce distractions

This may come as no surprise, but constant notifications and distractions make it harder to focus and retain information. When it’s time to study, put your phone away and choose a calm environment to help you improve your focus and stay on track. After a certain time limit, reward yourself with 10 minutes of phone use.

13. Prioritize what matters most

Your brain can only focus on so much at one time. Trying to remember everything at once is only going to overwhelm you, and your brain is more likely to forget. Make a list of what is most important to help your brain focus on what matters most. This way, you’re likely to feel less of a mental overload, and you’ll improve your recall.

14. Practice memory exercises

Whether it’s memory games, puzzles, or just recalling details from your day, simple memory exercises actively engage the brain and keep your memory strong. Plus, it can be a fun brain break!

15. Use technology

When using technology to help with memory, it’s important that you use it wisely. Reminder apps, calendars, and note-taking platforms are all helpful digital tools when it comes to staying organized and supporting your memory. Just be mindful that they can be distractions, making it harder to focus.

Small habits build a stronger memory

Small habits can go a long way when it comes to improving your memory. And you don’t need a major routine overhaul or extra hours in your day to see progress. Simple strategies like moving your body, taking mindful breaks, or repeating information consistently all add up over time. By adding even just one of the hacks above into your daily routine, you can start to strengthen your memory and feel more confident in your college journey.

Ready to choose a school that supports you best, without the stress of remembering every option? College Raptor’s College Match tool lets you compare schools based on GPA, majors, location, test scores, and culture so you can find the best fit for you.