Would not it be nice to look at the pages, and never forget what was there? What if he never could forget the birthday of my friend? The bad news is, not everyone has a photographic memory, which is also known as eidetic memory. Most of us rely on mnemonic devices. The good news is that everyone can take steps to improve their memory, and it is time and practice most people can get the ability to remember a significant amount of information impossible. If you want to win the World Memory Championships, then ace your history test or simply remember the keys of this article.
1. Convince yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve. Too many people get stuck here and convince themselves that their memory is bad, that they are just not good with names that numbers just slip out of their minds for some reason. Erase those thoughts and vow to improve your memory. Celebrate even little achievements to keep yourself motivated.
2. Memory is best practiced through association. The reason that most of us can't remember our friend's phone number is because 535-3473 just a string of numbers that have no obvious connection to your friend. In order to use your memory efficiently, the best way is to actively create an association for things you're trying to remember. For example, write out your friend's phone number: five three five three four seven three. Now try to create a clever phrase that starts with the first letter of those words: fairy tales feel true for some time. You're now much more likely to remember that phone number.
- Alternatively, you could create a story that involves 5 characters buying 3 things and doing 5 more things with them... Use your imagination. The point is that you want to connect the phone number to something else. Throwing your best friend as a character in the story would be a good idea too.
3. Association also works if you created vivid, memorable images. You remember information more easily if you can visualize it. If you want to associate a child with a book, try not to visualize the child reading the book -- that's too simple and forgettable. Instead, come up with something more jarring, something that sticks, like the book chasing the child, or the child eating the book. It's your mind -– make the images as shocking and emotional as possible to keep the associations strong.
4. Group information together to help you remember them; this is called chunking. Random lists of things (a shopping list, for example) can be especially difficult to remember.
- To make it easier, try categorizing the individual things from the list. If you can remember that, among other things, you wanted to buy four different kinds of vegetables, you’ll find it easier to remember all four. Another example: you probably won't remember 17761812184818651898, but try putting a space after every fourth number.
Jill Magso is a member of the Silva Team and contributes to spreading enlightened ideas and sharing teachings about meditation practices. The Silva Method encompasses a variety of powerful exercises that take you deep into Alpha and Theta levels of the mind so that you can work within your subconscious as well as your conscious mind.