How Can I Improve My Memory

As a student you have probably asked yourself ‘How can I study better for the test?’ The answer to this question is improve your memory.
Remember, what is done to our bodies influences how our mind works. Several outside forces can affect one's memory. As has been established with other functions of the body, diet is linked to memory. Memory is also affected by lack of physical exercise and of course, there are foreign substances we put into our bodies. Drugs, alcohol, and even prescription drugs can have a negative effect. If it affects our bodies it can affect our memory. Injuries, traumatic events, even diseases can affect memories. Inadequate stimulation both mental and spiritual have also been shown to damage our minds, bodies and emotions.

Let us look at the life stressors in connection with memory. If your life is unorganized and over packed with activities, this will impact your memory. Constant turmoil and never allowing yourself adequate care will cause your memory to be negatively affected. You must first take stock of your priorities. Think about how well you care for your mind and body. Maybe you think a quick rush to the gym will do the trick. The main word here is 'rush'.

Rushing around is one area where we cause our mental health to suffer. Rushing is something that can become a bad habit because it causes long-term turmoil that is not beneficial. Some people have become so accustomed to rushing through their day they have to actually be taught how to achieve a smoother, more relaxing routine.

More than one area may have to be changed to obtain memory improvement. Proper blood flow and plenty of oxygen are two factors that must not be overlooked. You can achieve these with exercise and by learning breathing exercises. These activities can help clear your mind and relieve stress. Even if the results are only temporary, they are still an important start on your journey to memory improvement.

Another important stage is eating properly. A well-rounded diet can be beneficial in many ways. The diet can affect the physical health and since the mind depends on the body to work at its best for the mind to work well it only follows, if you aren't in good physical health, how can you be in the best health mentally?

Think about your living environment. A dirty home can affect your memory. Maybe it hard to believe, but it can. A clean home doesn't just look better, it can increase your happiness and sense of peace. If your senses are constantly subjected to anything negative, it will begin to affect your brain health. A clean home will calm you and allow your mind and memory to focus on more productive positive thoughts.
Not only does the sight of your clean home allow improvement in your life, the smell can be uplifting as well. Besides cleaning supplies bring out those candles, potpourri, or room sprays.

How Are You Investing Your Time

Time is the most precious commodity we have because it is the greatest equalizer of human beings. We will lose if we don’t admit this and treat time with respect. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, healthy or sick you only have 24 hours a day.
Most of the time, we waste our time and energy worrying and thinking about trivial things. When we do this we usually forget about important things. A wise man will tell you “You can always make more money, but you can never buy more time”.
How often have you looked at the ways you invest your time? The word “investment” is very accurate because the way you choose to spend your time is a true investment in yourself and your life. People usually spend hours in front of the TV, or they spent a lot of time browsing the internet with no purpose. Some of us even try to trade time at the cost of sleep hours that could benefit our health. If you wake up earlier in the morning just to smoke a few cigarettes and fill up with coffee so you won’t feel sleepy it doesn’t mean you won any quality time. Also, inefficient work or spending more hours at work that you have to is equal to allowing someone else to have a loan of your life.
People sometimes say things like: “I’m just counting the hours to go home” or “I wish it were Friday”. These are signs that they usually waste their time. If you organize your time efficiently and if you choose to do only activities that motivate you somehow, then you will find yourselves able to work everyday without feeling tired or sleepy.

At any moment that you just let time pass by think about what the Roman people used to say ‘Carpe Diem’. Loosely translated ‘Live the day’. Make time to analyze the way you invest or waste your time. And never forget that you can’t see tomorrow so “Carpe Diem!”

STRIVE TO LEARN MORE

People sometimes find it hard to keep up and learn everything they are supposed to. This is especially true when they are learning about things that they have no interest in. Here are some tips to take you out of the they category. First, you need to not give up and use various methods to learn more.
Get a mentor/tutor
Whenever you see you can’t handle an assignment or you can’t get any further with it, you should consider getting a mentor/tutor. Many environments are meant for all and the group cannot wait for a few to catch up. The structure just does not allow it even if the individual falling behind is gifted but just slower.
Do not get mad
You are probably already upset if you have failed. To keep yourself from losing all interest in learning don’t get mad but sad. This change of emotion to a positive one is a step in the right direction. Focus on making yourself and others happy by improving your performance not dwelling on past failure.
Reward good performance
This has a good and a bad side. A good one where you gain interest partly because you realize it gives you and others pleasure and a bad side where you will become motivated in all things because of material rewards. You need it be careful when rewarding yourself so it does not become your only motivation.
Live a healthy life
A healthy life is good for us all. If you get enough sleep, eat right and are emotionally balanced the chances are that you will perform better.

People by nature. desire and need competition and, learning is a competition. You are not up against someone else as much as you are competing against yourself.

