Don't Forget Your Memory

Remembering Things

I remember a birthday party I went to as a child. There was
a contest that involved looking at a table covered in 15
various items. After a few minutes, the things were taken
away, and then we each got a piece of paper and a pencil.
The object was to write down as many items as we could
remember. I struck out after seven or eight, but one little
boy got all 15 items, and won the prize.

Only years later did I learn why he was able to do that. His
father had taught him a simple technique that none of us
other kids knew. All you have to do is tie the items
together in an imaginative story. Imagine, for example, that
you want to remember a list of the following things: milk,
soap, forks, honey, and flowers.

Create a story, and see it vividly in your head: You are in
front of the bathroom sink, and you reach for the soap. The
soap dish is filled with milk, so you wash your hands with
that, then comb honey into your hair with a fork, pick up a
bouquet of flowers and smile at yourself in the mirror. Say
each item as you review this "movie" in your imagination,
and you'll remember all five things, even the next day.

Some Other Memory Tricks

Start telling yourself to remember. If you just learned a
person's name, for example, tell yourself, "remember that".
This signals the unconscious mind to rank this input higher
in importance.

Tell yourself why you want to remember something, and how
you will remember it. To remember a person, think about how
that person will be important to you in the future, where
you'll see them next, and anything you notice about them.
Clearly seeing the importance of remembering will help a
lot, and the additional associations (where you expect to
see the person next, for example) will set the memory more
firmly in your brain.

Have you ever forgotten where you set down your car keys?
You have probably tried retracing your steps, or at least
doing it in your imagination. This works fairly well, but do
you ever create the scenario beforehand, so you won't
forget? Try it. When you set down the keys on the chair, see
yourself walking in and setting the keys on the chair.
You'll remember where they are if you do this.

Create Good Memory Habits

Do you know what the biggest problem with memory techniques
is? Remembering to use them. No joke. Many popular methods
work, but if you don't have the habit of using them, you'll
forget to when you need them most. So if you take the time
to learn a technique, make a conscious effort to use it
until it becomes automatic.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steve Gillman has been studying brain improvement,
concentration, creative problem solving, and related topics
for years. You can visit his website, and subscribe for free
to his Brain Power Newsletter at:
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/newsletter.html

Other Articles:

Memory Loss
Memory loss affects thousands of people every year. Memory loss is often attributed to getting older." In reality, age-related memory loss is a fallacy. The latest scientific research indicates that memory loss is actually a direct result of...
Improve Memory: How Much Can I Improve My Memory
The short answer: Your memory is capable of indefinite improvement. Your 3 pound brain contains 100 billion brain cells that can form gazillions of connections. According to Karen DeBord, Ph.D, "there are enough brain cells to learn just about...
Improving Your Memory and Mental Health
Memory is a large component of good mental health. Without it, wed forget phone numbers, peoples names, or freeze up on a test. Of course, many of us do this anyway I know I do quite frequently. So how can someone improve their mental health...
Improve Your Memory
Improve Your Memory Robert Elias Najemy Poor memory can be a frustrating problem when it becomes a cause for us to function below our abilities. The consequences can vary in type and seriousness. SOME POSSIBLE CAUSES 1. Lack of proper...