Have you ever sat down and spent a small amount of time doing some memory training? Or do you just expect your memory to work perfectly and get frustrated when you can't remember what you want to remember? If you do, don't worry because you are not alone.
What would having a "good memory" mean to you? Would it mean that you could always remember people's names? Would it mean that you can remember everything you need to know for that test that's coming up soon? Or would it mean that you can remember everything that ever happens - like those people you saw on television that have photographic memories?
The truth is that our memory works the way it is designed to work. But we don't take the time to understand just how it works! You see, the key for improving your memory recall (also known as "remembering things") is to move your memories from your short-term memory to your long-term memory (and to then remember those memories in great detail!)
However, in order to move your memories from your short-term memory to your long-term memory you must understand and apply the five pillars of memory. Trying to improve your memory recall without understanding the five pillars is like trying to drive without a car, it's not going to work and you might hurt yourself!
Pillar One - Association. Our memory recalls events or experiences when they are associated with something that is familiar to us. When you link something you want to remember with something that is familiar you will remember it. So start doing it! For example, if we say "Homer", what pops into your mind? Homer Simpson? The author named Homer? Homer Hudson ice cream? Chances are that your memory started associating the word "Homer" with what is familiar to you straight away. That's how memory works. Pretty powerful isn't it?
Pillar Two - Imagery. Your memory recalls events and experiences as images and pictures. It's like you have a movie maker rolling in your head ready to snap up the next big event. Even as you read these words your mind is creating images to store what you are reading as memories! So if you want to recall information or events easily you must create a real (i.e. draw a picture) or mental picture. It will far easier to remember a picture than remember anything else (including written words).
Pillar Three - Time. As you would expect, your memories will weaken the more time passes by. For example, you can probably remember what you did yesterday but you will find it much harder to recall what you did on this day one year ago. If you allow time to pass by and don't give your mind any reason to store a memory (by using association or imagery) it will just become a blur. So to remember something you must actively recall it straight away and give your mind a good reason to store it in your long-term memory.
Pillar Four - Repetition. Have you ever noticed that information you easily recalled some time ago but then stopped using is very difficult to recall now? Names of television shows you liked as a child, passwords for applications you haven't used for a while or addresses that you previously lived at are all examples of this pillar at work. So if you want to remember something you must ensure that you re-live or repeat the memory consistently over time. For example, if you want to learn a new language you must engage in learning as regularly as possible. If you learn ten new Spanish words today and then come back to them a week later you will find you have forgotten at least some (if not all) of the words you already learnt!
Pillar Five - Emotion. When an experience creates a significant emotional response you will be much more likely to remember it. Events or experiences that are strange, shocking and intense have an impact on us that ensures the memory is moved from short-term to long-term. Your mind will mark an intense experience as something worth keeping. So if you want to remember something, add a weird or intense element to the memory to ensure the memory is more vivid and memorable.
Memory training is the best way to improve your memory recall ability. By spending a couple of minutes today reading this you have already accessed the most important part of memory recall - the five pillars. Remember, if you want to recall something, move the memory from your short-term memory to your long-term memory. Memory recall will then become a breeze. Good luck!
What would having a "good memory" mean to you? Would it mean that you could always remember people's names? Would it mean that you can remember everything you need to know for that test that's coming up soon? Or would it mean that you can remember everything that ever happens - like those people you saw on television that have photographic memories?
The truth is that our memory works the way it is designed to work. But we don't take the time to understand just how it works! You see, the key for improving your memory recall (also known as "remembering things") is to move your memories from your short-term memory to your long-term memory (and to then remember those memories in great detail!)
However, in order to move your memories from your short-term memory to your long-term memory you must understand and apply the five pillars of memory. Trying to improve your memory recall without understanding the five pillars is like trying to drive without a car, it's not going to work and you might hurt yourself!
Pillar One - Association. Our memory recalls events or experiences when they are associated with something that is familiar to us. When you link something you want to remember with something that is familiar you will remember it. So start doing it! For example, if we say "Homer", what pops into your mind? Homer Simpson? The author named Homer? Homer Hudson ice cream? Chances are that your memory started associating the word "Homer" with what is familiar to you straight away. That's how memory works. Pretty powerful isn't it?
Pillar Two - Imagery. Your memory recalls events and experiences as images and pictures. It's like you have a movie maker rolling in your head ready to snap up the next big event. Even as you read these words your mind is creating images to store what you are reading as memories! So if you want to recall information or events easily you must create a real (i.e. draw a picture) or mental picture. It will far easier to remember a picture than remember anything else (including written words).
Pillar Three - Time. As you would expect, your memories will weaken the more time passes by. For example, you can probably remember what you did yesterday but you will find it much harder to recall what you did on this day one year ago. If you allow time to pass by and don't give your mind any reason to store a memory (by using association or imagery) it will just become a blur. So to remember something you must actively recall it straight away and give your mind a good reason to store it in your long-term memory.
Pillar Four - Repetition. Have you ever noticed that information you easily recalled some time ago but then stopped using is very difficult to recall now? Names of television shows you liked as a child, passwords for applications you haven't used for a while or addresses that you previously lived at are all examples of this pillar at work. So if you want to remember something you must ensure that you re-live or repeat the memory consistently over time. For example, if you want to learn a new language you must engage in learning as regularly as possible. If you learn ten new Spanish words today and then come back to them a week later you will find you have forgotten at least some (if not all) of the words you already learnt!
Pillar Five - Emotion. When an experience creates a significant emotional response you will be much more likely to remember it. Events or experiences that are strange, shocking and intense have an impact on us that ensures the memory is moved from short-term to long-term. Your mind will mark an intense experience as something worth keeping. So if you want to remember something, add a weird or intense element to the memory to ensure the memory is more vivid and memorable.
Memory training is the best way to improve your memory recall ability. By spending a couple of minutes today reading this you have already accessed the most important part of memory recall - the five pillars. Remember, if you want to recall something, move the memory from your short-term memory to your long-term memory. Memory recall will then become a breeze. Good luck!
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