How to Memorize Without Taking Notes

Highlighting a text book is one way to learn material by memory.

Memorizing material, whether it is for a test or for something else, is never easy, especially in an age with so many technological distractions. While taking notes is a popular technique for learning material from a book by heart, it is not the only strategy that works. To memorize material without taking notes, try a variety of strategies to find the one that works best for you. Stick with it, and you should be able to learn just about anything without the help of notes.

Instructions

1. Read at a time of day when you do your best learning, and in an environment conducive to memorizing. Find the time of day when you are most alert and read at that time every day. Avoid reading when you are tired. Remove distractions from your study space. Turn off your television, computer and cell phone.

2. Tailor your reading strategies to learn material the first time through it. Instead of reading a text in order, start with the conclusion and look at chapter headings beforehand. This should give you some sense of what a book is about before you begin reading. If the conclusion offers a concise summary of the book, read it over a few times until you know its content.

3. Discuss material with a friend. Explaining something you have just read to someone else can help you remember it. Have your friend quiz you on material until you have memorized it properly.

4. Use mnemonic tricks for memorizing material without taking notes. Come up with easy-to-remember acronyms for quick facts. To remember the plot of a complex novel, cast celebrities or your friends in your mind as the characters in the book. Make up songs or rhymes to help you nail down facts that you find difficult to remember.

References

• Pal Science: Ten Tips And Tricks To Memorize Almost Any Thing
• Web US: Mnemonic Techniques and Specific Memory Tricks to Improve Memory, Memorization