Methods of Home Schooling

The controversy of home schooling vs. traditional classes might never be resolved. Similarly the correct method of home schooling might not find a definitive solution but the more we know the better it will be to make an informed decision. Maybe if look at them with an open mind we might able to apply a little of these methods to ourselves.

Many people believe home schooling is two or three children sitting at a table, writing in their workbooks, while mom or dad stands nearby. The truth is there are different methods of home schooling that differ greatly from this notion. Below are some of the most influential and popular home schooling methods.

The Charlotte Mason method:
Known as the founder of the home schooling movement Charlotte Mason was a home schooler herself. Her passion was to lay out the foundations for an effective home schooling program. A need to be both fun and educational at the same time was essential. This method encourages a passionate awareness of literature, so beginning at the age of six the child is read to daily from a variety of classical literature. After this, the child is asked to narrate what they have heard. Then by ten the child is expected to write their narrations in a book. Mason believed that development of good character and behavior was essential to the complete development of the child's personality. With this in mind she advocated the use of 'Nature Diaries'. After each lesson the child is asked to go to nature and draw observations. This way the child gains a sense of respect for the environment.

The Eclectic Home schooling method:
A mixture of various home schooling techniques where the innovative parents trust their own judgment. Curriculums are improvised in most Eclectic home schooling Parents pick out the topics that make the best curriculum for their child. These parents are constantly looking for the best products to meet the needs of their home schoolers. The basic curriculum is ready-made but parents make changes to accommodate the individual needs and interests of their children. The child's gifts, temperament, learning style and interests are all considered when deciding the curriculum. Eclectic programs include visits to the museum, libraries and factories.

Unschooling method:
The most unstructured of the various home schooling techniques this method is a hands-on approach to learning. John Holt, a Boston public educator, believed that children learned best when they are free to learn at their own pace, guided by their own interests. His message was the beginnings of the unschooling method. The parent takes cues from the children with no definite curriculum, schedules or materials.

The Montessori method:
Starting in Italy, it was observed that children have acute sensitive periods, during which they undergo periods of intense concentration. During these periods, a child will repeat an activity till he gains a measure of self-satisfaction. This method depends on a prepared setting to encourage learning. All the materials used in the Montessori method are designed with the goal to satisfy the inner desire for spiritual development of the child. The materials used range from simple to complex, and are rather expensive.

No matter what method is used, the underlying factor is flexibility and a keen interest in the desires of the student. In any stage of our life we can adapt these methods not only for others but ourselves. The desire for knowledge should be the guide to further education.

10 Tips For Efficient Learning

Learning is a lifelong skill. From birth and throughout life, a person goes on a journey of acquiring knowledge. How this knowledge is gained varies from one individual to another because each one is created unique. There are some people who make little or no effort to learn and yet they do well in school. Others spend endless hours over their books but do not excel at all. Genes may have something to do with this, but more than the hereditary factor, it is the attitude towards learning that increases one’s ability to perform well. How one efficiently studies makes a capable learner. Here are a few tips to make the most out of learning:
1. Take care of your health
People, like machines, also need downtimes. Stress and fatigue due to studying for long periods of time render the brain less effective to absorb data. Hence, adequate rest should be taken. A healthy mind needs a healthy body - see to it that proper nutrition and regular exercise is always maintained.
2. Develop a passion for learning
One should have a thirst for knowledge in order for learning to take place. Attending classes every day, reading and studying for hours, and accomplishing assignments do not guarantee positive results if you do not have that craving or focus to learn. Self-esteem somehow triggers this passion. The higher your self-confidence is, the more challenged you will become to learn faster.
3. Find a study environment that is conducive
Elements in the environment play an important role in one’s quest for learning. A specific study area with ample lighting, privacy, and complete supplies and reference materials are but some essentials for a smooth and stress-free study time. A set routine should also be imposed. Assign a specific time during the day for study. Don’t just "fit it in" your schedule or else you’ll have no time at all.
4. Set goals and targets
In order for each learning experience to be realistic, it is wise to set goals for yourself - goals that are measurable, achievable, time-bound, and flexible. Prepare weekly schedules, taking note of deadlines. For example, to get high grades, extra effort must be taken in studying and preparing for exams.
5. Take breaks in between study sessions
The brain needs to be recharged once in a while as this is when it absorbs all data obtained from studying. Overexertion causes it to repel information and makes studying futile. Do not go on a study marathon. Instead, study in short but frequent sessions and take breathers in between.
6. Engage in study groups
Two heads are better than one – so goes the cliché. Learning with a group is synergetic. You get to share your opinions, ideas, and views, and at the same time it is a venue for clarifying mind-boggling matters. It is also more interesting and challenging because you gain different perspectives or outlooks.
7. Understand concepts instead of memorizing details
Most of the time, students pass exams and quizzes with flying colors. But after a while, their knowledge of the subject matter would already slip their minds. This is mainly due to a wrong approach to learning – that of memorization. Memorization is only short-term "disguised learning". If one develops the habit of understanding concepts rather than focusing on details, the learning process will flow smoothly and will have a long-term impact.
8. Use shortcuts
Applying shortcuts to your study habits maximize your learning skills. You accomplish more when you abbreviate in note-taking, when you focus your notes around ideas instead of taking them down verbatim, and when you put everything straight into your computer. In this day and age, we need to pack a lot of information into a very limited timeframe.
9. Manage your time wisely
Learning is an ongoing skill. Hand in hand with your goal-setting is allotting and managing your time for things to be done – projects to work on, homework to finish, and term papers and theses to submit. Time properly managed is time well spent. Even your time for socializing should be taken into consideration. Remember – all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!
10. Reward yourself
It is important to make the learning experience enjoyable whenever possible. Try out things that may spark that craving within you to learn – listening to music, perhaps, or engaging in a delightful snack – whatever may inspire you. Continuous hours of studying will not only make you weary but also make you lose interest. The above tips show that devoting long hours to study does not necessarily yield productive results. Studying efficiently and effectively are the key factors to learning better. ------------------------------------------------ This is an excerpt from Mark Patterson's award-winning book "Secrets of LazySmart Students" - every student's guide to getting better marks by working smarter instead of harder. Mark's book will give you incredible tips for time management, self-motivation, will teach you how to kick the procrastination habit and doing great in any exam or written assignment. For more detailed information on what you have read, check out his book now at: https://paydotcom.com/r/9770/BTS50/1062923/

