How to Develop a Super Power Memory

If you're having trouble recalling important information or you just can't seem to keep hold of things you put in short-term memory, you may be looking for a way to boost your memory power. There are many reasons that memory degrades as we age but the decline of memory power is by no means inevitable and things can be done to keep your memory in tip top shape for much longer.

Mnemonics and Memory

Mnemonics are basically memory devices that allow us to recall things stored away in the mind. For example, many of us learned rhymes as children that help us remember the number of days in each month, the order of the cardinal points or the colours of the rainbow. Unfortunately, our brains are not very well suited to remembering things like words on a page, names and dates or long strings of numbers. However, the same techniques used in coming up with these rhymes can be used to supercharge your memory and to help you remember pretty much anything you need to.

Association and Imagination

Basically, the key to improving your memory is to learn how to associate the things you need to remember with things that are easy to remember. Using the imagination we can easily come up with vivid (and pleasant) imagery for example that is very easy to recall again, and we can then associate this image with something we need to remember. Making up a short story, rhyme or some such to go along with the image and the item to be remembered will make the recall even easier. Things can be linked together simply by stacking them or entangling them as an image in your mind, and the stronger the positive feeling you can create from your images the more likely the memory is to stick. Humour is a particularly good way to remember things, and if you can make your mnemonics funny then so much the better!

Using the Senses

Human beings are sensual creatures, and we are much more likely to remember something when that something can be linked with our sense of touch, taste, smell, etc. Try to think of a scent that brings back a particular memory automatically, for example. It is not always possible to tie a memory into one or more of the senses, but when you can you should. That way you always have reliable alternate triggers for the memory should others fail.

Developing a stronger memory, even a super power memory isn't restricted to a chosen few. With a little time and effort anyone can improve their memory to a point they would have never believed possible before. All it takes is some understanding of how memory works and then finding a structured system for remembering that is suited to you personally.