Apparently one in five graduates in the UK have settled down with a partner that they met at university.

A recent online poll conducted by university accommodation provider, Unite interviewed over 5,000 graduates and non-graduate adults and found that 10% of those who didn’t attend university felt that they had missed out on love.  Interestingly graduates were found to have an average of 15 close friends compared to those who didn’t attend having an average of 10.

The survey also found that graduates who completed the survey were more likely to have international friends from different countries or cultures and that one in three of them had travelled around the world to spend time with these friends.

The poll also found that 60% of graduates thought that the contacts they had made at university were just as important as a degree in terms of employment opportunities.  41% stated that a friend from university had directly set them up for a job interview or had introduced them to a potential employer.  24% actually said that they had found employment because of one of their university contacts.

It will be interesting to see how Myjotter helps everyone to develop friendships and meaningful contacts – I think that this is the ideal platform!

Healthy mind…

If our brains were like computers we’d probably upgrade ourselves regularly by adding a new chip or programme – if only it was so simple!

Our memory needs to be stimulated in order to reach its full potential – the more you exercise it, the better you’ll get at processing and remembering information.

Novelty and sensory stimulation are key to brain exercise.  Try doing things slightly differently in order to use your brain pathways which you were not using before.  This could be something as simple as brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand.  Doing this activates connections on the non-dominant side of the brain.  You could also give your brain a neurobic exercise session – forcing you to use your brain in different ways – such as tying your shoelaces with your eyes closed, signing up for a course in a subject you know nothing about, challenge yourself with games of strategy such as chess, or perhaps cook a dish you are unfamiliar with from scratch for your friends and family. All these simple suggestions help to enhance your memory and its retention and retrieval capabilities.

Here are some top tips on basic things you can do to keep your grey matter in check.

Pay Attention

I remember being told this at school so many times, however its true – I can hear ‘I told you so’ ringing in my ears now! However its very true.  If can’t remember something if you never learned it and you can’t learn something and encode this in your brain if you don’t pay attention to it.  It takes approx 8 seconds of intent focus to process a piece of information through your hippocampus into your brains appropriate memory centre. So, if you find your mind wandering or become distracted easily to to ensure that you try and retrieve information in a quiet place without interruptions.

Use a learning style which works for you

Many people are visual learners and learn best by reading information, watching documentaries / instructional videos – basically seeing what they need to know. However we are not all the same, some people learn best by listening so they benefit more by recording the information they need and listening to it until it sinks in.  Explore different methods and find one which works for you.

Get all your senses involved

Even if visual stimulation works for you, read the text that you wish to remember out loud – reciting rhythmically is even better.  Relate information to colours, textures, smells and tastes as the physical act or rewriting information can help it to be imprinted in your brain.

Keep it real

One technique which works well is to connect any new information to things that you already remember – this could be new information on a subject with which you are already familiar with or perhaps something more simple such as knowing a street name / address because someone you know lived there previously.

Organise yourself

Write things down – make to do lists, place information on calendars, take notes on key information which is more complex and categorise it, use mind maps.  To stimulate your brain and help it retain information use both visual and written references.

Understand and be able to interpret complex material

In order to take in more detailed information focus your mind on understanding the basic ideas presented rather than memorising specific details.  One method to ensure that more complex information has been taken on board is to explain something to another individual in your own words.

Review information learned

A technique which helps with memory retention is to review what you’ve learned the same day that you learned it and at other intervals shortly after.  This is called ’spaced rehearsal’ and research has shown that it is much more effective than ‘cramming’ (If only I had known this years ago!).  If you over learn information, recalling it becomes second nature.

Be motivated

Be positive and tell yourself that you want to learn the information that you need to remember and that you can learn this and you can remember it.  If you think that you have a bad memory and tell yourself this, it does have an effect on the ability of your brain to remember.  Tell yourself you can learn and remember and your brain respond positively.

The common thread which brings us all to this social networking collective is Education.

Education is ever evolving – different techniques are developed and utilised in order to pass on knowledge to those who have a desire to learn. There are many interesting theories out there and its good to research these and explore them further – a technique which works well for one individual might not be as useful to another.

One interesting learning / teaching theory was developed by Dr Georgi Lozanov, who is a Bulgarian educator and psychologist.  He developed what he calls ’suggestopedia’ back in the 1960’s.

Suggestopedia, is a methodology which is incredibly successful, particularly in the teaching of foreign languages.  Suggestopedia involves the use of baroque music such as Mozart.  This music, (played at approx 60 beats per minute) had a calming effect on students and made them happy, yet alert and relaxed in their learning environment.  Studies have shown that students subjected to this stimulus could study for longer periods and had a much higher rate of retention. Dr Lozanov understood that when this music is played at the right tempo it activates both the left and right side of the brain – the brain is effectively in its optimum state for learning and retaining this new information.  He understood that music activates the right hand side of the brain and when the student is reading aloud this also activates the left side.

