Hints:

  • To remember the first item in a list, link it to the subject of the list.
  • When you form a mental picture to link two items, concentrate on seeing it for just a moment.

Extremely Helpful Hints

If you thought those last hints were helpful, you’re sure to like these. Or your money back.

Remembering the First Item

Using this technique to memorize lists works because each item reminds you of the next. But how do you remember the first item on the list? Most lists aren’t thought of as “some list that starts with ‘lava lamp.’” More likely are “Grocery List” or “Agenda for Today’s Meeting.”

To remember the first item in a list, just link it to the subject of the list somehow. For example, you could always link a shopping cart to the first item on your grocery list. When you get to the store and need to remember the list, the first item is linked to a picture of a shopping cart.

If your friend is just making up a list to see if you really can memorize a list of 50 things, just form a mental picture with the first item and your friend. It would be embarrassing to brag about how much you can memorize and not be able to remember the first item.

Capture the Picture

The easiest things to forget are those that seem to have obvious links to the previous item. For example, if you need to link tennis racquet to tennis ball, it’s easy to see the natural relationship and move on without actually forming a picture of the two things interacting.

This hint seems the most obvious of all, but it is the most important and easiest to forget. When you form a mental picture to link two items, be sure to see it in your mind before moving on. It isn’t necessary to dwell on it for a long time; just be sure to actually imagine the picture for a moment before starting to think about the next item. Lock it into your mind, and involve taste, sound, and smell in the link if possible.