Mind Tricks To Improve Your Memory

By Alan B. Densky, CH

In today's fast paced society, we are constantly learning new information and we need better memories to remember it all. Students need better memories for studying and taking exams. People need better memories to be successful in their careers, and we all need better memories to remember important dates and facts.

However, most people have trouble remembering new facts and ideas. Memory problems often occur as we age, but there are other factors that impair our memories, such as stress, fatigue, depression, and concentration problems. Fortunately, there are a myriad of ways to improve your memory using easy mnemonic techniques and hypnosis and memory enhancement.

Mnemonic devices are helpful memory retention techniques. They can be in the forms of words, pictures, or any other associations that help you link concepts and information together. Acronyms are a common mnemonic device formed using the initial letters of words or word parts in a phrase or name. Let's say you want to memorize a shopping list of eggs, soap, cheese, ham, and salsa. You could come up with the acronym "CHESS" for cheese, ham, eggs, soap, and salsa. The acronym and the effort you put into generating it help you memorize the list.

Acrostic sentences are similar to acronyms. You can use acrostics to memorize ordered lists or sequences of events. In an acrostic, you use the first letters, syllables, or words of a phrase to remember a different message. In school, students are taught the acrostic sentence "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" to remember the order of operations in mathematics (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction).

Another famous mnemonic device is called the "Method of Loci." This technique was used in ancient times to memorize speeches. In this method, you link information to visual cues along a path. First, you think of a physical route you are familiar with, such as the commute to work, or a walk through your house. Imagine yourself traveling along this route, and identify specific landmarks that you pass by. Each landmark will correspond to something you wish to remember. Once you have identified your path and landmarks, you mentally associate a piece of information with each landmark.

Another technique is the "chunking" method of memorization. This method is useful in memorizing series of numbers, such as dates, phone numbers, and social security numbers. For example, you probably remember your social security number as a set of three, two and four digit numbers, or three sets of three digits. Using the chunking method, you break up a large amount of information into "chunks" that are easier to manage and remember. You can also organize information into categories to help you remember more complex things.

Now that you know these techniques, you can use them when you are trying to remember information. To successfully form a memory, concentrate on what you are trying to remember, taking a few seconds to process the information. Eliminate distractions from your environment that take your focus away from what you want to memorize. Write down the information, read it aloud, and try to engage all of your senses when you are learning new information. If you can experience or associate the information with all of your senses, you will remember it better.

Stress will impair your ability to focus and remember information, so you must relax! To cope with stress, you may be interested in using hypnosis to improve memory and recall abilities. Although memorization tricks are helpful, stress and lack of focus are the top reasons why people struggle with memory problems and can inhibit your success using the techniques. If stress and concentration problems are causing your memory problems, you can use hypnosis to improve memory and recall abilities significantly. Your memory will be enhanced by combining memorization methods with hypnosis and memory improvement techniques.

Self hypnosis memory improvement techniques can help you relax and focus on information. Hypnosis and memory techniques help improve your short-term memory by increasing your awareness, so you never forget things such as where you left your keys or wallet. Hypnosis and memory enhancement can also help you overcome anxieties that interfere with your ability to remember things, such as nervousness during an exam or a presentation at work. Many students suffer from test anxiety, but this can be overcome by hypnotherapy. Similarly, many people "freeze" and forget information during public speeches, a problem that can also be overcome by self hypnosis memory improvement techniques.

Hypnotherapy is the best way for people to remember and recall information because it calms the mind and increases the ability to concentrate. You can let hypnosis and memory work together to eliminate your memory problems. Someday, hypnosis and memory may become inseparable as people discover how hypnotherapy can improve their lives.