Article by Martin Davie

Increase Your Brain Power With 7 Quick Memory Tips

Remember back in the day when people would tie a string around their finger? Well, that was a strategy they used to remember things that they needed to do. It served as a reminder that there were things that had not been done yet. It served as a visualization tool. Whenever they saw the string, it let them know that they needed to finish the job.

With all of the electronic organisers available nowadays, it’s highly unlikely that anyone is using a piece of string anymore. Nevertheless, developing our memory and the ability to recall information is an important skill both socially and intellectually and there are things that you can do that can help to improve your memory. You can make them part of your routine every day.

1. Be Attentive

Attention is one of the major components of memory. The most basic memory exercise is to simply tell yourself to remember. The simple step of developing a habit of actively paying attention can save much frustration. If remembering the name of somebody you just meet is an issue – pay attention at the introduction. Listen to the name and repeat it in your memory a number of times. Tell yourself, “remember that”. This signals the unconscious mind to rank this input higher in importance.

2. Rehearse or Repeat.

Short term memory only lasts for about 20-30 seconds without rehearsal of the information. That’s why it is easy to forget a name after introduction. Rehearsal or repeating the information helps move it from short-term memory to long term memory. To aid this shift, consider the meaning of the information, why do you want to remember it, why is it important, and how will you remember it.

3. Chunking

Short term memory is limited to the number of items it can hold. In 1956, George Miller of Princeton University wrote an article “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two”. Miller’s article discussed memory span which refers to the longest list of items that a person can repeat back in correct order immediately after being presented with the information. Miller observed that the memory span is approximately 7 chunks of information, where a chunk can be a collection of related items. For example, being asked to recall a 10 digit telephone number (0261467375) as separate digits would be 10 chunks, and exceeds Millers suggested recall capacity, but “chunking” the 10 digits into a groups such as 0261-467-375 now becomes 3 chunks and much easier to recall.

4. Use Mnemonic Techniques

Mnemonic techniques are often used as a method of recall, especially by students. A mnemonic is simply a way to remember information. They actually work, and yet many people don’t want to take the time and effort to set them up. The best mnemonics are those that utilize positive imagery, humor, or novelty. You might come up with a rhyme, song, or joke to help remember a specific segment of information. In making check-lists you can use the first letter of each checklist item to make a word (whether the word is real or not).

5. Use Visualisations

Some people are very strong at creating mental images. Why not create a mental snapshot to enhance a memory. For example, you are away from your home, and you remember that you must program the television recorder on your return. Create a strong visualisation where you see yourself in your mind entering your dwelling, walking immediately up to the television, picking up the handheld remote and pressing the keys. When you return home, and pass the television you are more likely to recall that you need to program the recorder.

6. Use External Aids

Often people make life harder by trying to recall an item from memory rather than recording it on a note pad or electronic device. Always keep some recording device nearby, whether “old school” pen and notebook, or electronic organiser. Whatever you do, don’t write items on little bits of loose paper, I’ll wager you mislay the bit of paper more often than not

7. Being Organised

Maybe this is not a memory tip, but trying to remember where those car keys, or reading glasses are when they a randomly put down is frustrating and time consuming. Create an organised environment to live in where items that are often used are returned to fixed locations. Now you don’t have to waste time trying to recall where you put that item down. As the old expression says “A place for everything, and everything in its place”.

Discover further ideas how to become a mental giant by downloading your free report entitled ” Improve Your Memory ” from http://www.paradigmshiftstoday.com/improveyourmemoryreport.html

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