Page 31 - Mind Games The Aging Brain and How to Keep it Healthy

16 • Chapter 1

Now that you have an idea of what your dominant style
is, there are two things for you to do. First, if you need to
learn some new information in a quick and thorough man-
ner, plan learning activities that maximize your dominant
style.

• If you are a visual learner, feast your eyes with images
and lots of text.
• If you prefer to learn in an auditory way, try books on
tape or recite your lessons aloud. Use your voice and
your ears to help you use this preferred style.

• A kinesthetic learner will want to devise activities
where movement and touch are required. Make mod-
els, write notes, and use your hands to describe things
to others and yourself.

Second, learn to develop your skills in the other two,
less-dominant, learning styles. Life events often require you
to use your nondominant style and still be effective at re-
taining information. You may be reading a magazine article,
which supports a visual learner. You may be in an audito-
rium listening to someone speaking, which supports an au-
ditory learner. You may be in a hands-on class, which
supports a kinesthetic learner. It will be useful to you if you
can benefit from all three styles.
Accommodate your personal preferences and begin to
include others. If you have never been an avid reader, for ex-
ample, find a subject you enjoy and start reading. The more
techniques you use to store information, the more connec-
tions within your brain you’ll create, and the more likely
you will remember the information. (See Chapter 2, “The In-
telligent Mind,” for a more detailed explanation.) Exercise
those brain cells! HUP, two, three, four. HUP, two, three,
four...