The mind is amazingly clever, too clever for us to fully understand it but you can understand and master parts of it-one of them being your memory. Did you know that if you continued to feed a human mind information for the time of an average human life the memory would still not be half full? Now thats impresive! And I know that you probably say my memory is not as good as it used to be or I just don't have good genes for memorising stuff,we all have the same memory capacity its just some people uderstand how to use it. In this blog I'm just going to give you the 5 top tips to start your memory off because obviously no one can get a super memory over night and if I hit you with everything then it would be very daunting but if you follow these tips to the end your memory will already be better then over 50% of the populations.
JUST A QUICK LITTLE INTRODUCTION: This is just a list of what are called memory principles and these basicly outline 11 initial ways in which to insure information is retained by:
*colour
*Exaggeration
*movement
*Association
*sensuality
*humour
*imagination
*positive images
*number
*symbolism
*order and sequence
Below I will go through some of the ways in which the points above can help you to access the potential of your memory.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
What appeals to your mind.
Lets face it if something is normal or dull we're not very likely to remember it, but before we get on to that lets give you a scenario:
Your going shopping but you don't want to have to be fumbling around with lists as well as everything else so you try to memorise it....your shopping list:
eggs
butter
door mat
earings
flour
pens
soap
water
cod
Have a go and see how many you get-give youself at most a minute then write down as many as you can get.
Now the key to this is to exagirate everything, make it all memorable and all clear. The method is basically creating a little story but useing the items in your list and it works for any lists, much longer lists too-but we will start with this one and I will use it as an example. If I were to memorise this lists here's what I would do:
I'm going out to the shops and as I step out my front door a giant egg cracks on top of my head, there everywhere pelting down and cracking on the pavement I can hear the earsplitting sounds of shell breaking and I am covered in sticky,gooey egg whites. As I'm trying to wipe the stinging egg whites out of my eyes my foot slips on a giant patch of bright yellow butter reflecting sunlight after the rain, I fall over and I can feel the butter beneath me starting to sizzle in the sun but just as I think that I am going to fry a door mat comes whizzing out of the sky and scoops me up and I'm rideing high in the air the wind whipping my face and making me laugh at the thrill, but just as I cling on to the bristles tighter, my eatrs start to feel heavier and I realize that my earings are growing weighing me down they pull sharply on my ears and the mat falls away, the pain in my ears is searing as I tear them off, falling to my death when suddenly I land in a huge pile of flour, I inhale and have to cough, the white powder nearly choking me,the flour is soft as silk under my hands.Just then something whips past my ear I turn and see an archer with a bow an arrow only his arrows are pens and he's aiming for me, the next one grazes my arm leaving me with an inky stain, I run and leap dangerously on to a sledge sized bar of soap which I am now riding like the luge, bubbles pouring out of our wake, before i know it though I'm sliding off solid groung and in to rapidly riseing water, I lose the soap and I am disoriantaded under meters of ice cold water, through bleary eyes I sense something swimming toward me, its scales shimmering, big lips obliviously opening until I am being swallowed by the fish, terrified I fight against the inside of its mouth but just when I am giveing up it spits me out at the entrance to the supermarket.
Now I have just tested to see if my crazy little story actually made remembering the list simple and it worked-but perhaps mine is a little to detailed after all its all about what works for you, detail helps me remember but some simpler or shorter images may work better for you, but have a go with ther list below and see how you do using this story exageration technique-remember to be as imaginative as you can and really see the images you create clearly!
book
cat food
cheese
washing-up liquid
lemon
bread
cups
biscuits
grapes
Your going shopping but you don't want to have to be fumbling around with lists as well as everything else so you try to memorise it....your shopping list:
eggs
butter
door mat
earings
flour
pens
soap
water
cod
Have a go and see how many you get-give youself at most a minute then write down as many as you can get.
Now the key to this is to exagirate everything, make it all memorable and all clear. The method is basically creating a little story but useing the items in your list and it works for any lists, much longer lists too-but we will start with this one and I will use it as an example. If I were to memorise this lists here's what I would do:
I'm going out to the shops and as I step out my front door a giant egg cracks on top of my head, there everywhere pelting down and cracking on the pavement I can hear the earsplitting sounds of shell breaking and I am covered in sticky,gooey egg whites. As I'm trying to wipe the stinging egg whites out of my eyes my foot slips on a giant patch of bright yellow butter reflecting sunlight after the rain, I fall over and I can feel the butter beneath me starting to sizzle in the sun but just as I think that I am going to fry a door mat comes whizzing out of the sky and scoops me up and I'm rideing high in the air the wind whipping my face and making me laugh at the thrill, but just as I cling on to the bristles tighter, my eatrs start to feel heavier and I realize that my earings are growing weighing me down they pull sharply on my ears and the mat falls away, the pain in my ears is searing as I tear them off, falling to my death when suddenly I land in a huge pile of flour, I inhale and have to cough, the white powder nearly choking me,the flour is soft as silk under my hands.Just then something whips past my ear I turn and see an archer with a bow an arrow only his arrows are pens and he's aiming for me, the next one grazes my arm leaving me with an inky stain, I run and leap dangerously on to a sledge sized bar of soap which I am now riding like the luge, bubbles pouring out of our wake, before i know it though I'm sliding off solid groung and in to rapidly riseing water, I lose the soap and I am disoriantaded under meters of ice cold water, through bleary eyes I sense something swimming toward me, its scales shimmering, big lips obliviously opening until I am being swallowed by the fish, terrified I fight against the inside of its mouth but just when I am giveing up it spits me out at the entrance to the supermarket.