Creative Notions

People seem to have the misconception that only a select few are able to unleash a steady flow of creative genius. The fact is, creativity is very much like a muscle that needs to be exercised in order to consistently give out great results. If you don't practice harnessing creative thinking, this skill will very much atrophy into inexistence. But keep working and this skill can come to anyone.

So how do you unleash your creative thinking? Well, the first thing is to become a human leech. No, we're not talking about just sucking the blood out of every living being available, we're saying that you should take in as much knowledge and learning you can find. Read everything available (good and bad), and keep your mind open to the infinite possibilities of the universe. The more you know, the more you'll want to know, and the more your faculty of wonder will be exercised. Prepare to be amazed at little facts that add a bit of color into your life.

Focus on a creative activity everyday. Yes, it's an effort. Even doodling is a creative activity. Don't let anything hinder you. Mindlessness may be a creative activity, but for people who are just starting out; to unleash a little bit of creative thinking in their lives, it is helpful and encouraging to have concrete evidence, that, "hey, what I'm doing is getting somewhere." So why don't you try it: practice drawing for a couple of minutes each day, bring out your old camera and start snapping photos like crazy, or keep a journal and make a point to write in it religiously. Another idea is to write describing something you have experienced with your five senses. Try to avoid vague adjectives like "marvelous," "amazing," and "delicious." Before you know it, you'll have built yourself a tiny portfolio, and you'll be amazed at the growth you've undertaken after amassing all those works of art. Pretty soon those things will become a part of you and you'll be addicted to these creative exercises. You might actually take to liking those things you do everyday.

Think out of the box -- or don't. Sometimes, constraints are actually a good thing. Limitations enable you to be more resourceful and discipline you to work within your means. Creative freedom is great, but limitations enforce discipline.

Try something new everyday and let your experiences broaden your perspective. Explore a new district in your neighborhood. Spend an afternoon in a museum to which you've never been before. Open up to the people around you. As you thrust yourself out of your comfort zone more and more each day, your sense of adventure grows and so does your zest for life. Think about it. When was the last time you did something for the first time? If it's been a while, I tell you, you've been missing out on a whole lot of experiences that could've added to your growth, emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually. Why don't you try bungee jumping today? Not only will you learn, but you will also have plenty of stories to share, enabling you to practice your storytelling skills and making you the life of the party.

Embrace insanity. No, not to the point of practically admitting yourself into the mental ward. As John Russell once said, "Sanity calms, but madness is more interesting." Exactly! Every creative thought was once deemed insanity by other "normal" people at one time or another. Luckily, that didn't stop the creative geniuses from standing by them. The thing is, sanity or being normal confines people to think... well, normally. Withink limits. Creativity is essentially breaking through barriers. Yes, this includes the bizzarre and the downright strange. I'm not saying that you yourself should develop a creative personality. That might go haywire. An example of a creative personality would be George Washington, who often rode into battle naked, or James Joyce, who wrote "Dubliners" with beetle juice for an intense fear of ink, or Albert Einstein, who thought his cat was a spy sent by his rival (or in thinking creatively in this case, the term could probably be "archnemesis.") It's important that your creativity doesn't get you detached from the real world completely.

I hope this article has inspired you to start thinking beyond your "limits." If you follow these steps pretty soon you'll be living a life full of interesting adventures. Unleashing your creative thinking will bring about a new zest for living life.