Category: Tips & Guides

Ways To Improve Your Memory

You know that forgetting your keys is normal. It is, however, a bit frustrating to seemingly succumb to memory loss during an important exam. Does your memory have to fade, though? In actuality, the brain operates as a sort of muscle. The more that you exercise its abilities to recall instances and facts, the better the brain responds when under pressure. Giving your brain the daily workout that it deserves is not as difficult as you may think. Keep reading for tips on how to strengthen your mind and, thus, remember more.

How The Brain Works

The brain operates via signals. Your mind processes events by breaking them down into patterns and creating connections between the neurons that are better known as synapses. The unfortunate thing about synapses is that they fade with time. Such is the reason why you steadily forget things pertaining to your childhood with the exception of major events.

If you want to remember more, then you need to focus on the consolidation process. Consolidation works to transfer thoughts to the long-term category so that you can recall things later down the road. Your first trip to Disneyland, for example, may stay in your memory bank because it has been consolidated.

You should not depend on fate to transfer all of the things you want to remember to the consolidated state. The most traumatic events will certainly find their way into your long-term memory bank. You may not have the same luck when you are studying for a big exam. The good news is that you can alter the consolidation process by changing your lifestyle.

Try Meditation

There is power in sitting with yourself. Research shows that those who meditate are likely to recall things quicker than those who remain frazzled by life’s events. You may want to take a seat and focus on your breathing for at least five minutes out of your day for better concentration and memory.

Reduce Your Sugar Intake

Sugar works to make you forget what’s important. You may think that your morning cup of coffee with lots of sugar will help you with the exam. In actuality, you may be sabotaging yourself. Consider consuming less sugar until you have completely eliminated the food as an add-on to your diet.

Do The Berry Thing

Blueberries work wonders. Research shows that adding the food source to your diet can improve your spatial working memory, which could lead to better retention of the facts. “But how is it that blueberries have such power,” you may ask. The key is in flavonoids, which can strengthen connections in the brain for stronger memory.

Exercise

A good exercise routine does the heart and mind well. Maintaining a regular workout schedule releases endorphins that make you feel better about life. You may find yourself with improved cognitive abilities if you are happier.

Sweet Dreams

Several researchers confirm that the lack of a good night’s sleep can lead to poor memory and even the lack thereof. Your brain refreshes itself while you sleep and dream. Reducing the hours that you take to rest could cause you to forget things due to your mind being overwhelmed. Getting at least seven hours of sleep every night is the better way to get the most from your brain.

How do you keep your brain sharp?

10 Books That You Must Read Before Graduating College

The holidays are here and you are definitely ready for a break. You’ve worked so hard this semester and deserve a treat. What better way to celebrate the upcoming semester’s end than with a reading list that makes you a more intellectual being? These are ten books that you may want to consider and absolutely must read before finishing college.

1. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Just read one book by Stephen King, and you’ll understand why you must read his take on the craft of writing if you, too, are an aspiring writer. King gives some of his greatest tips, which include replacing TV time with reading sessions as well as remaining true to yourself during the creative process. You should do yourself a favor and buy this book. Don’t check it out of the library where you’ll have to return it in three weeks.

2. On The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin

Regardless of how you feel about Darwin and his belief about the formation of the world, you should pick up this book and read through it for knowledge’s sake. This book was published on November 24, 1859, and continues to influence science and other facets of academia. Can you say, “important”?

3. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond

Leave it to a Princeton sociologist to shed light on capitalism and all of its ugliness. Matthew Desmond follows eight families from Milwaukee who struggle to obtain and maintain basic necessities such as food and shelter. It’s hard to believe that, in a nation such as the United States, mass poverty is still a thing. Matthew Desmond’s book is a call to action.

4. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

How can you call yourself a full-fledged young scholar if you have never tapped into the world presented by Joseph Heller? All is definitely not fair in love and war, and Heller wants you to know it. This book is a great quick read.

5. First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung

Loung Ung gives rawness in this memoir that discusses how genocide destroyed her family in Cambodia. Ung’s story moved Angelina Jolie so much that the actress decided to make the book into a film. The written word, of course, always carries a richness that the movies lack.

6. Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

First, she was raped. Then, Tess lost her baby. Now, the poor and naive girl lives in shame. If you ever thought that there was a hint of bias regarding sexual misconduct in the Victorian Age, here is proof of such speculation. Hardy presents a world in which men nearly get away with murder while women are condemned for simply being themselves. Tess is every outsider coming of age in a world that just doesn’t understand.

7. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

It’s a feminist’s nightmare. Women who are so subject to men that they forget that they, not the men who believe they own them, are in control of their bodies. The handmaids remain covered and seen but never heard in Margaret Atwood’s alternative world. There’s a reason why this book has been on the popularity list for the past few months. Could Atwood have been giving us a sort of prophetic warning? We aren’t sure, but you should definitely read the book.

8. 1984 by George Orwell

Another sort of alternative reality is George Orwell’s classic book. No one is allowed to read books so don’t even think about going to the library to gain a bit of knowledge. Orwell’s story shows us the power that is in education and the problem with remaining ignorant.

9. The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henriquez

This is not your ordinary coming to America story. These immigrants are looking for everything from financial stability to love. The American Dream is all about having the audacity of hope in Cristina Henriquez’s narrative.

