Mastering Memory

by Brad Zupp

  THE TECHNIQUE Use Your Imagination

  Though we may say, “I forgot where I put my glasses,” that statement isn’t accurate. The problem isn’t that we forgot—it’s that we weren’t paying attention when we put them down! We put our keys on the counter on the way to wash our hands and then can’t find our keys later. We run inside the house to grab something and put our sunglasses on the table by the door. Once we have retrieved what we needed and are back in the car, ready to drive away, we can’t find our sunglasses.

  If you put items down absentmindedly, how can you bring your focus to the situation? How can you possibly make such inconsequential moments have meaning? With this technique, you’ll use your imagination to focus on where you put things so you’ll never lose them again.

  HOW TO DO IT

  1Think of an object that you lose frequently. Maybe it’s your keys, wallet, purse, or phone. Is it only this item, or are there others? Think of the last few times you’ve “forgotten” and narrow it down to one or two that you frequently misplace. Bring to mind where that item belongs. That’s its safe place.

  2Now, for each item, imagine that it has a destructive quality when it’s not in its safe place. For example, I think of my keys as so hot that they are glowing red. Whenever I set them down, I think, “What will happen if I leave them there too long? The table might catch on fire!”

  3Spend 30 seconds trying different visualizations. Imagine your item as hot, cold, wet, painted, or covered in something. For instance, you could picture your item as frozen or wet, leaving behind a puddle or stain. If you prefer color in your imagination, try visualizing the item as green with radioactivity or yellow from being freshly dipped in paint. Is food easier to picture? Think of your phone as having ketchup smeared all over it.

  4Take your item somewhere nearby where it doesn’t belong and set it down. Immediately think of how that surface could be damaged. Be creative and exaggerate. Think of an outlandish scenario involving your dangerous item and what it is resting on. Move the item to another surface and repeat the process.

  5Experiment for the rest of today when you put the item down. See how vivid you can make your images. Take a quarter of a second to think, “Oh no, that surface is going to be ruined!” Consider briefly how it would look after being burned, scarred, melted, or splattered.

  As silly as this technique sounds, you’ll be amazed at the results when you try it. The mind thinks in pictures. You’re helping it pay attention in a way it will find amusing, and you’ll remember where your items are much better from now on. Make this a game you play every time you handle those (formerly) frequently misplaced items.

  TIP | IMPROVE YOUR FOCUS

  To immediately start remembering better, stop multitasking! Listen, read, or look with intention at the one thing in front of you to stay in the moment. Give your attention to only one task or person at a time.

  [ 4 ] Remember If You Unplugged, Turned Off, Closed, and Locked

  A JOURNEY OF a thousand miles begins with . . . turning around to make sure you locked the front door. I used to worry that I had left the iron, stove, or oven on, or the doors unlocked. I often doubted myself several minutes after closing the door or turning off the stove, just when it’s most inconvenient to double-check. “Did I do actually do it?” I wondered. Using this technique, you’ll not only remember to unplug, turn off, lock, or close, you’ll remember that you did it, too.

  THE TECHNIQUE Make the Mundane Memorable

  This technique helps you remember events that happen frequently enough to be unmemorable but should be remembered. You need to connect your experience of doing the event with something that makes the mundane memorable: singing. You’re not a good singer, you say? Even better! An off-key jingle is more memorable than a well-sung song. But if you’re around others or feel uncomfortable singing, other noises work just as well.

  HOW TO DO IT

  1Pick your biggest concern. Iron? Locked door? Stove? Whether it’s hitting the down button on the garage remote, unplugging the iron, or something else, decide that you want to remember doing this task.

  2Make up a song or sound to go along with the action you want to remember doing, and add an identifier such as the day or the weather. Here are a couple of suggestions:

  •I sing, “The iron is unplugged on Monday!” in a dramatic, operatic voice as I unplug the iron. Closing the garage door with the remote is similar: “It’s a rainy morning, and I’ve closed the garage!” Using a variety of notes from high to low or low to high is excellent, as is a big crescendo. Make your song lyric in your favorite style: rap, country, pop, or opera. A terrible rendition is fine and even more memorable than a beautifully sung one, so belt it out!

  •If songwriting isn’t your thing, you can use a noise instead. For instance, to remember that I locked the front door, as I leave, I often jiggle the door knob and think, “Three jiggles Monday morning,” counting them as I think it. A hand clap, finger snap, or foot stomp is also effective.

  It’s important to add an identifier. Without one, I might remember that I sang my little tune but psych myself out thinking, “Wait, maybe I sang that the oven was off yesterday!” and I’d have to go recheck it. When you combine your song/sound with an identifier and then later question yourself, you can quickly recall the song or sound and circumstances, and you’ll remember with ease. Your peace of mind will increase, and you’ll stop wasting time double-checking yourself.

