How many people do you know that complain about having a "bad memory"? You know the people I'm talking about. The ones that constantly talk about how they would do so much better if they could remember things more easily! But how many of those people spend even a small amount of time doing some memory training so they can understand how their memory works?
Does this sound like you? Are you someone that complains about your memory but doesn't make much effort to improve your memory recall? What memory training do you engage in each day? If you only had to spend 5 minutes a day doing memory training activities to improve your memory, would you do it?
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!)
Imagine being able to recall what you did two months ago (or even two years ago) in detail. Imagine being able to read through a text book and remember all of the main points you read. Imagine being able to remember everything the teacher said to you during class. It would be pretty amazing wouldn't it! But in order to do that you first need to understand the five pillars of memory.
Pillar One - Association. Your memory finds it much easier to recall events or experiences when you associate it with something you are already familiar with. How often do you hear someone say (for example) "Oh yes, I remember that day well because that was the day I got my hair cut at a new hairdresser." Linking things together through association is extremely powerful. So start associating everything you want to remember today!
Pillar Two - Imagery. When we remember things we remember them as images (or pictures). It's like a show reel in our mind. Your memory likes images and finds it much easier to recall them than anything else - so start using them when you are making notes or trying to remember detailed information. If you want to remember something, create an image or mental picture in your mind that your memory can easily recall later.
Pillar Three - Time. As we are all aware, memories fade over time and our memory recalls recent events much quicker and easier than experiences that occurred a long time ago - especially when they are not particularly interesting or unique events. If you really want to recall an experience you need to move it to your long-term memory as quickly as you can by using association or imagery techniques. If you don't you may find the experience is very hard to recall. The longer you leave it, the less your chance of recalling it later.
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.
You can now see that even with a very small amount of memory training and awareness of how your memory recall works your memory can be greatly improved. Keep in mind that by applying the five pillars you will be actively seeking to move your memories from your short-term memory to your long-term memory. This is the essence of powerful memory recall ability. Good luck!
Does this sound like you? Are you someone that complains about your memory but doesn't make much effort to improve your memory recall? What memory training do you engage in each day? If you only had to spend 5 minutes a day doing memory training activities to improve your memory, would you do it?
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!)
Imagine being able to recall what you did two months ago (or even two years ago) in detail. Imagine being able to read through a text book and remember all of the main points you read. Imagine being able to remember everything the teacher said to you during class. It would be pretty amazing wouldn't it! But in order to do that you first need to understand the five pillars of memory.
Pillar One - Association. Your memory finds it much easier to recall events or experiences when you associate it with something you are already familiar with. How often do you hear someone say (for example) "Oh yes, I remember that day well because that was the day I got my hair cut at a new hairdresser." Linking things together through association is extremely powerful. So start associating everything you want to remember today!
Pillar Two - Imagery. When we remember things we remember them as images (or pictures). It's like a show reel in our mind. Your memory likes images and finds it much easier to recall them than anything else - so start using them when you are making notes or trying to remember detailed information. If you want to remember something, create an image or mental picture in your mind that your memory can easily recall later.
Pillar Three - Time. As we are all aware, memories fade over time and our memory recalls recent events much quicker and easier than experiences that occurred a long time ago - especially when they are not particularly interesting or unique events. If you really want to recall an experience you need to move it to your long-term memory as quickly as you can by using association or imagery techniques. If you don't you may find the experience is very hard to recall. The longer you leave it, the less your chance of recalling it later.
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.
You can now see that even with a very small amount of memory training and awareness of how your memory recall works your memory can be greatly improved. Keep in mind that by applying the five pillars you will be actively seeking to move your memories from your short-term memory to your long-term memory. This is the essence of powerful memory recall ability. Good luck!
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