Using Your Whole Mind To Remember
We can try to code what we want to remember. If we can create a vivid image we are a lot more likely to recall its content than if we are simply trying to remember words. This means that we must attempt to convert what we are reading into a code so that we can recall it later. Visual codes work really well, but so do mnemonics.
Mnemonics are sayings such as "Every Green Bus Drives Fast" - they don't, the buses where I live are red! But the idea is that by remembering the silly sentence we can use the first letters of each word to recall the order of notes on a treble or bass clef (lines!)
You can do the following things to make your mnemonics more memorable:
· Use positive, pleasant images. The brain often blocks out unpleasant ones
· Use vivid, colourful, sense-laden images - these are easier to remember than drab ones
· Use all your senses to code information or dress up an image. Remember that your mnemonic can contain sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movements and feelings as well as pictures.
· Give your image three dimensions, movement and space to make it more vivid. You can use movement either to maintain the flow of association, or to help you to remember actions.
· Exaggerate the size of important parts of the image
· Use humour! Funny or peculiar things are easier to remember than normal ones.
· Similarly rude rhymes are very difficult to forget!
Symbols (red traffic lights, pointing fingers, road signs, etc.) can code quite complex messages quickly and effectively
If you want to be really effective when remembering things you need to
use all of your mind. Creating images will help you recall key concepts,
mnemonics are a really easy way of linking lists or ideas to triggers
that your mind can recall. The use of as many colours will also help,
as will linking in all of your senses.