How to use visualizations to remember anything

April 11th, 2007         Email This Post Email This Post       Print This Post Print This Post

To remember things, the most natural and effective way is to form an association between them. The easiest way to do this is with a picture, or visualization.

Why use visualizations?

A study was conducted in which subjects were shown 10,000 pictures. They were then shown those pictures again together with ones they hadn’t been shown before and instructed to specify which one was new. Amazingly, they were 90% accurate. This shows us that our ability to recognize and remember images is extraordinary.

Why do visualizations work so well?

Studies suggest that images and words are stored in different places in our brain, so there are two “chances” to recall the information if we are describing the image to ourselves. Additionally, information from the senses are easier to remember.

So how should I visualize?

The longer you need to remember the information for without review, the more senses you should involve and time you should spend creating the visualization. Try them all and see which ones you like best!

I will use the example of paring a newspaper and yourself. This should remind you to buy it, to write the article, to deliver them… whatever it is, its close enough to remind you of what you need.
Remember, you don’t need the visualization to show you exactly what it is you are remembering, just enough to remind you of it.

  • Make it crazy! If it makes you laugh or scratch your head in disbelief, you will usually remember it better. If it’s mundane, then there is no reason to remember it.
  • Make it large - have a huge newspaper
  • Make it colorful - multiple unusual colors
  • Make the objects interact - e.g. the newspaper is wrapped up around your body.
  • Make it move - e.g. the newspaper is flying away and you are holding it down.
  • Involve all the senses! Smell the ink, taste the ink, and feel the ink smearing all over your fingers. Groan in disgust as you realize you need to scrub it off.

Sound strange? There are some people who feel guilty about studying because making up these pictures are so much fun!

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Posted in Memory, Recall, Recording

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