10 Memorization Techniques To Help You Remember Anything

Do you struggle to remember important information for your exams? Or often find yourself walking into a room and completely forgetting why? Did you forget what your mailman’s name is AGAIN? Well, it turns out that remembering things is a skill – one that you can totally improve! Here are 10 memorization techniques to help you remember anything! (Frank the mailman will appreciate you later).

1. Mnemonic devices.

Using acronyms like PEMDAS or phrases like Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally help you remember things like the mathematical order of operations. Another example you might have learned in elementary school is the sentence My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas to remember the order of the planets in the solar system (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto).

2. Rhymes.

If I were to ask you where Jack and Jill went, you would answer without hesitation, “up the hill”. And what did Little Miss Muffet sit on? Her tuffet of course! Chances are, you don’t even know what the heck a tuffet is, but you know it’s something you can sit on, just because of a nursery rhyme you heard once or twice when you were little. Rhymes are powerful tools to memory, so use them!

3. Chunking technique.

You most likely already use the chunking technique without even realizing it – it involves grouping items into a larger whole, finding patterns within the items, and organizing them. When you’re trying to remember a phone number, chances are you chunk the numbers. For example, the number 1526872146 is a lot easier to remember when broken up, or chunked, as “152” “687” “2146”. Sorting your grocery list by aisle, or first letter, is also an example of chunking.

4. Music.

The radio plays an early 90’s throwback and somehow all of the right lyrics just pour out of your mouth as you begin to remember how much you loved that song, while cranking up the volume. Through alliteration and rhythm, singing becomes one of the more popular keys to memorization. No matter how annoying Schoolhouse Rock was back in the day, our teachers were definitely onto something.

5. Visual memory.

Since memory is predominately visual, abstract things like names and numbers are naturally harder to remember because our brains are better at storing and recalling images. In order to create a visual memory, try connecting to a visual representation of what it is you’re trying to remember. For example, when you meet someone, instead of letting their name go in one ear and out the other, create an image you can associate with their name – for Melanie, you could picture a melon with a knee crushing it. Also, when you put something down somewhere, stop and recognize where you’re putting it, and then picture it exploding there. The more details of the explosion that you visualize, the less likely you are to forget where you put your wallet.

6. Different interactions.

When meeting someone, most people just exchange a quick “Hi, I’m Mikayla” “Hey, I’m Haley” and then let their mind go about its prior business (like wondering how long the guac you accidentally left in your car will last). Since your mind is too preoccupied by your spoiling leftover lunch, you have no idea that the blue-eyed brunette you just shook hands with is named Haley. Next time you meet someone, take a moment to create a different interaction – repeat their name in your head 3 times, ask a question and direct it at them by saying their name, or introduce them to someone else.

7. Increased attention and interest.

Most of us forget things because we aren’t paying attention, or we don’t truly care. Think about it. The time your dad introduced you to his coworker from ’76 that the two of you happened to run into on a trip to an ice cream shop near your grandparent’s house. Were you really even listening when the coworker proudly exclaimed his full name as if your dad has EVER mentioned him to you before? Probably not. But that hot guy you saw from across the bar while practically blacked out 3 years ago? How could you ever forget Kevin (which you only know because you overheard his friend yell his name)?!

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8. Association with what you already know.

The more mental connections we have to a piece of information, the better we will remember it. For example, if you meet someone whose name is the same as your ex, the chance you’ll forget their name is slim to none (no matter how hard you may try…bummer). This is when mnemonics may come into play to improve recall.

9. Repetition.

I had this forgetful friend once who didn’t know my birthday, so when they figured it out, they spent an entire class period in high school just repeating it over and over again. Fast forward 7 years and I can still count on them for remembering the exact date, WITHOUT the help of Facebook! Repetition is key, and works even better when written down.

10. Increased overall physical health.

Unfortunately, memory does deteriorate as we get older. Increasing your overall health with regular exercise, better sleep, a nutritious diet, and reduced stress levels ultimately improves your brain health by giving it the energy and nutrients it needs to create memories while also preventing memory loss.