Techniques to Improve your Memory.
The human brain has a limitless capacity for storing information but that information needs to be altered in a way to be easily retrieved at a later time. Take the five Oceans of the world listed in order of size, starting with the largest first. The Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean... I doubt that I would be able to remember the list in order after several days if I did not associate them with a memory glue. Take the Pacific, the name means peaceful and it covers 30% of the Earth's surface, it is larger than all the land area put together. It has the most islands, so I visualise beautiful dancing girls in grass skirts with flowers in their hair. Now how can I forget the Pacific Ocean, the beautiful image of dancing girls with flowers, the beauty of the golden sand and the warmth of the sun.
The two American continents are separated from Europe and Africa by the Atlantic Ocean. To represent the Atlantic Ocean I visualise the Titanic and the iceberg. For the Indian Ocean I see a lifeboat with a small boy from India and a large tiger. The Southern Ocean is represented by a large white shark. What other shark, but Jaws of course. Finally The Arctic Ocean has floating icebergs and polar bears jump and swim between them. Now I link in order the size of the Oceans with a short film of beautiful grass skirted dancing girls boarding a large Atlantic liner that sets sail and has to avoid running down a lifeboat with a boy from India and a tiger. The boat is being attacked by a great white shark. The shark is driven off and then chases white polar bears who escape on to a flat topped iceberg. There is one more important action and that is to draw an oval map and name each area of Ocean. This is because I know the name and size of the Oceans but not the position of them and of course one picture gives all the information and is simple in imagery to recall.
Another good technique is for example, for the seven Continents I draw a plan of the world and name each continent in order of size starting with the largest, number it one and so on... Of course my first plan would be from an original named map. Then I leave sometime and then from memory I redraw the map then leave a much longer time to draw the map again. I should have no problem in correctly carrying out this task because the key to memory is recall and the more I practice the stronger the image will be to easily remember.
This technique I can use for all types of information storage. The initial plan has a few main points, if I can represent ideas in picture form this will make recall easier. Like a road map or a plan of a house, lines will link relevant points. Then the important part is that I successively draw from memory the correct plan after leaving longer and longer times between recall. One of my favourite Confucius quotes is I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
Continents in order of size biggest in area first are Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia. I can recall this by using something termed memory glue. Memory glue does several tasks. It creates a strong image that can easily associate with what I want to remember and it has the ability when put in a scenario to connect further bits of information in order. The more detail there is in the picture reinforces the image for a more attainable recall. I know if I do not add memory glue to what I want to remember in a short time of only a few minutes it will fade away. Recall is the mechanism of memory, I must see the image in my mind by recall to establish my new knowledge of it.
Asia is the largest continent by area but Asia is only a word. It needs an image so I visualise a giant ornate Pagoda and in front of it a large gong with the inscription 30%.. surrounded by the outline in white is Asia. I use this technique to reinforce the fact that Asia comprises thirty percent of land on the earth and also has the largest human population.
Africa needs an image and I love historical, action references so I visualize a Zulu warrior carrying a shield and spear. With the butt of the spear he strikes the giant gong and on his shield is the number fifty four, that is the number of countries in Africa and they are all members of the United Nations. Among them is Egypt, which contains the Nile and is notable as historically having been considered the longest river. A fact that interests me and aids my memory about it is that large crocodiles that never stop growing slide of its banks.
North America to me can be represented by buffalo and the Indian chief wearing a feathered headdress. In the distance is a mountain and perched on top is a bald eagle.
South America is a vision before my eyes of an Inca pyramid made entirely of gold and standing on the steps is the last Inca king. This image reinforces the historical fact that the Spanish invasion took place in the sixteenth century.
Antarctica is populated by the Emperor penguin and my image of hundreds of penguins huddled beside one another is my memory aid to refer to the Emperor penguin being the largest of its species, the penguins huddled are large in size and the largest of the dolphin species is the killer whale. Size links me to the albatross, a species that has the widest wingspan of all birds.
