Memorization Rules and Tips

There is absolutely nothing in this world that you, you personally, are unable to memorize. There are things that will take more time, things that will require more effort, but there is not anything, anywhere, that is impossible.

Okay, okay, a 900 page chart of wingding symbols, maybe...

But practically speaking, there is nothing beyond your limit, nothing out of reach, nothing you can't do if you set your mind to it. The key is to make up your mind that you're going to do it, and to believe that you are able to do it. And you are.

Below are a few tricks that can help make it easier to remember things.

Do you think it's highly irregular to find a roll of toilet paper on top of your computer? I do, too. But if you're worried that you might forget to clean the bathroom before the day's over, I would recommend you put one there until you've done it. Seeing something in a wrong or unexpected place jogs your memory. The constant bugging, nagging reminder will be there, standing out and grabbing your attention until you do what you're supposed to do

Suppose you are to remember to call your friend at 7:00 p.m. Affix a sticky note to your phone, and do not remove it until you've done your job. How about remembering to feed the neighbor's dog? Put a plate (any kind will do) on your favorite easy chair, and don't let yourself sit there until after you've supplied the canine with sustenance.

Have bills to pay? Leave them on your nightstand, or use them to cover up the television remote. Need to write an article on Hub Pages? Put your ideas and notes for that article up on your bulletin board. If you don't have one, get one! They're great for remembering things and keeping things handy. You can buy thumbtacks that are shaped like hooks to hold keys and other important unloseables. You can also get a large calendar to hang there on which to write important dates, appointments, and tasks.

How do you learn the Gettysburg Address, the Preamble to the Constitution, or a movie script? The answer's easy: rote repetition. Say it over, and over, and over, and over again until you know it. Be patient. Have faith. This method will work, but you have to keep at it. Remember, quitters won't win, and winners won't quit. Anything that should be memorized can be memorized in this manner.

This is useful for lists of names or numbers. Associate a picture with each thing you're trying to remember, then remember the symbols.

1, 35, 16, 12, 15, 14, 11, 2, 7

one=top hat, thirty-five=spring, twelve=dozen eggs, fifteen=money, fourteen=folded paper, eleven=study group, two=pair of socks, seven=shamrock

If you need more help remembering the symbols, make drawings. Memorize the drawings (and put the number in the picture) in order by rote repetition. The pictures will make it easier not to forget or get the numbers switched. Whatever a number reminds you of, put that down as its symbol. For instance, the twelve being a dozen eggs is obvious. Seven is a shamrock because both are considered lucky.

The same can be true of names. Is someone on that list sort of mean? Draw a face with a witch's hat. (Yes, it's a little politically incorrect, but I guarantee you'll remember it.) Is someone a bit shy? Draw a violet flower. Is someone proud? Draw a puffed up turkey with fanning feathers. Write out the list with the symbols and practice it.

Maybe you don't know the people you're memorizing, such as a list of past historical figures. Then you can make your picture by how the name sounds. Calvin Coolidge could have a refrigerator next to his name ("cool"), and Harry Truman could be a sort of shaggy individual, a rugged mountaineer (Hairy True Man). Put some imagination into it, and have a little fun with this job!