  [ 5 ] Remember Names

  THERE YOU ARE at a social function or work event. You’ve just met a person whose name you’d like to remember. Suddenly, though it’s only been a second, their name is already gone from your mind. You feel frustrated and embarrassed. Remembering names is an important skill to have. Unfortunately, many people find it a hard skill to master. With this powerful yet simple technique you can easily remember names. From now on, whenever you meet someone and hear their name, your first mission is simple: Talk about their name.

  THE TECHNIQUE Ask a Question

  The biggest barrier to remembering someone’s name is hearing it. When we meet people, we’re often distracted by our thoughts or what’s happening around us. The name goes “in one ear and out the other.” No longer. As soon as you meet someone and they say their name, immediately repeat it, then ask a question about it. Using this technique accomplishes three essential tasks: 1) you prepare yourself to hear the name, 2) saying it out loud helps your mind start to remember it, and 3) asking a question cements it into your memory.

  HOW TO DO IT

  Practice this technique ahead of time to make it easier to use successfully when it’s important. Have a helper think of a name and introduce themselves. If you don’t have someone to help, practice on your own by using any name you can think of. Continue practicing with your helper, changing roles so they get a chance to master this memory hack. Whether in a practice session or in a real-life scenario, follow these steps:

  1Since you know you’re going to repeat the name and ask a question about it, your mind is already paying attention. As soon as they’ve said their name, repeat it in the form of a question. “Jeff?” They’ll confirm that you have the name right.

  2Your mind has heard the name twice now—once from their mouth and once from your own. Your natural memory is doing what it knows to do: remember important information. Since it’s heard the name twice, your memory realizes, “This is important.”

  3Next, kick your memory into overdrive by asking a question related to the name. There are three methods to choose from:

  a]Spell it: “How do you spell that?” or “Is that spelled . . . (spell the name)?”

  b] “Is that short for . . . (the common full name)?”

  c] “Oh, like . . . (mention a famous person with the same name)?”

  Using the name “Jeff” in the example above, we have:

  a]“Is that spelled J-e-f-f or G-e-o-f-f?”

  b] “Is that short for Jeffrey?”

  c] “Oh, like Jeff F
oxworthy?” or “Like DJ Jazzy Jeff?”

  From now on your first conversation with someone new will be about their name. This technique makes meeting people and remembering their names simple, easy, and fun. To take this technique to the next level, read on to help other people remember your name.

  TIP | ORGANIZE YOUR MIND

  To arrange new material in your mind, connect what you want to remember (a person’s name, for example) with something you already know (an actor’s name). This forms a link in your mind to help you automatically remember one when you think of the other.

  [ 6 ] Teach People to Remember Your Name

  YOU’RE LEARNING THESE incredible memory hacks and seeing how powerful they are. Your memory is improving, and people are starting to notice. You can use your newfound memory power to make the lives of others better. You’ll use the technique from “Remember Names” not only to help them remember your name but to introduce them to a technique they can use for the rest of their lives. You’ll be paying it forward.

  THE TECHNIQUE Explain Your Name

  This technique is similar to the previous one, but the roles are reversed. The people you meet are probably struggling to both hear and remember names—just like you used to. In fact, if you watch carefully, you may see the moment when a new acquaintance realizes they’ve already forgotten your name. You’re going to spare them that fate. Mention that you’d like to not only remember their name but help them remember yours. To assist them, you’ll spell your name, tell them what it’s short for, and/or mention a famous person with the same name.

  HOW TO DO IT

  1The next time you meet a person, you’ll immediately use one or more of the three questions from the previous technique to help your natural memory cement their name in your mind. For example: “Jenn? J-e-n-n, right? Is that short for Jennifer?” Then you introduce yourself and pay it forward.

  2Make sure you make eye contact and have their full attention. (If they are distracted by something happening around you, wait!) Say your name clearly and slowly. “Nice to meet you, Jenn. My name is . . .”

  3Choose one or two methods ahead of time to help them remember your name: 1) how it’s spelled, 2) what your name is short for, and/or 3) the name of a famous person (or someone they already know). I’ll use my name for this example:

  “Nice to meet you, Jenn. My name is Brad. To help you remember that, I’ll mention that Brad is short for Bradley, but I prefer Brad. Probably the best way to remember my name is to think of how much more exciting it would be if you were speaking with Brad Pitt instead of me! In fact, imagine Brad Pitt is my best friend, and he’s standing right here next to me. I guarantee you’ll remember the name Brad easier that way.”

  You’ve helped your new acquaintance remember your name and started a fun conversation. They may not realize it, but you’ve saved them the embarrassment of not hearing or remembering your name. Way to go—not all heroes wear capes!

  [ 7 ] Remember Where You Parked the Car

  HAVE YOU EVER spent more time looking for your car in the parking lot than you did shopping? When I was young, my dad would say, “Remember where the car is . . . right next to that white one.” Of course, cars come and go all the time, and every third car in the lot was white! Amazingly, though, we always knew where the car was because he drew our attention to not only the nearby white car but also to the overall location in the parking lot. A variation of my dad’s technique will enable you to find your car quickly from now on.

