Memory Boosting Tips That Will Boost Academic Success

Good memory skills are crucial as a psychology major. We've all been there – slumped in front of a glaring computer screen at 2 a.m., with papers, textbooks, and empty energy drinks littering the desk the night before an exam. If you're like most of us, you resolved at the semester's start to stay ahead in your classes, by purchasing the textbook, doing homework on time, and even showing up to class (at least, the majority of the time). 

But perhaps that resolve slowly faded, or you underestimated the amount of work you woud have to do. Either way, it's time to start employing some serious tips to boost your memory, if you want to achieve academic success and still maintain a social life. Here are the four best ways to begin improving your memory:

1. Read once for understanding, twice for processing
Read the material once through as you would any other book, just to get a feel for what the text contains. After you finish, go back and read it again, this time with pen in hand, and start taking notes and understanding concepts. Note: this includes reading (and answering!) the study questions printed with each chapter. These give you a great overview of the chapter's main topics.

2. Participate in class
Stay awake, pay attention, take notes, make comments, and ask questions. This one's pretty much self-explanatory – if you're engaged in the material throughout the semester, you'll actually understand it come exam time.

3. Re-read notes every night
If you study as you go along during the semester, instead of saving it all for the night before the exam, you'll be able to make connections between the material to aid in your understanding, and you will also be able to remember small details much better. Developing a regular study time each night is a great way to begin boosting your memory a little at a time.

4. Take care of your body
It can be hard to keep up on your diet, exercise, and sleeping habits while balancing classes, work, and friends, but the benefits that a healthy balance in each of these areas can have on your mind is tremendous.

By taking these simple steps now, you'll find that the next time an exam rolls around, you'll already feel more prepared. 

This post is brought to you by Argosy University. Drawing upon our more than 30-year history of granting degrees in professional psychology, Argosy University has developed a curriculum that focuses on interpersonal skills and practical experience alongside academic learning. Because getting a degree is one thing. Succeeding, quite another.