Tag Archive for: how to remember anything

How Cheating Will Make You A Better Friend

I’ve always impressed my friends by remembering significant events in their lives. I always send a good luck text before a job interview or wish them well before they go on a nice vacation. Over the years many people have complimented me on it, and asked how it is that I am able to remember all these events. Well I’m finally going to share my secret with you.

I cheat.

Whenever someone tells me about an upcoming event in their lives, their favorite drink or what they’d like for the holidays, I write it down. I set a reminder in my calendar to write the person a message about their big event or make a note a few weeks before their birthday or the holidays on which gift suits them best.

It’s really that simple! Read more

How to Remember Anything

Memory is a funny thing. Most people make lists to help them remember things. (Although some people can’t always remember where their lists are!) There are some useless pieces of information that we’ll remember for the rest of our lives though. But when we really need to remember something it’s like our brain is a sieve!

Sometimes in order to remember something you’ve got to get a little weird. Here are some of the more outlandish ways to help you remember something!

Chew gum – it might not be seen as the most polite thing for you to do in an important meeting or while giving a presentation, but chewing gum can help your memory recall. A study conducted at St. Lawrence University found that people who were chewing gum would perform better in tests of recall and memory tasks. Read more

5 Ways to Remember Anything

Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I write down everything: To dos, books I want to read, groceries I need to get, websites I want to visit, gifts I want to buy, goals I’m trying to reach…I mean everything! Part of me does that so I can make the task or action a real concrete thing. Once I write something down it becomes attainable – it’s the first step of a plan to accomplish it. But the other part of me does it because I don’t want to forget it.

I rely on written list, emailed lists and lists in apps all day long to remember things. But what about when you are in a situation when you can’t write something down? You’re at the gym for instance and you have a great thought or remember something you need to do later… but there’s no pen and paper around. Or you’re taking a break from technology and don’t have your smart phone with you while you’re on vacation and inspiration hits you.
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Lists Make Phone Calls More Productive

David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A friend of mine told me that she felt bad because she never had anything to talk about with her mother when she calls.  I think we’ve all been there.  The time comes for you to “talk” and your mind goes blank.  This is where a list comes in handy.

I suggested that my friend write down important things that she wanted to tell her mother as they happened.  She started making a list.  And when the next phone call came up — she filled her mom in on everything that was going on in her life.  She felt good because she could connect better with her parents and her mom actually noted that this was one of the best phone calls they had had in a long time.

My friend let her in on the secret — she had made a list.  There’s no shame in having a cheat sheet!  Especially if it makes you more successful in whatever task you take on — even talking on the phone with your mom!  Try it!