Memory Boosters: Useful Memory Techniques For Everyday Life
Whether you are preparing for a test or learning a new skill, your memory will most certainly play a role. Although we obtain certain memories on a subconscious level, we must often put our minds to the test when we are seeking out knowledge.
According to American educator Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience, we remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, 50% of what we see and hear, 70% of what we discuss with others, 80% of what we personally experience, and 95% of what we teach others.
Many memorization techniques integrate aspects of Edgar Dale’s theory. Typically, the most effective memorization technique will be simple, yet powerful. In this article, we’ll explore the four types of memory, as well as evidence-based memory techniques for everyday life.
The four types of memory
According to research, there are four types of memory: working memory, episodic memory, semantic memory, and prospective memory.
Your working memory is meant to store information for short periods of time. This is often confused with short-term memory. While they do have similarities, short-term memory tends to only store for a couple of seconds, while working memory processes information and stores it for slightly longer. For example, you will likely use your working memory when taking down a phone number or making a change at a cash register. Your episodic memory works to recall both recent and past experiences, such as a night out with friends or where you left your car keys.
Semantic memory is linked to remembering familiar faces, objects, and the meaning of words; in this way, it allows us to encode memories. For example, you know a car is meant for driving and a stove is meant for cooking without having to interact directly with either thing.
Finally, your prospective memory is used to remember events that will take place in the future. These can be long-term memories or upcoming events like doctor's appointments, upcoming vacations, or plans with friends.
Understanding the four types of memory may help you identify which particular areas of memory you would like to improve. For example, if you have trouble remembering an address, this may indicate a challenge with your working memory.
Memory techniques for everyday life
There are a multitude of memory techniques that you can integrate into your everyday life. It may be helpful to try a few techniques to see what works best for you. An article published by the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences explores eight science-backed memory techniques that you can start using today.
1. Use the chunking method
The chunking method is a useful organizational strategy that is meant to break down large amounts of information into smaller units. One example of the chunking method is memorizing a phone number by grouping numbers together. For example, if the last four digits of a phone number are 3548, you might break that down into two groups: 35 and 48. You can also use this as a story method for fiction writing. By chunking information about various characters and scenes, you can keep your story free from plot holes or inconsistencies.
2. Make associations
Linking your existing knowledge to new information can be a helpful way to improve your memory. Creating mental images or connecting sites, sounds, or smells with the new information you are trying to memorize can be a helpful way to cement the memory in your mind. You can conduct a self-test after creating a group of associations to ensure you remember each connection and concept.
3. Use visual cues
Visual memory techniques and tools can sometimes help you learn new information. The use of graphs, charts, photos, and illustrations can help to simplify certain information, making it easier to comprehend and recall later on.
4. Create mnemonics
Mnemonic devices, including rhymes, acronyms, and acrostics, are simple, yet powerful memorization tools. A popular mnemonic device used for memorizing the cardinal directions (i.e., north, south, east, and west) is “Never Eat Soggy Waffles.” This takes the first letter of each word to create a more memorable phrase. Following this pattern, you can craft your own rhymes or acronyms; doing so may make it easier to remember and retain information.
Mnemonics aren’t limited to rhyme and acronyms, either. You can use mnemonic images to increase your memorization abilities as well. These can involve visualizing an image that matches a word or associating a picture with a specific piece of information. So for example, if you were learning about the solar system, you could associate each planet with a picture. For Mars, you could picture a Mars bar, for Pluto, you could picture the Disney character Pluto, and so on.
5. Write it down
6. Use concept maps
Research has shown that concept mapping is a useful tool to improve long-term memorization. This tool involves creating a map that links ideas together to help reinforce the meaning behind certain concepts. One study focusing specifically on students studying anatomy showed that most of the participants were influenced by this memory technique in a positive way. To create your own concept maps, one example you could use can be found here (provided by the University of North Carolina). In the example, the idea of climate change is connected to supporting ideas to make each section easier to understand.
7. Say it out loud
Reading aloud can be another helpful technique when it comes to memorizing new information. One study determined that the dual action of speaking and hearing ourselves talk helps get words and phrases into long-term memory. This can be a valuable tool to learn facts, vocabulary words, or important names, especially when studying.
8. Engage in active recall
Flashcards, practice exams, and self-tests can essentially serve as practice runs for real-life events when you need to recall information. Whether you are preparing for a test or a presentation, actively recalling the information you’ve learned tends to enhance recollection more than general study does. Additionally, practicing active recall may show you which information you may be struggling to retain.
You can also use active recall with a spatial memory technique known as “the mind palace.” To do this you’ll first create a hypothetical location in your head; then you’ll attach important information to objects or areas in that environment. By creating your own memory palace, you can “walk through” and recall facts by following a pre-planned path.