According to research and studies conducted on this technique, experts have found that the learning potential was increased by 5 times.  Dr Lozanov has proven conclusively that by using this technique foreign languages can be mastered with 85% – 100% effectiveness in 30 days, when the ususal period for learning a language is approx 2 years which is an incredible statistic.

Why not try this next time you hit the books and see how effective it is for yourself!

Creating the perfect home study environment is key to maintaining focus.

Studying in a calm and relaxed atmosphere can enhance your concentration and your ability to absorb information quickly and effectively.

Distance Learning is done at home and therefore takes us out of the classic classroom scenario, therefore, it’s important that you create your own study environment which suits you as an individual. You need to recognise what works for you, where you feel most comfortable and productive.

Think about the location of your desk?  Would it be better in a different space, away from other distractions – like the tv, radio?

Think about your posture – does the chair you are using support your body well? A good posture prevents aches and pains, especially when studying for longer periods.

Does your chosen study area benefit from good natural light? Or are you a person who prefers to work in a dimly lit room with a desk light?

Is the room well ventilated so that you get some fresh air?

Perhaps you are a person who likes to study sprawled out on the floor course materials everywhere?  This is absolutely fine if this is what works best for you.

If home life is a little hectic, consider the library, or perhaps arrange to stay late at work in the evenings and use one of the meeting rooms.  You could also arrange access to your office space at the weekend, allowing you absolute peace.  If you are working and travel a lot, perhaps studying on the go will work best for you?

It is important when studying that you give yourself a little break once in a while and get up and have a wander around.  Even if it’s just to go and make a cup of tea or coffee, it breaks the study period up and helps circulation!

Sometimes students find that their concentration is enhanced by having a snack to munch on – go shopping and stock up with your favourites!

‘Healthy mind, healthy body’, or that’s how the saying goes.  But, can your diet really help to improve your memory and learning capacity?

Apparently it can.  Here are some diet tips which will enhance your ability to digest information and process it.

Fish. Fish are packed with Omega 3 fatty acids.  Research has shown that these fatty acids increase energy and boost learning ability as they improve the communication between our brain cells.  So its time to replace the burgers with Tuna, Herring, Mackerel, Sardines, Halibut or Salmon – all fish high in Omega 3.

Berries. Berries in general are high in antioxidants which are excellent for keeping us healthy and feeling great – blackberries, raspberries, cranberries and elderberries are all excellent choices.  Blueberries in particular are known for enhancing our motor skills and learning ability and strawberries are high in fisetin which is a flavenoid known for improving long term memory.

Green Vegetables. We all remember our mums telling us to eat our greens when we were kids – we didn’t like it at the time however there was a reason for this.  Brocolli, cauliflowers, spinach, watercress, turnips and kale all help us retain memory.  Other memory boosters in the vegetable world are red peppers, onions, carrots mushrooms and indeed the dreaded brussel sprout!

Chocolate. The natural stimulants contained in chocolate encourage the production of endorphins which not only make us feel fantastic but also improve our concentration levels.  Studies have proven that milk chocolate enhance verbal and visual memory and improve our reaction times.  Dark chocolate, not only tastes delicious but is loaded with flavanols – these improve blood supply to the brain and enhance our cognitive skills.

Nuts. Nuts are great to snack on especially when studying.  They are rich in vitamins E and B6, folate (which is a naturally occurring form of folic acid), Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants.  Almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, pecan nuts and cashews are all great options.

Iron rich foods. Poor concentration, diminishing intelligence and sluggish thinking processes are all symptoms of a diet deficient in iron.  Iron is essential as it provides the brain with the oxygen it needs.  Good sources of dietary iron can be found in red meats.

Whole grains. Like nuts, there are grains such as bran, whole wheat and wheat germ which contain naturally high percentages of folate.  Whole grain bread and cereals contain vitamin B6 however to give your brain that extra boost try wheat germ as its rich in thiamine which has been proven to improve memory. Other good sources of brain boosting whole grains are oatmeal, brown rice and barley.

Beans and Pulses. Glucose fuels the brain.  As the brain does not produce its own glucose we have to ensure that we get this from other sources.  Beans are not only incredibly rich in antioxidants, iron and other nutrients, they also assist in stabilising blood sugar levels.  Lentils, peas, green beans, kidney beans, and lima beans are all great additions to your diet.

And finally….