Techniques for Remembering

Some days it may feel like you can’t even remember your own name. If you find it hard to jog your memory or you have a big exam coming up and must remember obscure facts, there are certain techniques that can help you. Since there are many techniques out there for remembering, you need to find the one that works for you through trial and error.

Active

• If you need to remember textbook facts, try memorizing items in alphabetical or chronological order. Writing things down multiple times can also help you remember them. Reading the information out loud several times and then trying to do it from memory is another memory-building technique. Adding movement, as you memorize information, can also help you, such as pacing or adding hand gestures.

Associations

• Making associations between material you have to remember and things that are important to you can help you recall information. If you are trying to memorize names, associate a person named Nancy with another Nancy you know -- this could be a fictional character, a relative or a movie star. You could also make associations with images or events that are meaningful to you. If you are memorizing historical dates, for example, remember that Pearl Harbor occurred on December 7, 1941 -- or 18 days before Christmas the year your grandmother was born.

Repetition and Visualization

• The sooner you regurgitate information after you learn it, the more likely you are to remember it. If you meet someone, use their name as soon as you can. Once they introduce themselves, say, "Nice to meet you, Polly" or introduce them by name to someone else. The more often you use a person's name, the more likely you are to remember it. You could also use visualization techniques, such as picturing an individual with his name written across his forehead. This technique can also help you remember other facts, such as what you were wearing or eating several days ago. If you can draw to mind an image of yourself doing something that day, it can help you remember what you wore. If you can picture your breakfast plate and what was on it, it could help you recall what you ate.

Mnemonic Aids

• Mnemonic techniques can also help you recall specific information, such as names and facts. Use rhymes, acronyms or catch phrases to jog your memory. For example, if you are trying to remember that a person’s name is Bill, think of words that rhyme with Bill, such as drill, pill and fill. You could make up a silly sentence to repeat every time you see Bill: Bill fills a drill with pills. An example of an acronym for a list of school supplies you need could be PENS for paper, erasers, notebook and sharpener.