by: Gregory Frost
You envy the guy at work who has a photographic memory, or perhaps, a friend who never forgets a name. Or maybe you’re tired of always trying to match the right face to the right name. Not only does intelligence matter in getting ahead in life, so do your memory, and the ability to use it right!
Below are 5 great tips to develop a photographic memory. Now you can be the envy of your colleagues, and you will be able to impress others with your quick recall abilities. Improving your brain and memory capacity has never been easier with these tips!
1) Be Discerning
Be able to discern what is important from what is not. Information is all around us, be it yesterday’s dinner conversation or the news today. It is experienced via sight and sound, and you are exposed to it all the time. It is easy to get carried away, what is often referred to as information overload. The ability to acquire knowledge, discern what is relevant to you, and keep that information is the key to success! Create an event tree, and make sure you focus on what knowledge you require. This will save you from being distracted due to curiosity and keep you focused on the topic at hand.
2) Choose a location wisely
If you cannot focus, you cannot learn. Simply because the information that you have acquired stays in the short term memory for only a very short period of time, and if you are unable to keep it in your long term memory you will not be able to recall the information that you need. Choosing a location is integral to this. If you are unable to concentrate in a noisy place, avoid doing your work in areas with a crowd such as the local café. Instead, pick a quite corner in the library where you are unlikely to be disturbed.
3) Visualization and Association
This is a technique that is often overlooked due to its simplicity. However, that’s what makes it so special! It is simple to pick up, and it works without fail. This is especially useful if you need to remember facts and details, and our brain is wired to recall images better than words. Unfortunately, most information is in the form of words on paper. With the V&A method, you can convert the words into pictures, or into simpler words that will ensure that you never have trouble recalling it. This method builds on information already stored in our long term memory, making it easier to transfer the new information from the short term to the long term memory.
4) Practice sharpening your mind
This can be done by using flashcards or drilling basic math everyday. The ease of calculators in doing our work has made our brains need to work less, and some adults find it difficult to do simple additions or multiplications. Basic math drills will ensure that your mind is kept alert, and math is also a basic logical process which with practice, will ensure that your mind is constantly sharp and active.
5) Take Simple Tests
Do not try to learn new information just by reading the textbook, or relegating it to rote memorization. By testing yourself or taking simple tests, you will be forced to apply the knowledge that you have read. This will imprint the knowledge more deeply into your memory, and will help you in not just being able to recall the information, but also in your application of it.
Whilst most people are taught that in order to remember, they need constant repetition, you will find that the above 5 tips will help you do without that tedious process, and save you a lot of time. Developing a photographic memory has never been easier with these 5 tips!
