How to Improve Your Memory : Photographic Memory

Article by Graeme Renwall

Have you ever known someone with a “photographic memory”? Such people seem to absorb information faster than a paper towel absorbs liquids. But while it’s easy to assume that people with super memories are super intelligent, the key to their ability is in the methods that they use to remember information. By learning and mastering some basic techniques, you can also boost your memory. Here are some tips to make it happen:

1. Get enough sleep.

Sleep is our body’s way of “rebooting” our systems. Besides allowing our bodies to recover, sleep also helps our brains to process all of the information that they received during the day. When we fail to get enough sleep, our brains experience an overload of memory. Besides improving the actual memorization of information, getting roughly 7-8 hours of sleep nightly will also help us to be more alert during the day. And that will further boost our minds’ ability to memorize information.

2. Organize before you memorize.

It turns out that our brains work much like today’s computers do. The more efficiently we store information, the more available storage space we’ll have. So when memorizing information, store it into chunks that are logically grouped. Storing similar information together will improve the efficiency of your memorization.

3. Use visual and auditory input.

Our senses have a crucial role in creating our memories. Catalysts such as pictures, graphs, and recordings can help to make our memorization more concrete. These types of techniques are particularly effective for those who are “visual” or “auditory” learners.

4. Learn mnemonic devices.

These are techniques that make it easier to memorize information, and there are tons to choose from. One of the most popular and effective methods is the use of acronyms. For example, ROYGBIV is an acronym that represents the major colors of the rainbow. Certain mnemonic devices work better for certain people.

5. Make memorization meaningful.

It’s one thing to memorize facts and figures for the sake of doing it. It’s quite another thing to make the information meaningful. Make it personal and seek a deeper understanding of the information. These basic steps will help you to memorize more information, and memorize it faster.

6. Connect new information with prior knowledge.

You’ll be able to store information faster, by linking new information that you memorized, with information that you memorized in the past. By linking new information with old information, you’ll improve both your short-term and long-term memories. The most effective way to do this is by finding relationships between the new and old information.

7. Link information to your interests.

Even information that’s as dry as desert sand can become easier to memorize, if you connect it to your personal interests. Learning becomes much more enjoyable (and thus more effective) when it’s related to our personal interests. This will significantly increase how fast you can memorize information.

While not all of us are born with a photographic memory, by using these tips you can transform your brain into a super computer. Forget about needing to say “I forgot” throughout the day!