Europe was dominated by the Roman empire and I visualise a Centurion holding a metal shield and sword, this image links me to the fact that there are fifty countries in Europe and at the moment twenty eight are members of the EEC.
Australia has an abundance of unique creatures to represent it. I have chosen a Kangaroo with a Joey peeping out of its pouch. My memory aid acts as a trigger to remind me Australia is divided into six states and ten federal territories, the largest state is Western Australia.
Now comes my mental glue starting with the Pagoda of Asia. I see a picture of a giant gong with 30 % and the outline of Asia drawn on the gong. A Zulu warrior with a spear and shield steps forward and strikes the gong with his spear, on his shield is the number fifty four, he steps over a giant crocodile and starts running. Now I see an Indian chief with drawn bow and he shoots a small fury animal but there is a race between the Zulu and Indian chief to get to the animal first. Out of the sky a bald eagle swoops down talons wide and scoops up the prize. It lands on the top of a golden pyramid and on the steps stands the Inca king. The Inca king is deluged with small fish, surrounded by hungry penguins and albatross scoffing all the fish. One of the penguins dives into the sea and is chased by a killer whale. A Roman Centurion in a boat joins the fight with his sword and drives off the killer whale. The Centurion unfurls the sail and it has written on it the numbers fifty on top and underneath the number twenty eight followed by EEC. The Centurion jumps off the boat and lands on a raft with a large Kangaroo, out of it's pouch peeps a Joey waving a little flag with the numbers six on top and underneath the number ten. The Kangaroo becomes a teacher standing in front of an easel with a map of Australia marked according to states, the largest of which is Western Australia.
Now I have a visual reminder for not just seven continents but a lot more besides. I can never overload my memory as its capacity like everyone else's memory is gigantic. An interesting fact is people remember the beginning and ending of a particular lesson. So I have breaks to increase my capability to retain information. I do not worry about my drawing ability as the image references I use are only for me to see and are used to jog my memory. For many of us memory and our capacity to recall information is dependant on the approach we have to understanding information. Interesting and variable, it is something to note that how you look at something could influence how well you recall it at a later date. The next time you have to use your memory you may like to try some of the above techniques. You may be astounded by how enjoyable it is to get to know your own memory based ability.
The two American continents are separated from Europe and Africa by the Atlantic Ocean. To represent the Atlantic Ocean I visualise the Titanic and the iceberg. For the Indian Ocean I see a lifeboat with a small boy from India and a large tiger. The Southern Ocean is represented by a large white shark. What other shark, but Jaws of course. Finally The Arctic Ocean has floating icebergs and polar bears jump and swim between them. Now I link in order the size of the Oceans with a short film of beautiful grass skirted dancing girls boarding a large Atlantic liner that sets sail and has to avoid running down a lifeboat with a boy from India and a tiger. The boat is being attacked by a great white shark. The shark is driven off and then chases white polar bears who escape on to a flat topped iceberg. There is one more important action and that is to draw an oval map and name each area of Ocean. This is because I know the name and size of the Oceans but not the position of them and of course one picture gives all the information and is simple in imagery to recall.
Another good technique is for example, for the seven Continents I draw a plan of the world and name each continent in order of size starting with the largest, number it one and so on... Of course my first plan would be from an original named map. Then I leave sometime and then from memory I redraw the map then leave a much longer time to draw the map again. I should have no problem in correctly carrying out this task because the key to memory is recall and the more I practice the stronger the image will be to easily remember.
This technique I can use for all types of information storage. The initial plan has a few main points, if I can represent ideas in picture form this will make recall easier. Like a road map or a plan of a house, lines will link relevant points. Then the important part is that I successively draw from memory the correct plan after leaving longer and longer times between recall. One of my favourite Confucius quotes is I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
Continents in order of size biggest in area first are Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia. I can recall this by using something termed memory glue. Memory glue does several tasks. It creates a strong image that can easily associate with what I want to remember and it has the ability when put in a scenario to connect further bits of information in order. The more detail there is in the picture reinforces the image for a more attainable recall. I know if I do not add memory glue to what I want to remember in a short time of only a few minutes it will fade away. Recall is the mechanism of memory, I must see the image in my mind by recall to establish my new knowledge of it.
