Before discussing any tricks, tips, or techniques to improve concentration and memory, one must first understand how the brain works concerning both. That is to say, if we want to train our brain, we must first start by getting to know it.
The first thing to take into account is the difference between these two, the first (concentration) consists more of the physical factors and external stimuli for the learning process to be possible, while the second (memory) is the cognitive process as such, but both go hand in hand. Below, we will share some valuable information from wowessays on this subject.
How to improve concentration?
The area of study is the first thing to consider for concentration in learning processes. Our brain is constantly receiving stimuli of all kinds, physical, mental, and emotional. Therefore, we must take care of every detail that diverts our attention when studying.
In the same way, we must keep in mind if we are going through an illness, recovery process, or bereavement that is not necessarily related to physical losses, bereavement is related to losses of all kinds.
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Grief can mean the breakup of a relationship, moving to another location, and even the loss of a job makes us go through a grieving process, among other emotional situations that alter our ability to concentrate.
There are also pathologies of concentration. Among the best known is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is one of the most common disorders that make it difficult for an individual to concentrate.
In these cases of hyperactivity, even more complex, it is advisable to have adequate professional help since there are two types of hyperactivity, behavioral and neuronal the first one is less complex than the second one. Still, it must be treated in the same way.
Having said this, we will then go on to evaluate what an adequate study environment that allows concentration should be like. And if factors such as the above are present, take appropriate measures in this regard. Remember that the most emotionally intelligent thing to do (emotional intelligence) is to recognize our emotions and not ignore them.
An appropriate environment for study
There are three fundamental factors to consider to organize an appropriate study environment since we are sensory beings, and every external stimulus will be perceived internally and alter our psyche and emotions. Physical, mental, and emotional factors.
Physical factors
An adequate physical environment should preferably have the following characteristics:
But remember that the chair is a perfect investment in addition to your computer. You will be investing in your health, in your work, and in your future since it will prevent you from many future ailments in terms of your spine and cervical.
But, if you find it difficult at this time, try as much as possible that your study environment has the least possible disturbances in terms of noise.
The mind
The mind needs to empty and relax so that knowledge is better assimilated. There are many methods in this regard, but here we are going to share with you three simple methods to relax your mind and body and stimulate concentration.
They do not require a lot of time or money, enroll in any academy, or be a follower or follower of any guru. They are meditation, super brain yoga, and music.
Meditation: The Dalai Lama himself used to say that the act of meditation was as simple as sitting down and consciously closing your eyes. He focused on three necessary elements: silence, posture, and breathing.
Silence is obviously necessary for moments of meditation, and the posture should be comfortable but conscious, that is, that allows me to be attentive to my body. It is not a posture to sleep but to meditate and deep and steady breathing.
Meditation is a practice that can be exercised for 5 or 10 minutes a day, much less than what we dedicate to our cell phones, and undoubtedly will bring us greater benefits.
Meditating can be beneficial for the body and mind since it allows you to relax, empty, and clean it every day while activating the brain waves, which enables relaxation and concentration.
Super brain yoga: it is a fairly simple technique, and it will not take you more than three minutes if you want to practice it. It has the advantage of synchronizing both hemispheres of the brain, the left, and the right. It is highly recommended for people with attention problems since it helps to focus the mind.
It only recommends that you practice it as early as possible, standing with the proper posture with your hands at your sides and your feet stable.
Then raise your left hand, cross your upper body and place it on your right earlobe. The thumb should be on the front of the ear.
And then, raise the right hand, cross the upper part of the body and take the left earlobe in the same way as was done with the right one.
Then press both earlobes simultaneously, inhale through the nose and gently squat down. Make sure that the knees do not go over the ankles and avoid additional pressure. And return to a standing position as you exhale.
Finally, repeat the exercise for approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Do not forget to keep your back straight and your tongue pressed against the roof of your mouth.
Music: if you are one of those who like to listen to music, remember that there are all styles and for every occasion, but instrumental music is most recommended at times that require your concentration.
Music activates dopamine, a neurotransmitter in our brain that collaborates in synaptic connections, where learning, knowledge assimilation, and memorization take place. In addition to activating alpha waves, which cause brain relaxation.
Among the most recommended are Mozart’s par excellence, as well as other classical compositions, followed by soft jazz, others that are called music to concentrate, and sounds of nature. Whatever your preference, they will undoubtedly help you to relax your mind and consequently improve your concentration and memory.
Emotions
As we said before, we must clearly recognize our emotions before executing any task that demands our attention and concentration, and emotions play a fundamental role in this task.
It is impossible to concentrate if there is an emotional factor that is disturbing us. For this reason, the first thing to do is to take care of that element and, depending on the issue’s magnitude, handle it with the appropriate professional help.
Otherwise, if it is a situation that does not necessarily need to be addressed by a professional, then look for appropriate techniques or therapies to address all those issues that are part of our daily lives.
How to improve memory?
Once every detail that favors concentration has been taken care of, then we can confidently devote ourselves to study. Remember that concentration and memory go hand in hand.
Now, before going into the phases that memorization goes through, it is appropriate to take into account that the more we like the information we read or the subject we study, the easier the memorization process will be.
Since, in this case, there is a fundamental factor, motivation. Motivation plays a very important role in the memorization process. When we like something, consciously and unconsciously, we always look for information or tasks and practices that lead us to what we like so much.
For this reason, our mind naturally is constantly gathering information about it, and our cognitive process will assimilate and fix this information in a better way.
Now, having said this, it is pertinent to point out that memorization has five basic stages: comprehension, fixation, conservation, evocation, and recognition.
Comprehension consists of understanding what we read, analyze, confront, and corroborate. For this, it is necessary to develop our common sense and natural logic that always accompany us.
In order to understand, it is fundamental to look for all the information that involves that reading, that knowledge or practice, not to be satisfied with little, to go abundantly after that knowledge.
Fixation: when we are constantly reading and analyzing the same information or related information, it will accumulate in such a way in our brain that we will end up fixing it in our brain.
Conservation: when we fix that information in our mind, the conservation process in our brain will become much easier. Even more so if it is information that we always put into practice.
Evocation: it consists of using that information every time we need it, which will be stored in the plane of consciousness.
Recognition: this is the brain’s function of relating one piece of information to another. Every time we are faced with new knowledge, our brain immediately begins to process this new information and interact with other related information.
Techniques for memorizing
ConclusionCreativity plays a fundamental role in the world of learning, and we must leave prejudices aside and act like children regarding imagination. Putting our right hemisphere to work could undoubtedly become our best ally in stimulating study and learning.