How can you improve your memory without doing anything?

Imagine being able to remember things better without having to study. Sounds almost too good to be true? In fact, there is a simple method that allows you to do just that: do nothing.

Why breaks strengthen your brain

Scientific studies show that short breaks after learning help you to retain information better in the long term. This is not about power naps or meditation, but about conscious moments of rest - without distraction.

The science behind rest time

Researchers investigated how so-called "waking rest" phases affect memory performance. The participants learned new content and were then either directly engaged in a new task or simply allowed to rest. This meant closing their eyes, sitting in a relaxed position and not actively thinking - without cell phones, conversations or background noise.

The surprising result

The result? Those who spent just 10 to 15 minutes in absolute silence after studying were able to remember the content much better than those who continued working immediately. The reason: even if you are not consciously thinking, your brain continues to process the information in these quiet moments and stores it more effectively.

10 minutes of silence for a better memory

In short: your memory needs silence to function optimally. If you reach for your cell phone, listen to music or distract yourself immediately after studying, you are depriving yourself of the chance to retain content in the long term. Try it out: 10 minutes of conscious silence can make a big difference!

Sources:

• Dewar, M., Alber, J., Butler, C., Cowan, N., & Della Sala, S. (2012). Brief wakeful resting boosts new memories over the long term. Psychological Science, 23(9), 955-960.

• Craig, M., Dewar, M., Della Sala, S., & Wolbers, T. (2016). Rest boosts the long-term retention of spatial associative and temporal order information. Hippocampus, 26(9), 1140-1148.