Practical Memory Techniques For Real Life Situations
Since Alzheimer's disease became the disease du jour of the media, people have been afraid that any memory loss might be the onset of Alzheimer's. But this is not true. And it's never too late to learn how to improve your memory by easy to use memory techniques. There's a lot of details in the world that constantly bombard us, so these memory techniques should help you learn what you need to remember when you need to.
Pronouncing Words Or Names
One of the most embarrassing things that can happen is pronouncing somebody's name wrong, especially if that someone is either your boss or your client. It's also frustrating for children (and adults) to get around tongue-twisting words like "abominable". For this memory technique, you make a picture in your mind to help you learn how to correctly pronounce the word. Picture a bull staring at you, chewing cud. Inside of that bull is a ticking bomb. What do you have? A bomb in a bull - or the pronunciation of the word "abominable".
Short Lists
Perhaps you've gone to the grocery store and didn't bother to make a list because you only need a few things. But when you get home, darn it if you discover that you forgot something. One memory technique for remembering short lists is to devise a very short rhyme that includes all of the items on your list. For some reason, the brain remembers short rhymes better than prose. For even better memory, set it to a tune you know well. So, to the tune of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game," your shopping list memory poem might sound something like:
"Take me out to the food store
Take me out to the crowd
Buy me some wheat bread and Snapple, Jack,
I would care for some ham for a snack!
So, it's root, root, root
frozen veggies
Chicken broth, I implore
For it's salt, pepper and paprika
That I need at the store!"
Okay, so it's not Shakespeare, but that's not the point.
Sleep On It
Another memory technique often works for those mulling over a stressful problem, like where you last put your half-written manuscript. Just put the lost item or idea out of your mind and try to get to sleep as usual. The unconscious often works on our problems as we sleep. When you wake up, you'll most likely remember. Getting regular sleep will also help you to concentrate and remember these memory techniques.