  THE TECHNIQUE Focus Your Attention

  The reason we lose our car in the parking lot is because we aren’t paying attention. Later when we leave the store and can’t find the car, it’s less a matter of having forgotten than not taking a moment to remember in the first place. You will use your visualization and creativity skills to draw your attention to where you’ve parked using nearby objects in the area to orient yourself to the location. It takes less than a second, and it’s an incredibly practical and easy skill to develop.

  HOW TO DO IT

  These are two similar techniques. The first one is more memorable because it uses the most creativity, but the second is a bit easier and quicker.

  OPTION 1

  1Park the car.

  2As you exit, take a second to locate the nearest tree, light pole, sidewalk, sign, or other object that will be there when you return. Don’t pick out another vehicle.

  3Imagine your car and the object interacting. The car could jump the curb and smash into the nearest storefront, have a sign fall on it, catch on fire and burn the nearby bushes, or roll backward and block the way for all the other cars.

  4Think about whether you will be able to see the imaginary commotion your car has made when you walk out of the store. This will link the direction of the car to the store.

  5As an added step, estimate the angle from the store’s door to the car. Is it 5 degrees? 20? Are you straight in line with the entrance?

  OPTION 2

  1Park the car.

  2Look toward the store or building. What is a memorable object in line with where your car is parked? Often there is a large sign with the name of the building or store. Pick the letter closest to the row you have parked in. If you’re at BRAD’S BIG STORE and you’re parked to the right of the entrance, the “R” in “store” might be in line with where you’ve parked. If you’re parked along the street, estimate how many car lengths you are from an obvious point like a bus stop or the next intersection.

  Try both variations of this technique to discover which one works best. Your mind will love you, and you’ll never again have to walk around the parking lot clicking your key fob while listening for the beep beep of your car.

  [ 8 ] Exercise Your Memory with Your Shopping List

  “WHY SHOULD I remember my shopping list? I can just write it down or use my smart device to remind me.” I promote memorizing your shopping list as an easy, no-pressure way to exercise your memory. By spending a few minutes using a fun memory technique, you’ll exercise your memory, which will serve you in other, more important areas of your life.

  THE TECHNIQUE Get Creative

  This is one of the most fun techniques in the book. You’ll connect each item on your shopping list using your creativity. Let your silly side come out, and remember the acronym CAST: add Color, Action, Size, and Texture to your images. Turn lettuce into a heavy bowling ball and use it to knock down the huge carton of milk. Can you imagine rolling the lettuce from the produce aisle all the way to the milk cooler? Using this method, you will develop your ability to quickly think outside the box and prove how easy remembering anything can be.

  I love this method because of how little commitment it takes. You can experiment with remembering 2 to 20 items on your shopping list; it’s up to you. There is no need to fear because you’ll still take your list with you to the store and use it as much or as little as you need. You may start small by thinking of the two or three most important items. Once you see success, you can add more and more until you have your list memorized every week.

  HOW TO DO IT

  1Write out your shopping list.

  2Pick a few items to remember. I recommend selecting the most important ones.

  3Visualize the entrance to the store.

  4Use your imagination to picture your first item at the store entrance. Supersize it so it fills the space, spill it if it’s liquid, unpackage it, or otherwise change it so it’s memorable. Some examples are: Spill the spice all over the floor and imagine how it smells to walk into the store; a huge milk carton is leaking, filling the area with two feet of milk; or imagine having to eat through the giant loaf of bread to enter the store.

  5Connect your next item to the first in an interesting way. If you pictured the milk pool first, imagine using a huge loaf of bread to soak up the milk.

  6Continue adding to the crazy story using exaggerated visuals. This is no time to play it safe and picture a normal-size carton of milk sitting next to a loaf of bread. Go wild i
n your mind!

  7When you walk to the entrance of the store, visualize the story you created.

  8As you shop, the story should still be on your mind. If not, think of the entrance of the store and see the story again.

  9As you’re standing in line, think of the funny things happening at the entrance of the store in your mind. Look in your cart to confirm you’ve picked them out.

  As you improve, try adding more items each trip. Vary the location of the story so you don’t confuse one trip’s list with another.

  TIP | HELP THE MIND REMEMBER WITH VIVID, CREATIVE IMAGES

  Your creative images must be interesting and unusual, which the mind finds memorable. Exaggerate! Images should have CAST, including one or more of these: 1) Color, 2) Action, 3) Size, and 4) Texture.

  [ 9 ] Remember Whether You Took Your Medicine

  “DID I TAKE my medicine today? I think so . . . but maybe that was yesterday.” Remembering the mundane is difficult because it happens repeatedly and is so automatic. But forgetting to take important medicine or accidentally taking it twice can have a huge impact. Using this easy method will ease your struggle to remember.

  But here’s a disclaimer: Taking medicine is serious business. This technique will help you remember if you took your medicine, but use an alarm to remind you when to take your medicine. Also make a written note of whether you’ve taken it or mark it on your calendar. Use your memory as a backup assistant. This is too important to rely solely on your memory.

  THE TECHNIQUE Notice and Make Noise