Having a sharp memory in our information-filled world can be quite an advantage. No matter
what your goals may be: pursuing the next step in your career, studying for a degree or if you
simply wish to stay quick-witted, working on improving your memory is a must. We can all learn
a lot from memory champions, those fascinating people who are able to recite thousands of
digits of pi or memorize an entire deck of cards.
1. Use Visualization Techniques
The loci method, also known as the “memory palace” technique, has proven to be useful for
many memory champions. It involves using your imagination to mentally place items that you
wanted to remember in different locations within a familiar space, like, for example, your house.
It’s important to make these visualizations as graphic and unusual as you can.
For example, if you are trying to memorize your shopping list, you could imagine your living
a huge carton of milk flooding the room or a person using your couch as a hammock
bunch of bananas.You are more likely to remember the image if it is very weird and unusual.
2. Create Meaningful Associations
Since the human brain is wired to remember and prioritize things that have emotional
significance memory champions often create associations between something that is important
to them and the thing they need to remember.
For example, the year 1066 can be associated with something that happened when you were
10 years and 66 days old. This would help if you were trying to memorize when the Battle of
Hastings happened. You would be more likely to memorize the date after making a personal
connection to it.
what your goals may be: pursuing the next step in your career, studying for a degree or if you
simply wish to stay quick-witted, working on improving your memory is a must. We can all learn
a lot from memory champions, those fascinating people who are able to recite thousands of
digits of pi or memorize an entire deck of cards.
1. Use Visualization Techniques
The loci method, also known as the “memory palace” technique, has proven to be useful for
many memory champions. It involves using your imagination to mentally place items that you
wanted to remember in different locations within a familiar space, like, for example, your house.
It’s important to make these visualizations as graphic and unusual as you can.
For example, if you are trying to memorize your shopping list, you could imagine your living
a huge carton of milk flooding the room or a person using your couch as a hammock
bunch of bananas.You are more likely to remember the image if it is very weird and unusual.
2. Create Meaningful Associations
Since the human brain is wired to remember and prioritize things that have emotional
significance memory champions often create associations between something that is important
to them and the thing they need to remember.
For example, the year 1066 can be associated with something that happened when you were
10 years and 66 days old. This would help if you were trying to memorize when the Battle of
Hastings happened. You would be more likely to memorize the date after making a personal
connection to it.
3. Practice Active Recall
Many memory champions tend to favor active recall over passively reviewing information. A big
part of active recall is testing yourself on the information you are trying to memorize. This has
proven to be more effective than reviewing notes because it makes your brain retrieve the
information you need to remember. This helps strengthen the neural pathways associated with
that memory.
Another great way to practice active recall is playing a trivia game. The Couch Trivia Game, for
example, offers an interesting and entertaining way to test your knowledge across many
different subjects. Its video format makes it easily accessible on electronic devices and allows
you to squeeze in a quick memory workout anytime, anywhere.
4. Use Mnemonics and Acronyms
Mnemonics are a great way to remember information by tying it to something that is easier to
remember. For example, the treble clef in music (E, G, B, D, F) can be remembered with the
“Every Good Boy Does Fine” mnemonic.
Acronyms are also great memory aids. For example, ROY G. BIV can help you remember all
the colors of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet).
5. Break Information into Smaller Chunks
A person’s short-term memory can usually hold around 7 things at once. Memory champions
solve that issue by separating the large amounts of information they need to remember into
smaller pieces.
For example, when trying to memorize a long number you can break it into groups of three or
four digits. The phone number 1234567890 becomes alot easier to remember as 123-456-7890.
Many memory champions tend to favor active recall over passively reviewing information. A big
part of active recall is testing yourself on the information you are trying to memorize. This has
proven to be more effective than reviewing notes because it makes your brain retrieve the
information you need to remember. This helps strengthen the neural pathways associated with
that memory.
Another great way to practice active recall is playing a trivia game. The Couch Trivia Game, for
example, offers an interesting and entertaining way to test your knowledge across many
different subjects. Its video format makes it easily accessible on electronic devices and allows
you to squeeze in a quick memory workout anytime, anywhere.
4. Use Mnemonics and Acronyms
Mnemonics are a great way to remember information by tying it to something that is easier to
remember. For example, the treble clef in music (E, G, B, D, F) can be remembered with the
“Every Good Boy Does Fine” mnemonic.
Acronyms are also great memory aids. For example, ROY G. BIV can help you remember all
the colors of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet).
5. Break Information into Smaller Chunks
A person’s short-term memory can usually hold around 7 things at once. Memory champions
solve that issue by separating the large amounts of information they need to remember into
smaller pieces.
For example, when trying to memorize a long number you can break it into groups of three or
four digits. The phone number 1234567890 becomes alot easier to remember as 123-456-7890.
6. Regular Practice and Lifestyle Factors
Memory champions highly value consistent practice. They are able to gradually improve their
ability to remember information by training their memory daily.
Incorporating memory exercises into our daily life can be extremely helpful for the rest of us as
well. This could include simply attempting to memorize your shopping list rather than writing it
down or playing a round of Couch Trivia Game while you’re eating lunch.
Additionally, lifestyle factors can have a large impact on your memory:
Sleep: Good sleep is important for improving your memory. The brain transfers information from
short-term to long-term memory during the deep sleep phase. A person should ideally get about
7-9 hours of sleep daily.
Diet: Some foods can have a positive effect on memory and brain function. Omega-3 fatty acids
are very important for brain health. They can be found in fish, nuts, and seeds. Berries, dark
chocolate and other antioxidant-rich foods can help improve memory and slow down brain
aging. Green tea also enhances memory and increases a person’s ability to concentrate and
pay attention.
Exercise: Regular physical activity leads to an increased blood flow to the brain, which helps
with the growth of new brain cells. Even short exercises, like a quick 10-minute walk, can
instantly boost your intelligence and memory.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Mindfulness and meditation can enhance your memory function by
reducing stress and improving your ability to focus. Even a short daily meditation can make a
big difference.
Combining these lifestyle factors as well as memory techniques and mental exercises, such as
trivia games, can help you significantly improve your memory over time.