Few days back I was hanging out with my friends and one of them was yet to arrive. We wanted to call him up and my friend asked his number when I just told the number without referring into my mobile phone. "Epdi da phone number lam gnabagam vechirukka nee?" he asked. That invoked a thought process in my mind. I had to ask myself, "How do I manage to remember numbers well when most others are not able to?". I figured out some points which I consider are the reasons behind my "good" memory.
Your brain can remember pictures more easily than text
I found that when I recalled that phone number, I wasn't trying to remember the sequence of digits, I just remembered the image of that number on my mobile. This led me to conclude that I remember numbers not as sequences of digits, but I just imagine them being written on a paper and try to have a snapshot of what was written stored in my memory. When I want to recall that number, the image of that number on the paper comes to my mind and I just read the number from the image I just recalled. I didn't realise this fact until I had to find an answer to that question of how I remember numbers.
I dunno if this is what is referred to as "photographic" memory, but believe me, it goes a long way in helping you remember simple things.
Thought backtracking
Another technique that I think helps improve your mind's ability to retain thoughts longer is backtracking. Have you experienced a situation where you were sitting idle and thinking about something that leads to another and you end up having no memory of where your thought process started??? In such a situation, do not just give up on finding where you started thinking from. Successfully backtracking to your initial thought improves your brain's ability to retrive the most abstract of thoughts in the back of your mind.
Math does help
I'm basically good at numbers. Not too good, but good enough. When I look at any number, I just try to arrive at some relation between the numbers instinctively. Dunno when and how I started this, but it just helps me keep my mind active at all times. Whenever I walk on the road and look at the number plates of vehicles I find myself doing some stupid calculations to get to some relation that leads me nowhere.
I saw this number "TN-09 7806" the other day. This is what I started thinking - "7806 -> 78 - 06 = 72, which is actually a multiple of 09". So what, you may ask. That is what I'm also thinking. Doesn't lead me anywhere, but I think doing such simple math keeps your mind active and can make you good at numbers.
It is a sad fact to note that my memory is just fading away like anything nowadays, dunno why :(
So I just wanted to inform you folks of the above things before I forget them ;)
Your brain can remember pictures more easily than text
I found that when I recalled that phone number, I wasn't trying to remember the sequence of digits, I just remembered the image of that number on my mobile. This led me to conclude that I remember numbers not as sequences of digits, but I just imagine them being written on a paper and try to have a snapshot of what was written stored in my memory. When I want to recall that number, the image of that number on the paper comes to my mind and I just read the number from the image I just recalled. I didn't realise this fact until I had to find an answer to that question of how I remember numbers.
I dunno if this is what is referred to as "photographic" memory, but believe me, it goes a long way in helping you remember simple things.
Thought backtracking
Another technique that I think helps improve your mind's ability to retain thoughts longer is backtracking. Have you experienced a situation where you were sitting idle and thinking about something that leads to another and you end up having no memory of where your thought process started??? In such a situation, do not just give up on finding where you started thinking from. Successfully backtracking to your initial thought improves your brain's ability to retrive the most abstract of thoughts in the back of your mind.
Math does help
I'm basically good at numbers. Not too good, but good enough. When I look at any number, I just try to arrive at some relation between the numbers instinctively. Dunno when and how I started this, but it just helps me keep my mind active at all times. Whenever I walk on the road and look at the number plates of vehicles I find myself doing some stupid calculations to get to some relation that leads me nowhere.
I saw this number "TN-09 7806" the other day. This is what I started thinking - "7806 -> 78 - 06 = 72, which is actually a multiple of 09". So what, you may ask. That is what I'm also thinking. Doesn't lead me anywhere, but I think doing such simple math keeps your mind active and can make you good at numbers.
It is a sad fact to note that my memory is just fading away like anything nowadays, dunno why :(
So I just wanted to inform you folks of the above things before I forget them ;)
3 comments:
most of the time i do hav a photographic memory.
BTW...i see a Prof Nash in u (remember Beautiful Mind) :)
Murali Krishna A V
Eat fish ! Its brain food .. Even if you are closely related to a Brahmin Tree !
But if you are too much into food taboos .. .eat Ladies Finger ( the vegitable .. not the real one )
Hope the tips help ! ;)
Thanks for the tips mercury... Yup I eat both fish and ladies finger (the vegetable only)... or do I??? I forgot yaar... :p
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