It is a truth universally acknowledged, you will never completely remember whatever you might be trying to retain. Some readers admit to not remembering anything a few days after they have read something- be it a book, a post on Facebook or the latest critical business report. There are many creative ways to remember more of what you have read, instead of simply admitting to the phenomenon. Scientists have often suggested turning oneself away from any sort of distraction when trying to retain something you want to remember. Also, active reading like taking notes, communicating with someone, and doodling while reading something can increase your power of retention.
Ronald Kellogg, a professor of Psychology at Saint Louis University, suggests that a reader should primarily read the content and try to understand it. Next, they should try to take down notes they think are important or simply repeat them. He says, “Just reading the same (sentence) repeatedly is worse than reading it once while trying to remember it. The effort to retrieve it in itself becomes a learning opportunity and a useful thing to do to increase retention.”
A better option than reading the same sentence time and again is to simply summarise the sentence you read in your head. Jotting down the parts you think might be important in order to help you retain the details. Kellogg says that this a technique known as “elaborative rehearsal” in which the words you’ve written helps you link back to the information. It is true that readers who maintain a healthy diet and tend to exercise are able to remember things more accurately and easily. Carbohydrates are known for slowing down the function of the brain. While, following a proper sleep schedule, eating well and exercising helps our brain to function more efficiently. The final achievement that one should receive is not just memorisation, but also the insights and the reflections.
Subarna Basu
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