If you’ve ever clean forgotten about a promise to do something for your boss by a certain time, or suffered the embarrassment of not being able to remember a new colleague’s name, you’ll be aware of the million small ways in which a failsafe memory can help you in your daily working life.
But scientific research shows that developing a great working memory can have much wider, career-elevating implications. Namely, improved reasoning and problem solving skills1.
The good news is that working memory is very much a learned skill – researchers say that those who engage in conscious brain training outperform those with a natural tendency to recall facts.
Create mnemonic links
Also known as a ‘chain method’ or ‘story linking method’, this is a way of remembering a series of items on a list by creating a common association between them. Imagine your boss corners you as you’re on your way to a meeting without a notebook and pen to hand. She tells you that in your next 1-2-1 she’d like an update on how recruitment for a new role in your team is going, for you to bring along your annual objectives for a quick review, and for you to email in advance the PowerPoint slides you plan to present at the next departmental meeting. Create a word or an image that sums up each point (sticking with the first thing that pops into your mind will usually be the most successful): perhaps a CV (symbolising the recruitment process), a dartboard (symbolising your targets) and the glass bowl meeting room where your departmental meeting takes place. Now imagine a CV, pinned to the dartboard hanging in said meeting room. Once you’re back at your desk, decode the image onto your to-do list and you’re good to go.
State and context-dependent recall
These are the terms psychologists use to describe the phenomenon whereby you’re more likely to remember if you recreate both the internal (state) and external (context) factors that were at play when you originally received the information. So if you’re struggling to recall a set of instructions handed out during a meeting, returning to that same room at a similar time of day, or tapping into your emotional state at the time in question might be the jolt you need.
Stop multitasking, start meditating
If you’ve bought wholly into the idea that multitasking equals productivity, you might be surprised to hear that the new thinking about simultaneous juggling of tasks shows that it actually makes you less efficient. Furthermore, there’s evidence to suggest that taking a more mindful approach to your work can improve focus and concentration, both of which aid memory and recall.
Go longhand
The popularity of note-taking apps like Evernote means that when you need to jot something down, your smartphone is probably the first thing you reach for. But research has shown that you can significantly enhance your powers of recall by putting pen to paper – in fact, just the act of recording facts and figures by hand is more likely to make them stick, even if you never end up looking at your notes. Science also shows that if you spend at least eight seconds reading and re-reading each bullet point before putting your notebook aside, there’s more chance those facts will make the crucial leap from your short to your long-term memory.
Instigate a regular practice by getting appy
As we said in the introduction, studies have shown that those who engage in deliberate practice have better functioning memory than those who rely on their inherent powers of recall. A flood of brain-training programs has given rise to a competitive array of smartphone and tablet apps designed to test your cognitive functions. Popular choices include Lumosity, PositScience and FitBrains. Designed by neuroscientists and perfect for your train commute, they track your progress, adding a fun, competitive element to your practice.
QUICK-FIRE TIPS FOR BOOSTING YOUR MEMORY:
Improve your quality of sleep: The sounder you sleep, the better your recall. So if you’re feeling particularly forgetful, an early night might be in order.
Jog your memory: Literally. Short bursts of running or swimming a couple of times a week can boost blood flow to your brain, flooding the hippocampus with the stimulation it needs to fire up connecting neurons to help you better recall facts.
Food for thought: Brain-boosting antioxidants called anthocyanins have been shown to stimulate better recall. They’re found in blueberries, spinach, kale, grapes, avocado and red onions.
[1] Source: opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/how-to-improve-working-memory/