9. Rehearse
Studies show that repetition or rehearsal over an extended period (also known as “spaced repetition”) is a more effective way to memorize information, as opposed to cramming information shortly before it comes time to recall it.
If you are working to memorize all the words of a speech or presentation or want to learn all the elements on the periodic table, rehearsing in the mirror or role-playing with a friend will likely serve as an effective memory booster.
Tips for improving memory overall
While using a memory technique could be helpful, keeping your memory keen in the long term can be vital to overall health, wellness, and quality of life. The following tips can help keep your mind and body strong.
1. Train your brain
Some games can help train the human brain. Games like crossword puzzles, sudoku, and chess can be effective for improving and maintaining memory. Additionally, apps like Lumosity and BrainHQ offer a number of memory games for adults. You may also want to check out the WMSC memory training app, designed for use by memory champions competing in World Memory Sports Council competitions.
2. Be physically active everyday
Physical activity is important to health and well-being overall. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to exercise, studies show that finding and practicing physical activity you enjoy can improve overall cognitive function.
3. Eat less added sugar
Along with physical activity, adjusting your diet can positively affect memory as well. Researchers have found that diets high in sugar can selectively impair memory.
4. Get quality sleep
As with physical activity and a healthy diet, sleeping well can improve your overall health. Not only that but focusing on sleep hygiene and getting enough sleep can play an important role in memory improvement.
The benefits of online therapy for conditions affecting memory
Research shows that certain mental health conditions, including depression, can affect memory and cognitive function. However, a number of mental health conditions can be treated through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
If you feel that your memory has been affected by a mental health condition, online therapy may be right for you. According to research, online CBT has been proven to be equally as effective as in-person therapy when it comes to the reduction of symptoms of certain mental health conditions, including depression.
Also, online therapy tends to be more convenient than traditional in-person therapy. For example, with BetterHelp, you can connect with a therapist from the comfort of your home via audio or video chat. If you have questions in between sessions, you can contact your therapist via in-app messaging, and they’ll get back to you as soon as they can.
Takeaway
What are techniques to improve memory?
Techniques that improve memory help you remember longer pieces of information, maintain organization, and help you keep track of things that are difficult to remember. There are a variety of memory techniques, some of which can be implemented quickly, and some require practice. Some basic memory techniques you can use today are outlined below:
- Break information into chunks. Chunking is one of the best-known memory techniques. It involves breaking down large pieces of information into smaller chunks. Phone numbers are an excellent example of chunking; the number 718-555-5676 is likely much easier to remember than its unseparated equivalent, 7185555676. Most people prefer chunks of two to six items, but you can try increasing intervals of chunk length to find what works best for you.
- Make conscious associations. Connecting new information with existing knowledge can be a powerful way to increase retention. For example, if a new person tells you their name is Candy, it may be helpful to consciously picture them eating a piece of candy. The trick is to do it intentionally; building the mental image helps you retain it.
- Write down information. While writing information has the obvious benefit of making it available for reference later, the mere act of writing information can help you commit things to memory without needing to check what you have written. Writing information helps people retain it, as long as it is written physically, not typed. Typing information helps by making it available to review, but writing produces stronger connections in memory.
What are memory techniques?
Memory techniques are strategies you can use to help you remember information. Some memory techniques are used by many people almost every day, such as chunking. Chunking is a technique that involves breaking large pieces of information into smaller ones that are easier to retain. For example, suppose you’re learning a new language in addition to your native tongue. In that case, splitting new vocabulary words into separate categories can help make each “chunk” of words easier to remember than if you had tried to memorize every word simultaneously.
Other memory techniques include mnemonic devices, the method of loci (often called a “memory palace” today), and rote repetition. Memory techniques vary based on a person’s preferences and the information they are trying to remember. They are often used alongside organizational aids and other strategies for adding organization and structure to a person’s life.
What are 5 effective memory strategies?
Memory strategies likely vary in effectiveness based on the person using them and the information they are trying to remember. When selecting a memory strategy, it is important to try various techniques to find what works best for you. Some strategies, especially the more complicated ones, require time and effort to master but can potentially lead to large increases in information retention.
Below are some memory strategies that are known to be effective:
- Link new memories to existing knowledge. Material learned in isolation is often more difficult to remember than information connected to other concepts. The links do not necessarily need to be logical or even related to the information you are trying to recall. For example, imagine you are trying to remember that clouds are made of water vapor. An outlandish link, like imagining giant floating cups of water in place of clouds, can help you remember the original information more easily.
- Write (don’t type) new knowledge. Physically writing down information allows you to obtain the information later and makes it easier to retain information without needing to check what you’ve written. It’s important that you write the information using a writing implement and piece of paper. Typing new information doesn’t help retention as much as physically writing it.
