There are many techniques to do this, depending on what you want to achieve. For this instance, we’ll focus on how to memorise a list of 10 words while maintaining impeccable recollection several hours/days/months down the track. You can use this for any sort of list, a grocery list, list of things to do, places to go – no need to tap your list in your phone or write it down, it’s all in your noggin!
Step one: imagination is key! The weirder, more obscure, obnoxious and outrageous your imagination is, the easier recollection will be. For example, if someone says to you “apple” you can see an apple in your mind. It may be red or green, be shiny, it may even have a little leaf on it? Sounds simple enough, but that apple doesn’t compare to this apple: this apple is so huge I had to strap it to my back to carry it home bent over like Quasimodo. It is so fresh I could make an apple fragrance from it’s scent and sell it at the grub market; I can smell the sweetness now. I know I will need to wear some protective gear when I bite into it otherwise it will drench me in apple juice. The bite will be like a little scratch on a construction wall, it’s so small it blends in. Which apple will you remember most later? The more detail you pack in the better, put some texture, sound and smell in there and really visualise it.
Step two: Gather your list of 10 words, read them and start to create a story/link between each item. Let’s introduce our second item, salt. On my way home when I was carrying the apple on my back, one of the straps came loose and it crashed in a giant mound of salt that I was walking past. Salt granules went flying and a big lump of it landed in my (third item) juice I was holding. It splashed all over me and now the orange juice has stained my clothes – what a delicious day so far!
The three items on the list so far are apple, salt and juice. That story is going to be difficult to forget any time soon, especially if you can really see it and imagine it playing out. Put things on top of each other, blow them up, shrink them and make them interact. That’s all there is to it, if 10 words is too daunting, try five. Practice and have fun with it, you’ll be surprised how you can make things connect.
Give this list a try and please share your linked story if you do it:
