Think Faster and Remember Better

When it comes to everything in life from being successful to executing a personal development plan, you need to be able think faster. When you can think quickly, it also helps you to better remember things since you will find it much easier to retrieve the information stored in your brain. There are several techniques that you can use to increase your think speed and memory so that both of these attributes become second nature for you.

Type It Out Instead of Writing


Even if you are a novice typist, you can type far faster than you are able to write. Let your thoughts flow and type them out as they occur. You can use shorthand and abbreviate your thoughts. Just make sure that when you go back to read over what you typed, that you understand the main idea of it all. Since most people have smartphones today, make sure that it has a word processor or note taking program so that you can quickly type out your thoughts when you are on the go.

Go with Your First Thought

When you are brainstorming something, go with the first thought that comes to your mind. There is a reason that this is the first thing that you thought about, so give it the merit that it deserves. Jot this thought down and then allow your mind to expand upon what you are thinking about. 

Let the Silence Be When It Occurs

When you are talking to someone or working on your personal development plan, silence can be your friend. It gives you space to think because it is not always easy to focus on your thoughts when the people around you are talking and throwing out ideas. Silence can be awkward, but you want to learn how to embrace it so that you are able to take full advantage of it. Eventually, silence will be a good thing that you appreciate when it happens and you will stop scrambling to find a way to start conversation. 

While Thinking, Repeat Your Thought Several Times

One of the easiest ways to evaluate your thoughts and commit them to memory is to repeat them several times. You can say them out loud or repeat them in your head, whichever is more appropriate for your environment. When you say something multiple times, it is much easier to remember because it almost sears it into your brain so that you can easily retrieve this thought in the future when you need it. 

Use the Principle of Following the Least Effort

Whichever thought takes the least effort to come up with should be the thought that you focus on. Just like going with your gut, there is a reason that it took little effort for you to manufacture this thought. You likely were already thinking about it subconsciously as something that could be beneficial to the current problem that you are trying to solve. 

Consider All of Your Knee-Jerk Reactions

When a situation occurs, everyone has a knee-jerk reaction to it. Most people try to contain their reactions and this can be a good skill to have. However, take a second to think about why you reacted that way and determine if it is a thought that might be beneficial to your current situation. In many cases, the thought associated with this reaction can be helpful and you might be able to use it, saving time on thinking of new ways to deal with the situation at hand. 

Listen to Your Gut and Always Consider Your First Instinct 

Your intuition is something that everyone has and it is often right. For example, if you are about to do something and your intuition tells you not to because it is likely dangerous, listening to this thought can often save you from doing something that is not smart. Take advantage of your intuition every time that it kicks in because your gut can often tell you things that your mind might try to override for a variety of reasons. 

Ideally, you want to follow all of these so that you are better able to think on your feet, remember things and come up with quick ideas whenever necessary. Work on each of these individually until you become someone who is always able to think clearly and quickly. Remember that being able to think quickly will serve you well for everything from holding a basic conversation to aiding you in your career.

References:

http://wordlesstech.com/tips-towards-success-infographic/