- Test yourself. It is difficult to avoid the concepts of repetition and practice when talking about improving memory. While many people may not enjoy repeatedly testing their knowledge of new information, it is likely one of the most effective ways to retain knowledge. Testing your knowledge allows you to identify where information has been misremembered and reinforces correctly learned information, making it easier to obtain in the future.
- Create mnemonic devices. Mnemonics are systems and tricks that make knowledge easier to remember. Here are a few mnemonic types:
- Abbreviation mnemonics. In this technique, the first letter of each word in a sentence represents a letter in the abbreviation. For example, the sentence “King Phillip came over for good spaghetti.” is often used as a mnemonic device for the taxonomical classifications of life on Earth (kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species).
- Music mnemonics involve setting your mnemonic device to a song or tune. Singing information you are trying to remember is associated with increased retention of the information later on.
- Rhyming mnemonics. Turning information you want to memorize into a poem or rhyming phrase can help you retain the information more easily. In fact, some theorize that the need for poets to memorize their work was one of the reasons poetry was associated with rhyming in the first place.
- Build a memory palace. The memory palace technique is a memory strategy that has been in use since antiquity. Begin by mentally visualizing a familiar place, such as your bedroom or office. Picture small details, like objects on shelves or desks, then connect those details to the information that you are trying to remember. The connections don’t have to be logical or realistic, just linked together. Then, plan a route through your mind palace, where you mentally “visit” objects in your imagined space. When you interact with an object in your mind palace, your mind recalls the links you made earlier, making it easier to remember small details.
Why are memory skills important?
Memory skills can help you keep track of little details and may help lower your mental load throughout the day, such as by helping you remember a to-do or grocery list. Memory improvement strategies may be especially important if you frequently experience demands on your attention that leave you little time to internalize new information. Augmenting memory skills is also likely important for those with dementia or other conditions that impact their ability to retain new information.
The effectiveness of a specific memory strategy likely varies from person to person depending on what kind of information they are trying to remember, their cognitive load, and their unique needs regarding memorizing information. A memory strategy likely exists that would benefit you. If you’ve been attempting some mainstream techniques but haven’t seen satisfactory results, consider trying more novel approaches, like interleaving.
What is the most effective memory skill?
Memory strategies likely vary in effectiveness from person to person. However, some techniques have a long history of effectiveness for many people, and they are often recommended as gold-standard strategies for increasing information retention. One of those techniques, the memory palace, has been used for hundreds of years. Using that technique, ancient humans could memorize lengthy stories with incredible detail.
The memory palace is also known as the method of loci, giving a hint to how it works. “Loci” refers to locations within a mental space that contain information a person is trying to remember. Here’s how to make your own memory palace:
- Picture a familiar place. It should be a place you know well enough to recall small details, such as objects on shelves or small pieces of furniture. This will be your memory palace.
- Plan an imagined route through your palace. You should be able to close your eyes and imagine walking through the space while noting which objects or other features of the space are present.
- Think of distinctive features in different locations along your route. They can be anything in your imagined space, such as objects or a particular spot in the room. These features serve as “memory slots” to store information you want to memorize. Choosing enough features to contain all the information you are trying to memorize is important.
- Associate new information with your memory slot by linking the information to each slot. Associations can be simple, like recognizing that a bag of golf clubs propped against a wall indicates that a new client likes golf. They can also be more complex. For example, if you are trying to remember that a new golf buddy is a competitive swimmer, you might picture golf balls being shot into an Olympic pool. Illogical and silly associations are also viable and may make some connections easier to remember.
- After you have made your associations, mentally walk through your memory palace to recall the information. Be sure to walk through regularly to help the information stay fresh.
How can I memorize long answers?
If you’re struggling to memorize a long answer, it is likely best if you begin by breaking the information into smaller pieces. Organizing the details of a long answer into similar categories can help you recall information quicker than if you are trying to sort through every detail in real-time. You may also want to try outlining your answer into broad points. Outlining alone can be helpful, but you might see even better results by attaching mental images to each point in the outline. Mental imagery can often be easier to recall than long lists of details or facts.
How can I improve my memory and concentration?
One of the best ways to improve your memory and concentration overall is to adopt a regular exercise routine. Moderate exercise is associated with both short and long-term increases in information retention and may reduce the need for memory strategies. Exercise is also associated with symptom improvement in mental health conditions that can negatively impact memory, like major depression.
You may also want to consider memory strategies like chunking, mnemonics, or designing a memory palace. Using cognitive tools may help make storing and retrieving information much easier than simply trying to memorize the same information through rote repetition. When trying to decide how to improve your memory, the key takeaways are likely that you may need to try several memory techniques to find what works for you, and some strategies may take time and practice to master.
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