Five ways to improve your memory
1. Practise tasks in an environment that’s as similar to the real situation as possible. (If you play along with Jeopardy!, stand up, have a buzzer in your hand and wait until the end of the clue to answer.)
2. Mnemonic devices such as acronyms and rhymes are helpful in cementing memory, though it’s ideal to practise enough that you no longer have to rely on them.
3. If you’ve memorized things in a certain order or structure—like a list—switching that up can improve your recall.
4. Strong mental images can help cement information in your head. Whenever Chu needs to remember the name of someone he’s just met, for example, he’ll make up a dirty joke in his head involving their name to ensure he’ll remember it the next time around.
5. Rituals and habits—like tying a tie and driving a car—stick in our brains much better than facts. If a pattern of behaviour becomes automatic, you can rely on your reflexive actions much more than if it’s something you have to think about.
How good is your memory? Take our Ultimate Memory Challenge to test your powers of recall!
Read more at http://www.readersdigest.ca/health/healthy-living/5-memory-boosting-tricks-jeopardy-whiz