The importance of rest for reinforcing memory
Ideothetic Flow
Hi everyone!
I used to think I have a relatively good memory. Yet, as I get older it seems to become harder and harder to store and quickly recall things. Without a to-do list at work I would easily miss out on tasks, and I need to take lots of notes of everything i do. Daily life is not much better, my wife and I sometimes have conversations where we struggle to remember where we ate a week ago, or what we had done over the week.
An article by BBC - An effortless way to strengthen your memory - summarizes several studies on memory consolidation which find that having a short period of uninterrupted rest after consuming any information or content could significantly improve our ability to recall that content. It thus recommends taking 10-15 minute quiet breaks when attempting to memorise any new facts
The key here is that this rest must be uninterrupted, without any other external stimulation. The mind should be allowed to wander freely, and even trying to focus on daydreaming would reduce the benefit.
These days, such a moment of pure silence is rare.
Our devices give us access to nearly infinite amounts of entertainment, allowing every moment of downtime to be filled with something to browse or do ( see also - have we forgotten how to be bored). With the ability to chat, watch, play, or even learn anytime we can be constantly stimulated or engaged. We are even given the impression that it is "unproductive" not to fill our spare moments trying to learn a new language or clearing some emails. Without knowing it, the moment I have any break in activity I am already browsing Instagram subconsciously, even if I had just checked my feed less than an hour ago.
Workplace cultures are no better. My own workplace experiences have always been filled with requests for immediate attention, and I am constantly shifting between various tasks out of habit. Even in my daily or social life I am guilty of alternating between multiple inputs and activities, filling any stimulation gap with the online world.
Based on these memory studies, we might actually be more productive by doing nothing. When we want to take a break, we should go all out and do nothing during that break, no mindless surfing or doing simple errands. There is no need to feel constantly engaged, or to feel unproductive the instant we are not engaged. Just because we aren't listening to an online course, reading the news, or going through some entertaining content does not mean we have wasted time. By slowing down we might actually end up achieving more. Stronger memory formation not only improves our work performance and knowledge building, it could also be valuable to reinforcing our memories of our life experiences, which I think are crucial to us enjoying life
In Moonwalking with Einstein, a memory champion describes how having better memory means his life seems longer and more fulfilled rather than feeling like his days have flown past him. I strongly agree with this. Even more so after watching my grandparents fight dementia. If I do not remember all the wonderful things in my life, then what is the point of experiencing them. The thought of being unable to recall my family and friends really frightens me and I would like to do my best to keep those memories the best I can.
Do let me know if you try applying this to your daily life and if it works for you!
Hope you have a great week ahead!
James
ABOUT
Ideothetic Flow is a fortnightly newsletter where I reflect on insights that I have found useful in rethinking life in a more realistic way.
Modern culture, media, and technology, for all their benefits, have distorted the view of a complete and happy life. The ideas I share are those which have helped me gain a deeper understanding of my own identity and circumstances, and inspire change towards a happier life, and I hope they will do the same for anyone else who reads this.
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