Now I have just tested to see if my crazy little story actually made remembering the list simple and it worked-but perhaps mine is a little to detailed after all its all about what works for you, detail helps me remember but some simpler or shorter images may work better for you, but have a go with ther list below and see how you do using this story exageration technique-remember to be as imaginative as you can and really see the images you create clearly!
book
cat food
cheese
washing-up liquid
lemon
bread
cups
biscuits
grapes
Test your memory:
but what about when you have to remember a list of things out of order?
Give yourself no more then a minute to memorise this list of items:
1-dog
2-fireman
3-match
4-teddy bear
5-clouds
6-chocolate
7-clowns
8-baby
9-money
10-camera
After the minute is up scroll down so you cannot see the answers and try to remember what word went with the following nummbers in the order indicated:
5-
9-
2-
4-
3-
10-
8-
6-
7-
1-
you can write them down if this helps.
Give yourself no more then a minute to memorise this list of items:
1-dog
2-fireman
3-match
4-teddy bear
5-clouds
6-chocolate
7-clowns
8-baby
9-money
10-camera
After the minute is up scroll down so you cannot see the answers and try to remember what word went with the following nummbers in the order indicated:
5-
9-
2-
4-
3-
10-
8-
6-
7-
1-
you can write them down if this helps.
The number system.
Now I don't know how well you did on the test above but I'm guessing you didnt get 10 correct and if you did (firstly well done) but do you think you could do the same if I gave you 20 words? This system is suprisingly simple and once you know the basics you can then re-apply it to memorise huge lists of stuff in order.
So heres what you need to do, remember when I explained to you that the more visual and exagerated the more likely you are to remember it? well you need to apply that knowledge to what I'm about to ask you to do: I want you to write out the list of numbers from 1 to 10 and then give each number a picture-but the picture must be something that is a similar shape to the number so that when you look at it you will associate the two together. For example number 3 could be someones behind, a heart of even waves..watever works for you. Below is my list if you want some help but don't simply copy mine it has to personal to you.
1-paintbrush 6-elephant
2-swan 7-boomarang
3-bum 8-snowman
4-boat 9-ballon
5-hook 10-cyclopse
Once you have written them down and you have definate,clear,detailed images for each one in your head, you should write down the numbers again and draw images of your chosen words next to each one individually.Use colours if it helps. Once you have done that run through 1 to 10 mentally and see if you can remember your images-try it with your eyes shut and really experiance your images, see them playin on the backs of your eyelids, taste them, smell them e.c.t Once you get good at this try picking a number at random and seeing whether the image springs to mind-praxctice till you can-you are now ready to use this technique!
Putting it to use: If someone gives you a list of 10 things to memorise all you have to do is use your image with the thing you have to memorise-for example if I wanted to memorise: 7-car then I would picture a boomarang (because that is my associated image for the number 7) zooming in to my dads car window and shattering it. This is very clear because it is visual and makes me feel guilty so it is memorable. So no matter what order they asked me the list in I would know that 7 was car.
Try the list above again useing your new found skills and see how you do, alternatively make up your own list, test yourself or impress your friends or use it to remember some important facts or within revision.
So heres what you need to do, remember when I explained to you that the more visual and exagerated the more likely you are to remember it? well you need to apply that knowledge to what I'm about to ask you to do: I want you to write out the list of numbers from 1 to 10 and then give each number a picture-but the picture must be something that is a similar shape to the number so that when you look at it you will associate the two together. For example number 3 could be someones behind, a heart of even waves..watever works for you. Below is my list if you want some help but don't simply copy mine it has to personal to you.
1-paintbrush 6-elephant
2-swan 7-boomarang
3-bum 8-snowman
4-boat 9-ballon
5-hook 10-cyclopse
Once you have written them down and you have definate,clear,detailed images for each one in your head, you should write down the numbers again and draw images of your chosen words next to each one individually.Use colours if it helps. Once you have done that run through 1 to 10 mentally and see if you can remember your images-try it with your eyes shut and really experiance your images, see them playin on the backs of your eyelids, taste them, smell them e.c.t Once you get good at this try picking a number at random and seeing whether the image springs to mind-praxctice till you can-you are now ready to use this technique!
Putting it to use: If someone gives you a list of 10 things to memorise all you have to do is use your image with the thing you have to memorise-for example if I wanted to memorise: 7-car then I would picture a boomarang (because that is my associated image for the number 7) zooming in to my dads car window and shattering it. This is very clear because it is visual and makes me feel guilty so it is memorable. So no matter what order they asked me the list in I would know that 7 was car.
Try the list above again useing your new found skills and see how you do, alternatively make up your own list, test yourself or impress your friends or use it to remember some important facts or within revision.
other random things which are rumoured to improve your memory
*Some experts say that Ginkgo tea can improve the memory-personally I've never tried it but who knows it could be woth a shot!
*Following a diet rich in antioxidents may also aid your memory especially as you age.
*some studies also reveal that the more observant you are, the better your memory.
*Following a diet rich in antioxidents may also aid your memory especially as you age.
*some studies also reveal that the more observant you are, the better your memory.
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