Asia is the largest continent by area but Asia is only a word. It needs an image so I visualise a giant ornate Pagoda and in front of it a large gong with the inscription 30%.. surrounded by the outline in white is Asia. I use this technique to reinforce the fact that Asia comprises thirty percent of land on the earth and also has the largest human population.
Africa needs an image and I love historical, action references so I visualize a Zulu warrior carrying a shield and spear. With the butt of the spear he strikes the giant gong and on his shield is the number fifty four, that is the number of countries in Africa and they are all members of the United Nations. Among them is Egypt, which contains the Nile and is notable as historically having been considered the longest river. A fact that interests me and aids my memory about it is that large crocodiles that never stop growing slide of its banks.
North America to me can be represented by buffalo and the Indian chief wearing a feathered headdress. In the distance is a mountain and perched on top is a bald eagle.
South America is a vision before my eyes of an Inca pyramid made entirely of gold and standing on the steps is the last Inca king. This image reinforces the historical fact that the Spanish invasion took place in the sixteenth century.
Antarctica is populated by the Emperor penguin and my image of hundreds of penguins huddled beside one another is my memory aid to refer to the Emperor penguin being the largest of its species, the penguins huddled are large in size and the largest of the dolphin species is the killer whale. Size links me to the albatross, a species that has the widest wingspan of all birds.
Europe was dominated by the Roman empire and I visualise a Centurion holding a metal shield and sword, this image links me to the fact that there are fifty countries in Europe and at the moment twenty eight are members of the EEC.
Australia has an abundance of unique creatures to represent it. I have chosen a Kangaroo with a Joey peeping out of its pouch. My memory aid acts as a trigger to remind me Australia is divided into six states and ten federal territories, the largest state is Western Australia.
Now comes my mental glue starting with the Pagoda of Asia. I see a picture of a giant gong with 30 % and the outline of Asia drawn on the gong. A Zulu warrior with a spear and shield steps forward and strikes the gong with his spear, on his shield is the number fifty four, he steps over a giant crocodile and starts running. Now I see an Indian chief with drawn bow and he shoots a small fury animal but there is a race between the Zulu and Indian chief to get to the animal first. Out of the sky a bald eagle swoops down talons wide and scoops up the prize. It lands on the top of a golden pyramid and on the steps stands the Inca king. The Inca king is deluged with small fish, surrounded by hungry penguins and albatross scoffing all the fish. One of the penguins dives into the sea and is chased by a killer whale. A Roman Centurion in a boat joins the fight with his sword and drives off the killer whale. The Centurion unfurls the sail and it has written on it the numbers fifty on top and underneath the number twenty eight followed by EEC. The Centurion jumps off the boat and lands on a raft with a large Kangaroo, out of it's pouch peeps a Joey waving a little flag with the numbers six on top and underneath the number ten. The Kangaroo becomes a teacher standing in front of an easel with a map of Australia marked according to states, the largest of which is Western Australia.
Now I have a visual reminder for not just seven continents but a lot more besides. I can never overload my memory as its capacity like everyone else's memory is gigantic. An interesting fact is people remember the beginning and ending of a particular lesson. So I have breaks to increase my capability to retain information. I do not worry about my drawing ability as the image references I use are only for me to see and are used to jog my memory. For many of us memory and our capacity to recall information is dependant on the approach we have to understanding information. Interesting and variable, it is something to note that how you look at something could influence how well you recall it at a later date. The next time you have to use your memory you may like to try some of the above techniques. You may be astounded by how enjoyable it is to get to know your own memory based ability.
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