You have two choices: accept the memory you were born with and believe that it cannot be changed, or decide that remembering is like a habit and can be improved with practice and training… What you believe is your choice!
“Unlimited Memory”, by Kevin Horsley, documents his journey from having difficulties in school to achieving success in memory contests… by learning and practicing established memory techniques. He explains in detail the tested memory techniques he uses regularly to be able to quickly memorize lists, facts, people’s names… or anything else he wants to learn. This is a review of his book… I hope you can use these techniques to improve your memory too!
Horsley describes the “4 C’s” of improving memory:
Concentrate
Create imagery
Connect new information to something you already know, and
Continuously use memory improvement techniques so they become a habit
CONCENTRATE
You are much less likely to remember something (like where you put your keys, for example) if you do it absent-mindedly. Focussing on what you are doing will help you remember later.
Worry and conflict can occupy your mind and distract you, reducing your ability to concentrate on the present moment. Deal with your conflicts and do something positive to lessen your worries, and you may find your memory will improve.
CREATE IMAGERY
Your mind likes and remembers images and action more than words and numbers. Creating “stories” using facts you want to remember helps your brain form more solid memories that are more easily retrieved later. The more outrageous and the more action in the story, the more easily you will recall it later!
CONNECT
Associating new information with already-formed memories and lists you can easily recall, helps your brain create a storage place for the new information. Remembering the associated old memory, will help you to recall the new information you have mentally attached to it. Many memory techniques use associations like this, often linking with something as simple as numbers, the alphabet or rooms in your house.
CONTINUOUSLY PRACTICE
Like anything you want to improve, using memory techniques will become easier and more automatic if you practice them every day. Start by doing an intentional exercise each day, using one of the techniques I will describe below. Challenge yourself, for example, to memorize a list of groceries you need to pick up or errands you need to do. Bring a backup list if you think you need it, but look for real life memory exercises you can do each day.
So, here is your first memory technique:
Associate items you want to remember with things in a room. Let's use items on your grocery list and make up a story about things in your kitchen:
Here is your list: milk, fruit, coffee, bread, flour, dish detergent, garbage bags
Now, create a silly story…maybe about monkeys having fun in your kitchen (did you see the movie, Jumanji?)
Wild monkeys invade your kitchen, open the fridge and spill milk on the floor, and throw fruit around the room from the bowl you keep next to the fridge. One is up on the counter eating a sandwich and he’s white from flour that’s been spilled on him. The coffee maker is next on the counter, and it’s been knocked over into the sink. You’ll need dish detergent and garbage bags to clean up the mess!
Did I cover everything on the list? When you enter the kitchen, you pass the fridge, a bowl you use for fruit, a stretch of counter, the coffee maker, then the sink, and the garbage is kept under the sink: milk, fruit, bread, flour, coffee, dish detergent, garbage bags.
The sillier the story and the more action it has, the easier it will be to remember – use your imagination. Associating details of the story with items in a room will help you to remember each detail. If you run out of items in one room, just move on to the next one!
Of course, no one needs to know your silly story. Just let them be impressed by how good your memory has become!
Today I wanted to remember several things to pick up at home while checking up on the work being done on our house – we were hit by lightening last Friday, so I’m having quite a week… I used my body, top to bottom, to map out my simple list: ears, eyes, body, feet, and hands to remember that I wanted to get my headset, contact lens solution, bathing suit (there’s a pool at the hotel we’re staying in!), more socks and a pair of light gloves in case I decide to do some walking in our new temporary neighbourhood! I also made a point to remember that I needed 5 things in total. It wasn’t a long list, but I’m just learning to use these techniques…trying to “continuously practice”! This is the same technique as above, but using parts of the body instead of items in a room.
Next week, I’ll share more techniques you can use to help your memory along. Meanwhile, have fun with this approach – be sure to practice every day! Click "JOIN MY MAILING LIST" if would like the link for part 2 of Unlimited Memory sent directly to your email inbox!
My American friends can order the ebook through Amazon.com HERE
and the paperback can be ordered in Canada HERE.
Note: any purchases made using the supplied links will result in me receiving a small payment, while you will pay the same price! Trying to offset some of the costs of creating this blog, Thanks!!
