“The existence of forgetting has never been proved: We only know that some things don’t come to mind when we want them.”

- Friedrich Nietzsche

Memory isn’t like a muscle, something specific you can exercise. It’s a way of organizing information in your brain. So if you are willing to improve your memory, you need to change and re-organize the way you think and this will help to support how your memory works.

Ever wondered why it is that you can’t remember what you ate for dinner last night but can still remember every word of your favorite song? In the following post you will get to know why you forget and I will arm you with the tools to recall everything – from quiz-night trivia to your PIN code – in an instant.

1. Phone numbers

Why you forget: Some information isn’t meant to be remembered – phone numbers, for instance – are held in short-term memory for just a minute or so. These days it’s easy to tap them into a mobile phone. But then your phone gets stolen or you leave it at home, and suddenly you have to rely on that grey matter. And if it’s trained correctly, it is more than capable of doing.

Instant recall: Associate a shape or image with each number 0-9 (0=circle, 1=pen, 2=swan, 3=breasts, 4=a sail…) and make up a story that puts each number in order. Here is an example from Fabrizio Cornalba, memory tutor with Milan-based business training firm Colors Time: take the number 2104 – a swan with an enormous pen in its mouth that draws a circle on a sail.

2. Dates and anniversaries

Why you forget: Dates are often difficult to remember because they seem so random and obscure unless we can relate them to something specific. Also you’re forgetting that birthday since there’s been over 360 days since the last one, and a hell of a lot to remember during the time in-between.

Instant recall: “Associate the prophetic day to a physical characteristic of the person whose birthday you need to remember,” says Fabrizio Cornalba. Also create an ordinary little story with them. For example, Anna with the little mole above her lip was born on the 21st of December – take the swan (2) with a pen (1) in its mouth, but this time imagine the mole as a decoration on a Christmas tree (December). And then repeat.

3. Names

Why you forget: The most common memory mess-up is forgetting names. Usually people are overwhelmed by the situation in which they meet strangers. Or maybe it’s the stranger’s micro skirt that’s blurring their focus. But being able to remember names is a valuable asset in both the business and social arenas. It helps you build instant rapport with new contacts. So eliminate “whatshername” and “whatshisface” from your vocabulary.

Instant recall: Franklin D. Roosevelt continually amazed his staff by remembering the names of nearly everyone he met. But what was his secret? He used to imagine seeing the name written across the person’s forehead. This is a particularly powerful technique if you visualize the name written in your favorite color of Magic Marker. Also neural linguistic programming experts suggest getting a feel for what it would be like to write the name by moving your finger in micro-muscle movements as you are seeing the name and saying it to yourself. Check these tips.

4. Keys

Why you forget: It’s impossible (and impractical) to remember each detail of our daily lives, so our brains compensate by making memory generalizations called schemata. For example, instead of remembering every apple you’ve ever eaten, your brain creates a schema of apples: hard, red, sweet. Same thing happens with your keys. Rather than recall every instance of placing your keys on, say, the dresser, you create a “keys = dresser” schema, so you have difficulty remembering the rare instances that don’t fit the formula.

Instant recall: Try installing a couple key hooks right by the door where you usually enter the house. It will only take you a few minutes to drill the holes and screw in the hooks. Then work on getting the habit of putting your keys on the hook whenever you come in the door. Your keys are probably already in your hand when you enter your home, so designate a spot to put them right where you enter — a hook, a dish, a drawer, etc. Give your keys a home when you’re home.

5. Passwords

Why you forget: “Did I use Glen’s birthday? Or was it Mum’s maiden name?” If you forget these passwords, there’s a good reason: you were searching for something clever and unique to you when you created them. But it’s easier just to use a memory link to the site or device you’re using.

Instant recall: If Yahoo! reminds you of Tarzan screaming, create a password associated with the jungle and in doing so create a link to the system you’re using and an immediate association with the word “yahoo” in front of you.

6. PIN codes

Why you forget: When you get them you’re told to destroy the letter and never write them down, and this cause panic. And that anxiety disrupts your ability to remember things. The more preoccupied you are about forgetting numbers, the more likely it is you will.

Instant recall: Break the rules and do write them down and keep post-its in your wallet, but encrypt them too. Try turning numbers into letters and make a word. For example the code 9268 makes the word “want” when it’s typed into a mobile. So you’ll just have to remember you “want” your PIN code, then look at your phone and see which numbers are represented by those letters.

Take these easy tips and try them, you’ll get the mind of an elephant and forget you were ever forgetful.

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