Some of us can’t remember what we had for dinner last night let alone the capital of Moldovia. And yet certain individuals have the memory capacity of the entire set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. How do they do that? Is it down to genetics or education? The truth is those kinds of people are not very different from the rest of us, but they are able to improve memory skills using a combination of techniques.

Here at QUENCH headquarters we have been looking at how to remember things more efficiently, below are our top 7 tips:

1. Flashcards

Quizlet and Anki are good online sources for flashcards and are an excellent way to help remember trivia. Brush up on geography and history or even study for exams. 

2. The Cicero Method

Known by various other names including the Journey Method and draws on spatial memory. In simple terms you’d go round your house and attach words or new information to items in a room: chair, wardrobe, bookshelf etc. One of the reasons this works so well is that you are employing all your senses, auditory and kinaesthetic for example, in order to use the items as a powerful mnemonic. Interestingly this method was popular with the ancient Greeks, I wonder if they used it to memorise Pi.

3. Lifestyle changes

It is commonly accepted that sleep deprivation can play havoc with our brains so getting more sleep will boost your memory. Additionally add more ‘memory’ foods to your diet such as walnuts, green tea, and olive oil. Apparently, any rich source of omega 3 food can lower the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s by as much as 47%. Meditation and exercise are both proven techniques to improve recall and concentration.

4. Time of day

Afternoon is usually the best time to study according to researchers. Although you may feel more alert first thing in the morning, in order to maximise learning we should schedule activity for after lunch.

5. Write it down

Not just mechanically copying facts but actively recall the information as you write the words. Repeat this multiple times. Just reading and rereading won’t have the same effect so put pen to paper and focus hard.

6. Acronym or acrostic

These are a more fun way to memorise facts and answer trivia questions correctly although not necessarily quickly. You probably remember doing this at school, for example in maths class to remember the correct order of operations BIDMAS = Brackets, Indices, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.

Or to memorise the planets you may have used an acrostic for example. The first letter of each word is used to make a phrase or sentence.

7. Use it or lose it

Once you have memorised the information you need to keep practicing it, so it remains in your long-term memory. Playing trivia games is a really good way to exercise the brain and test knowledge. Maybe you are a fan of Trivial Pursuit or attend a local pub quiz and already know the benefits. The internet offers fantastic sources of trivia quiz questions and online trivia games to keep you practicing. Try Googling “online trivia questions” and see the extensive results.

Win cash online

How do you fancy racing against the clock with a chance to win cash prizes for answering trivia questions? QUENCH is a weekly online trivia game with a huge bank of trivia questions. Play once or play many times to increase your chance to win real cash prizes. Register now and the first game is completely free. What do you have to lose? 

QUENCH offers genuine cash prizes for playing online trivia. Enjoy the competition and use your knowledge to exchange trivia for money.