Hi, dulaney...
Quote:
Originally Posted by dulaney0330  The one method that I know of is: if you meet a guy name Bill you are supposed to come up with images of B-I-L-L. B as a buffalo sitting on icecream and two leopards (the idea is that the more outlandish, the more you will remember it).
I have tried this very weird and exhausting method but it hasn't been very effective.
I am interested in other ideas!  |
I understand how you feel. I've been reading 2 books on memory, "Super Power Memory" and Ageless Memory by Harry Loryane. They both teach a similar method.
It's not an endorsment for the book, but just to give an example...
For example, with remembering Bill by imagining a buffalo sitting on ice cream and two leopards to represent the letters of the name, it seems too awkward and impractical to use in real time. (Although it might work perfectly for someone else).
On the other hand, the book and aurthor urges you to use your own examples, and to practice using your examples to make it easier to be practical.
Rather than remembering the letters of the name, go straight to the name itself.
For example, if the first image doesn't work, then imagine that person with a weird smile on his face handing you a
huge utility bill.
Or the same person with a huge duck bill on his face.
If it's a Betty- You might imagine the woman (hope it's a woman) dressed as Betty Crocker.
To remember how much a male polar bear weighs-you can imagine a polar bear in his underwear standing on a scale and the pounds that come up and the look the polar bear has... at least, I guess, eh...
The book also stresses that the main thing is imagery, being able to picture the association, and the stranger the better...
I think the main thing is to learn to create your own associations, and then practice using them in real time situations, until you have it.
It might take a little time and practice and some setbacks at first, which is what usually happens when we all learn to do something, until it becomes easy, automatic, a habit.
I once just skimmed through the book during a lunchbreak last year in september 2008. I decided to do an exercise for remembering long word lists.
The list was more than 14 words long, and after reviewing the exercise only a few times, I remembered the words every since, without having to go back to review the words...
I pretty much agree with the other posters- who says we have to have a perfect recall all the time, or that it defines real intelligence..that type of pressure seems destined to backfire if taken too extremely...
I was always intrigued by the "perfect memory" thing, but there was a trap I ran into- in this industry, there is a lot of exaggerations and overhype, and promises of effortless and quick results.
IMO, it tends to create a attitude of not wanting to practice anything, but just slide in a CD and let it create those instant miraculous results for you.
The more you buy into it, the worse it can affect you...
On the other hand I discovered putting in effort to practice a reasonable idea paid off-like rememebering that word list!
Take care..