I have been very fortunate in my life to find some exciting and innovative memory techniques, and have come up with a few tweaks of my own to make memorizing easier and faster. I would like to share some things I have learned with you.
Warnings
* There are some herbal supplements out there that claim to improve memory, and I’m not saying they don’t, but there is no real evidence to show they are effective. Most of these are harmless, but you should be cautious because some supplements can have harmful effects, and not all contain the ingredients they say they do. You may want to check with your doctor before taking any of these.
* If you are at all concerned about the amount of memory you are losing, or if you begin to notice a severe or sudden deterioration of memory, talk to your doctor immediately. Not wanting to scare you, but sometimes “senior moments” can be indications of something serious.
* Do your homework before ordering a memory technique program or memory improvement products. Some of these products are scams – pure and simple. Be especially leery of products promising to improve your memory instantly, or with little or no effort. Memory techniques that work take time and practice, and there is no easy memory pill to make you remember things right away. You also want to test drive the product to see if it will work for you. Read blogs by the manufacturer and take sample tests if they provide them.
Tips
* Few people have eidetic or photographic memories. Most of us have great, normal brains with a lot of potential, but are not good at remembering abstract numbers or information. The key to building memory is to associate and build links in your mind to what you want to remember. They call this building a memory palace. By associating what you want to remember with other things (emotions, other memories, images, etc.) you build more mental “links” to the memory, thus making it easier to access.
* Although there are a lot of scammers on the Internet, there is still a large selection of valid memory improvement products available. Many of these companies actually teach you mnemonic strategies – some allow you to do basic programs at no charge and then you pay for more advanced lessons if you like them. This way you can test-drive the program to see if you are comfortable before making a purchase. So, while some are no doubt bunk, some are legitimate (I have some memory training products you may want to check out.).
* Be more observant. As you are being introduced to people look at each person and repeat their name as you are introduced. This is an easy way to learn how to remember names and faces. Repeat the person’s name back to them: “Nice to meet you, Joe.”
* Start simple, like trying to memorize a deck of cards in order. This may seem pointless to you, but it allows you to discover the memorization techniques that work best for you.
* Memory exercise: Grab a tray and place some objects on it (start with around 10 and work your way up), or to make it even harder (there’s more pressure when others are watching) ask someone else to grab some objects and place them on a table. Study them for 30 seconds and then turn around and write down all the objects you remember. Keep doing this memory exercise, increasing the number of objects each time.
* Put black dot on your palm, or put a string or rubber band on a finger or wrist to remember something important you have to do later that day or the next. You will think of this whenever you see the reminder.
* Use visual effects to help with memorizing. For example, if you need to take medication every morning visualize the doctor looking back at you in the mirror. You won’t forget if you see the doctor every time you pass a mirror.
* If you need to remember an event or task, write it down. If there is nothing to write on close by do something that will remind you, like wearing your watch upside down or changing the time on the watch so when you look at it you will remember why it is not the correct time.
* Keep a journal or diary and write in it daily, even small things. This way you will not miss anything.
* When you’re on the go, remind yourself of something that comes to you by sending yourself a text or voice message on your cell phone, or leaving a message on your home answering machine.
* Memorize the words to your favorite song or poem until you are able say it to yourself without help. Keep repeating it.
* Get plenty of sleep. People don’t realize how much sleep deprivation can take away your ability to think clearly. A study by Harvard University shows that people who sleep tend to remember things better, so get at least 7 hours nightly.
* Eat right and get plenty of exercise. A healthy body also gets you a healthy mind. Proper nutrition and exercise keep the blood sugars down, your heart pumping like it should, and prevents the build-up of plaque that can cause heart damage as well as memory loss.
As you can see, often memory techniques are just a bit of changing some normal things you do in your life. They can make a significant difference in learning how to remember better by just making a few changes in your routine. If you want something more intense, find a legitimate memory-training program or take a memory-training workshop. This article was shared by memory speaker Ron White
