How to Improve Memory and Memorization Skills

Your memory is one of the most valuable tools your mind possesses - without the ability to recall pertinent information quickly, our lives would turn into utter chaos.

As we age, or as we get loaded with new responsibilities and stressful careers, our short-term memory skills can take a bit of a beating. Here are some valuable tips for sharpening your memory recall, and shortening the amount of time needed to memorize a new address, phone number, face or other piece of information.

Compartmentalize: There is a reason why numbers are listed in the format 212-555-1212 rather than, say, 212555-1212 or just 2125551212. In general, the human memory can quickly learn up to five or six units of three to four digits each. In other words, our memories work best when items are broken into smaller pieces.

Substitution: Going back to the telephone number example, if you live in New York City you know that 212 is the standard area code for business landlines. Therefore, after you have looked at 212-555-1212 a couple of times, you can simply "let go" of the 212 and only focus on the last seven numbers. You'll remember the area code when you need to, since your mind has reduced it to one discrete unit of information as opposed to three individual digits.

Outrageous visualization: For evolutionary reasons, our brains are designed to remember the most outrageous or frightening things we experience. If our pre-historic ancestors ate a strawberry that tasted like most other strawberries, this would not warrant any need for memorizing that particular strawberry. But if, for instance, a forager came across a berry that caused severe pain or sickness after consumption, he would remember that fruit very well as being poisonous and avoid it in the future. Our memory is in large part a survival tool.

You can tap into this by visualizing "outrageous scenarios" to help memorize certain things. As an example, if you are introduced to someone named Vanessa at a business function-and she happens to have unusually large teeth-you could tell yourself she is "Vanessa the Shark!" As absurd as it sounds, focus on and exaggerate one or two physical traits that you notice about a person and link those traits to their name. This creates a strong mental association; the next time you meet her at a business seminar or convention, you will immediately notice the teeth again-and your mind will recall the name Vanessa.