I’m not gonna lie, seeing the first hints of color changes in leaves brings so much joy to my heart! I *love* Autumn. One of the happy associations I have with Fall and the crispness in the air is school starting again. New beginnings, new adventures ahead. I am a nerd to the core, so I loved back-to-school as a kid and college student, and now I love it for my kids – for the adventures they’ll have, the things they’ll learn, and the chances to see old friends and make new ones.
Here are some helpful learning tips that will benefit any student, old or young, brain injured or not:
Big Picture First
The way you put information into your brain influences how you are able to retrieve it. Our brains also like to see the big picture first and then fill in the details. One way you can use this to your advantage is as follows: If you have to read a chapter in a textbook or a research article, try reading the chapter summary or abstract FIRST so you get a big-picture idea of what you’ll be reading. Then go through and read all of the section headings – this is like creating file folders in your brain to let it know what to expect as you read. THEN go through and read the full chapter or article, filling in the details of what your brain already knows will be coming. This helps you organize the information you’re taking in, and will allow you to retrieve it more easily.
Make Associations
Did you know they have memory competitions? There are literally world memory championships. I’m going to share one strategy that the people who compete in these competitions use to help them win. It’s simple and effective, and something you can start using today if you want to improve your memory. The trick? – Making connections. Associations. Want to remember the series of groceries on your list? Make up a story that connects all the items together, preferably in a silly or surprising way. Want to remember your hotel number? Associate each number with something from your life (ie: if your number is 613, you can recall that when you were 6 you got your first pet, and your son is now 13 years old, etc). Connections are key.
Use Your Senses
Try using as many senses as you can during your learning. We know that visuals can be helpful, but try incorporating song or rhythm as well. You can even use taste and smell to your advantage – try chewing the same flavor gum or smelling the same essential oil or perfume every time you study a specific subject, and then when it’s time to take the test for that subject, use the same gum or scent that you used while studying. Neurons that fire together wire together. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
You’ve got this!
Bethany
The Concussion Coach