10. Behold The Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

There is nothing like reading a different perspective on issues like race and immigration. Allow Imbolo Mbue to take us inside of the world of migrants so that we can better appreciate the aspirations of all people.

What books are you planning to read on your own time this holiday season?

We all know, or should know, that reading is essential to life. Were you aware, though, that the act of sitting down and diving into a book or newspaper article does more than make you feel academically accomplished? You send your brain all kinds of positive signals when you feed it with a good story. Your writing abilities also stand to improve when you take the time to read.

Reading Changes You

Science confirms what your teachers have told you for many years. Reading increases blood flow to the brain, which causes its functioning to be much more efficient. Perhaps such is why the school “nerd” had all of the answers in class. He read during his free time and was, thus, better capable of dissecting what was being asked at the moment.

You can read to increase the positive vibes in your brain so that you are better able to handle:

• Stress
• Old Age
• Creative Processes

Reading on a regular basis also helps you develop empathy for others since a good story will have you reconsidering your perspectives on life and the way that things work.

Reading and Writing

Not only does the activity of reading influence you for the better as an individual but it also positively impacts your writing skills. If for nothing else, a good book improves your vocabulary. You will always remember that word that compelled you to reach for the dictionary in the middle of the story so that you could get a full understanding of what was taking place in the scene.

Reading also impacts your writing skills from a creative stance. It is quite difficult to find inspiration or speak to an audience without first being a member of said group. How are you supposed to know what sells in Horror and Suspense if you have never picked up a Stephen King book? Reading teaches you what styles work and which methods are best left alone.

Literacy in the Real World

Sadly, despite the many benefits attached to reading a good book, the practice of consistent literacy enjoyment is on the decline. Much of the lost interest in books comes from a society that encourages fast-paced living. You cannot sift through a good, meaningful story. You must sometimes return to the beginning to understand what is taking place in the middle of the book.

The digital era does not generally allow for such attention to detail, which is why you do not often see much support for traditional print books in society. There is, however, growing support for audiobooks, which leads some to wonder: Is listening to a book the same as actually reading it?

When you think about it, there are a few benefits that come with audiobooks. Perhaps the most obvious perk is the fact that you can enjoy a good book on-the-go. There is nothing better than occupying your road trip with a 10-hour long book that, when completed, makes you feel like a better person. Listening to someone else read a book and cracking open the art piece yourself, however, are not the same.

When you surrender to the voice giving you the story via audiobook, you are letting that person dictate how the story goes. Their imagination influences your thoughts so that your fantasies about the story are not entirely your own. When you sit down and read a book, however, you are working entirely from your mind’s creativity. You can make characters sound the way that you want them to sound, and you can stay on a page for however long you desire.

Time is another freedom that you surrender when you choose an audiobook over the real thing. You cannot speed up the time it takes the narrator to get through the story without skipping over certain parts of the narrative.

Turn the Page and Read for Better Writing

Sure, you get the pleasure of marking a book off your list when you listen to it via audiobook. Your writing skills, however, can only be fully developed when you use the traditional means of reading, which includes holding a physical book and turning actual pages to complete the story. Not even digital texts give the same perks as print stories. If you want to be the ultimate wordsmith, then you must become the reading warrior. Barnes & Noble, anyone?

Sources:

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-benefits-reading-why-you-should-read-everyday.html

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201401/reading-fiction-improves-brain-connectivity-and-function

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-hanski/read-more_b_5192754.html

https://www.paperbecause.com/PIOP/files/7d/7db7c4e0-0065-408d-82d4-a86c5f879bc3.pdf

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Growing up and getting older are facts of life that we all must face. As days go by, we must prepare for our future. Often, we take a break from planning and all of a sudden; those distant years are here. Milestones are crucial year after year.

We look forward to birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations, and other ceremonies. These are the times that are most cherished in our lives. We make memories to look back on and reminisce with those closest to us.

One of the most celebrated milestones in life is high school graduation. Students spend at least 12 or 13 years studying the basics to get to this point. Many years of homework, projects, field trips, late night studying, friends’ parties, and sports events, all equal up to the one magical night of graduation. This special moment will forever be in the heart of the student. Parents, other family members and friends also share in the essence of this great moment.

Every good moment is followed by a new chapter. Hence, the transition from high school graduate to young adulthood. Young adulthood encompasses many levels. There are many options to choose from after high school. A good percentage of graduates decide to go into higher education. Higher education usually means college or university training. Transitioning from high school to college can be difficult. This is a time when responsibility and accountability come into play. College is a whole different ball game from high school. There is no one hanging over you to wake you up in the morning. Your parents and other siblings are not there to give you daily advice. You must make decisions as an adult. This can be difficult if you were very dependent on your parents. It takes a lot of courage to transition from high school to college. You have to set goals and put in the work to achieve all of them.

College is a brand-new world. If you are lucky, you will meet friends who are traveling on the same journey as you. These new faces will be able to track along side you as you all discover what the future holds. It takes very detailed planning to transition into college. The most important detail is to mentally prepare yourself. After mental preparation, the other factors come with ease. This phase of your life will allow you to learn more about yourself. You will tap into areas of your life that you did not know existed. Although it may seem tough and challenging, this chapter of your life can be the most fulfilling. It is in these years that you will discover where you want to go in life and how you want to live your best life.