Everyone has heard the normal ways of improving your memory, sure. There are some more unusual and fun ways to do it, though.
Although there are more standardized ways of learning and memorizing, I have found these to be entertaining and easy. Sometimes they can be frustrating because of their simplicity, but they make you remember things. So, enjoy these 9 ways to improve your memory:
- Don’t use bookmarks. When you read, try to memorize the page number. If you go back and have forgotten, you will be able to read bits and pieces so you catch up to where you were.
- Guess. If you’re wrong, it’s ingrained more, and if you’re right, you’re on a roll.
- Memorize license plates. As cars are speeding by, try to remember the plates. This may come in handy when you really need it, too.
- Live on the edge. Make the situation either dangerous or risque (or just pretend it is) to get your heart pumping. In higher states of awareness you’re more likely to remember the events.
- Use your non-dominant hand. By using your other hand you will notice things more and won’t take it for granted as much. This way, you’re exercising the other half of your brain, too.
- Use triggers. Have another object, emotion, sound, or thought cue your memory. If you want to remember a series of names, try playing a specific song with each one. Then, when you go to recall the names, play each song and it will bring the memory back.
- Play. Games like Simon Says will help your memory a lot, and they’re fun!
- The rule of 3. Repeat whatever it is you want to remember three times. If you’re just meeting a person say, “Robert, hello. It’s nice to meet you, Robert, I’ve heard so much about you. Tell me Robert, what do you do for a living?”
- Relate it. Find something to relate with the object. For instance, if you’re trying to remember someone’s birthday, break down the numbers. If they were born on 3/24 then remember they are the third child in their family, and they love the show 24.
So try to remember all of these ways to improve your memory in a memorable way. Good luck.
Now go own the world.-Ravi Vora
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hey, these are really useful! i think it’s cool how you mentioned memorizing license plates, which i’ve just always done out of habit. good stuff, keep it up ravi
Nice tips! As the post says, I haven’t heard of a bunch of these before but they seem like great ideas. Memorizing license plates is something I do when I’m bored in the car.
Gale - That’s awesome! License plates are the perfect 7 digits of memory (plus or minus 5) that we can remember easily.
MoneyMoose - Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Great ideas! I’ve tried #5 before and it will really increase your awareness. Just try wearing for watch on the opposite hand for a month. Or move your trash can to the other side of your desk. You’ll throw paper on the floor for a week!
I love the idea not to bookmark and to guess your place in a book - stretch those brain muscles. And adrenaline is great - I can remember days at the amusement park clearly even after several years - it really works. :0)
I just realized how much I love your site. Great content, I’m going to have to try these.
great tips. I’ll have to try out some of these. I like the tip to remember license plates.
This reminds me of when I need to remember any task that I need to do. As long as I only have one thing to remember, I can simply hang a bedsheet or something over my TV; it doesn’t matter what, so long as something is there. Noticing that something is wrong with my decor is enough to remind me to do something, and I have no trouble remembering what it was I needed to do.
I run into trouble when I’ve gotta remember to do two things: I’ll remember the laundry, and forget the doctors appointment.
I will definitely put these ideas to good use as I seem to get more and more forgetful these days. Hopefully, I can find that missing $50 bill lying somewhere in my room fast enough though
You have a great list of improving memory techniques here, thanks.
What I usually do (which isn’t always helpful, so can make use of your memory tips too) is, when not too engrossed in my own thoughts, is to always make sure to be aware of everything around me - having an interest in photography helps with this too, and then when later needing to remember something, I simply visualise the scene as if it was a photo or as if I was still there, almost like in a dream, and have been able to sometimes even read shop signs or street names etc while doing this, and needing to remember the name of a place (or a street name etc).
And if it’s photography that has helped me with this memorising ability, then I suggest more people, who want to improve their memories, take up photography!