Forgetfulness can be a frustrating problem that plagues all of us. Think about the last time you met someone new and promptly forgot his name the next time you saw him. What about the recent grocery trip you made where you forgot two of the items you needed and had to make a second trip to pick them up?
The good news is that there are tricks to help you exercise your mind and help you remember things more effectively, and we have eight fun memory tools to try here.
What are Mnemonics?
This strangely spelled word is simply another name for “memory tools.” Our brains are wired to code and interpret information in a variety of ways: through images, sounds, smells, tastes and colors. Unfortunately, most of the information we receive is through words printed on a page, which makes it more difficult for our brains to encode.
Mnemonics transfers the information into easily codes messages that are easier to remember. There are a variety of mnemonics available today, so you can find the tools that work the best for you.
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Visual Images – If someone introduces himself as “Mike,” you might picture a microphone. “Saige” might emit visuals of the herb, while “Savannah” might evoke images of a grassy plain. These visual images are particularly helpful in remembering the names of people you meet.
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Acronyms – Most musicians learned the notes on the spaces of a treble staff as FACE. Acronyms are an easy way to put the first letter of a list of information together into a pronounceable word, so you can remember all of the items in the right order.
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Rhymes or Melodies – If you remember the days on a calendar by the “30 Days Hath September Rhyme” or the Preamble to the Constitution through a song you learned on Schoolhouse Rock, you are using this mnemonic device. Create your own rhyme or song for information you need to remember, such as singing your grocery list, or writing a simple poem to remember the names of famous people for a test.
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Creating a Story – When you have a number of pieces of information to remember, try incorporating them into a simple story or sentence. Many people used this mnemonic device to remember the notes on the treble staff (Every good boy does fine) or the planets in order.
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Method of Loci/Roman Room – This device is particularly effective in remembering longer lists of information. Imagine a room that you are very familiar with, and incorporate the items you need to remember into that room. You can also imagine a route you are very familiar with, such as your path from home to work, and imagine the items you need to remember along the way.
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Chunking (Information Grouping) – Also particularly effective for larger amounts of information, this mnemonic device involves breaking down the information into smaller groups that are easier to remember. Memorizing a telephone or social security number is typically done using this memory tool.
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Involve Your Senses – Most of us remember with more than just our brains; our eyes, noses, ears and hands often get in on the information as well. Have you ever smelled something familiar and brought the memory into light strictly from the scent alone? When you are presented new information, try to involve as many senses as possible into the memorization process to remember the items more effectively.
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Training Your Brain: Memory Games – While this isn’t a mnemonic device per se, it is a good way to exercise your brain so it functions more efficiently. Memory games might be as simple as turning over cards and then trying to remember where the pairs are located. It might involve looking at a group of items and then trying to list them after they are removed from sight. You can also find fun memory games online that tax your brain and keep it in top condition so remembering comes more easily.
Memory is an elusive concept at times, but there are tools you can use to make the memorization process more efficient. Try out some of these mnemonic devices for yourself and see which ones work the best for you. Commit at least a few minutes every day to training your brain with memory games that will keep your mind in top condition. When you make the effort to improve your memory, you might be surprised at just how much information your brain is capable of storing at one time!
