Memorizing a speech can be a challenge at any age. Learning what you can do to super-charge your brain to make it easier, is a good way to guarantee that you’ll shine on stage.
1) Learn the key images and themes of your speech, rather than memorizing it word for word. Since we think in pictures, this is a wonderful way to sear the concepts and the flow of your speech in your mind.
2) Drinking green tea increases neuroplasticity between the parietal area of the brain (cognition, information processing, movement coordination, speech, visual perception, reading and writing) and the frontal area of the brain (thinking, memory, behavior, movement, planning), improving memory.
3) Napping can improve your capacity to commit new information to memory. Read your speech aloud before going to sleep and your subconscious mind will keep playing it on a loop in your mind as you sleep. A funny example of just how effective this is: Many years ago, my husband was a chef and he trained all the new cooks. After having a very trying night at the restaurant, he was venting to me about his night, shortly before we drifted off to sleep. During the night, I rolled over and hit him with me elbow and he sat straight up in the bed and said in a very loud voice, “Are you guys going to flip those hamburgers or what?!*!?”. Then he laid back down in the bed and continued to snore away. Use this strategy to your benefit and have your brain do the work while you sleep.
4) Improving your neuroplasticity will aid in improving your memory. Doing simple tasks like coloring in a coloring book or taking on a new hobby can help. Kelly Simmons, our Engaging Speakers Mentor & Book Coach, does a coloring exercise at each of her writing workshops. It gets the creative juices flowing and keeps your brain flexible.
5) Doing a crossword puzzle, sudoku, a jigsaw puzzle or playing cards can also help to keep your memory sharp. Playing games that involve strategy and remembering what cards have been played are very helpful, like bridge and chess.
These tips can help you to maintain a well-tuned memory and allow you to memorize your speech with ease.
Remember, the Engaging Speakers community is focused on helping you build a successful business by using one of the most effective strategies – public speaking. To learn more about how you can experience that support, visit https://engagingspeakers.com/
Gail Brown, Founder of Engaging Speakers, gail@engagingspeakers.com
