Creativity Information

Creative Memory Tricks


What's the biggest problem with memory tricks? Remembering to use them, of course. There are many memory techniques that work well, but you'll forget them when you need them most - unless you make using them a habit. So when you take the time to learn a technique, use it until it becomes automatic. Here are some to try.

Using a Story-List

I went to a party as a child. There was a game that involved looking at a table covered in 15 various items. After a few minutes, we were taken to another room, and each child was given paper and a pencil. We had to write down as many items as we could remember. I recalled seven or eight, but one boy won the prize by remembering all 15 items.

Years later I learned why he won. His father taught him a simple trick that none of us other kids knew. The technique is to tie the items together in an imaginative story. For example, what if you want to remember a list of the following things: Soap, milk, honey, fork, and flowers.

Start a vivid story in your imagination, adding each item to it as you go: At the sink, you reach for the SOAP. The soap dish is full of MILK, so you wash your hands in that. Then you comb HONEY into your hair with a FORK, and finally pick up a bouquet of FLOWERS and smile at the mirror. Say each item while mentally reviewing your "movie," and you'll remember all five things, even the next day.

Some Other Memory Tricks

Tell yourself to remember. When you learn a person's name, for example, tell yourself, "remember that". This signals your unconscious mind to rank this input as more important.

Know WHY you want to remember something, and HOW you'll remember it. To remember a person, for example, ask why they'll be important to you in the future, imagine where you'll see them next, and connect that to anything you notice about them. Seeing the importance of remembering really helps, and additional associations (where you expect to see the person next) set the memory more firmly in your brain.

Do you ever forget where you put your car keys? You've probably tried retracing your steps, at least doing it in your imagination. This can work well, but even better is to prevent the forgetting beforehand. When you set the keys on the chair, see yourself walking in and setting the keys on the chair. You won't forget where they are.

There are many more of these memory tricks. If you want them to be useful, though, don't just read about them. Make a memory technique or two into a habit, starting today.

Steve Gillman writes on many self help topics including boosting brainpower, losing weight, meditation, habits of mind, creative problem solving, learning gratitude, generating luck and anything related to self improvement. You'll find more at http://www.SelfImprovementNow.com


MORE RESOURCES:

'Story Time' At Guam's Andersen Air Force Base Library Fosters ...
Pacific News Center - 6 hours ago
"Story Time is designed specifically to allow children to be creative while at the same time providing an opportunity to encourage reading and promote ...
Guam's JFK High School Honors Longest-Serving AFJROTC Instructor ... Pacific News Center
Guam's Andersen Air Force Base Team Members Attend Leadership Seminar Pacific News Center
all 3 news articles


Employers should encourage employee brainstorming
Arizona Republic, AZ - 5 hours ago
I thrive on creativity, and brainstorming is creativity at its grass roots. Unfortunately, most of us have been in brainstorming sessions when something ...


Creativity goal of state panel
The Republican - MassLive.com, MA - 1 hour ago
The new law calls for a 23-member Creative Economy Council to measure the sector's contributions to the state, and to develop strategies to promote and ...


'Remix,' by Lawrence Lessig
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 13 hours ago
Channeling geeks everywhere, Lessig labels traditional creative work "Read/Only" - as in a CD that you can play but can't modify. The creativity of the ...


Wall Street Journal

In Defense of Piracy
Wall Street Journal - Oct 10, 2008
But enough owners insist on permission to have touched, and hence, taint, an extraordinary range of extraordinary creativity, including remixes in the ...
Now you can buy song or game on YouTube Indianapolis Star
all 2 news articles


Magazine publisher to speak at conference on creativity
Charleston Gazette, WV - 4 hours ago
Dale Dougherty, editor and publisher of MAKE magazine, thinks being creative goes beyond stereotypical art. "In some ways, our culture is a little bit ...


Cleveland Browns' offense lacks creativity - Plain Dealer ...
The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com, OH - 9 minutes ago
But I also think the Browns have to be more creative with the talent available. Stallworth's return doesn't fix everything. And yes, Anderson has to play ...


Creativity’s not a 9 to 5 job’
Times of India, India - Oct 10, 2008
Creativity is not a 9 to 5 job, it comes from enthusiasm. The day I’m not enthused to create comething novel, I’ll stop working, because then I would have ...


Arts as key to learning as the 3 R's
Denver Post, CO - 2 hours ago
Not only are students winning national music awards, they're also building strong work ethics, learning about teamwork and sharpening their creativity. ...
Arts are wonderful, but this study isn't Rocky Mountain News
Arts may lift performance Denver Post
all 4 news articles


What is creativity?
Thought Leader, South Africa - 15 hours ago
On more than one occasion, recently, the subject of creativity has crept into discussions I have had with architecture students, and every time I was struck ...

Creativity - Google News

home | site map | Ocean Art
© 2006