Memory-wise

by Anne Unkenstein

  Some people use these elaborate internal techniques, which they have practised and perfected, to learn amazing amounts of information. Unfortunately, being able to remember 100 digits after only hearing them once, or learning a list of 10 phone numbers in 10 minutes, does not mean that you will be able to remember where you put your wallet, when to turn the sprinkler off, or that the saucepan may boil dry if not checked!

  Complex mnemonic strategies can be useful if you are studying for exams or learning a list of facts or a set of information, but they do not improve your memory overall, and are generally used to recall things that most of us do not commonly need to remember in our everyday routine. Moreover, they are often not user-friendly and can require a great deal of effort and time for success. You also have to ‘remember’ the details of how to apply the strategy, and if you are experiencing difficulty with getting new information into storage, this could be a problem. When you have to remember a list of nine items to buy at the supermarket, wouldn’t it be much easier to write them down, and take the list with you?

  External memory strategies

  External memory strategies involve the use of some sort of external aid, like a diary or smartphone, or making changes to your external surroundings to support memory. Common external strategies involve writing things down, putting something in a special place, alarms and technical devices, and asking someone to remind you.

  External strategies work best when we are organised. Someone with a good memory is usually a well-organised person, but it is also true that a well-organised person has more chance of remembering well. It is often at times when we are disorganised that we begin to wonder about our memory—when we are busy, rushed, stressed, in unfamiliar places, on holiday, moving house or without assistance at work. At times like these, you might keep very good notes in your diary, but forget to look at your notes at the right time, or even worse, forget to take your diary with you when you need it. Or you might have written a detailed shopping list, but not be able to find it anywhere.

  The strategies or devices that become part of your daily habits and routine will be the most beneficial. They will reduce the demand on your memory. If you use a diary, for example, it helps to make checking your diary something that you do at the start of every day—part of your routine in the morning, or the last thing that you do that day. You can keep your shopping list in a designated place—for example, attached to the fridge in your kitchen. If you have special places for things, make sure that you put them back in that place when you’ve finished with them!

  If you are really into routine, you could even try to do things at set times of the day, or on set days of the week. For instance, the rubbish has to be put out on Mondays, your tablets need to be taken straight after breakfast each day, and your weekly luxury massage is on a Thursday. This helps to take the load off memory even more.

  It’s a good idea to act immediately whenever possible, or do it now! When you think ‘I must water that plant’, and it is possible at the time—water it right then; then there’s no need to remember it later. Similarly, use your memory aids as soon as possible—if you are cooking and use the last of the sugar, write down on your shopping list at the time that you need sugar next time you do the shopping. Or if you are lying in bed at night and think, ‘I must remember to get those tablets from the chemist tomorrow’, write this down on tomorrow’s date in your diary, or on a piece of paper that you keep by the bed, or get up and put the prescription by the front door. Many people forget these sleepy inspirations by morning. Remembering to remember to do something is especially difficult when we are unwell, stressed or overwhelmed. During times like these, capture your ideas as soon as you think of them. Type a reminder into your phone or write in your diary what you need to do on a particular day or at a specific time.

  I am so busy at the moment it’s ridiculous. I find that if I don’t write something down at the time that I think about it—I completely forget about it later. My diary is my lifeline! I don’t know what I’d do without it.

  Russell, 56

  I’m always leaving things behind or forgetting to take something I intend to. What I do now is, as soon as I think of it, put the item somewhere to remind me later. I might put a book in the car when I know I have to return it to the library the next day, or put letters that I have to post on the hall floor.

  Jyoti, 76

  After moving into the retirement village a few weeks ago, I am feeling exhausted and I keep forgetting the names of all the new people I am meeting. As soon as I walked in the door after our village book club last night, I wrote down the names of the new people that I had met. Now I can read their names before book club next week, and have more chance of remembering them.

  Stella, 69

  Many people use external strategies as a ‘back-up’ system for their memory. The very process of putting the back-up system into action makes us focus attention on the thing to be remembered, so we often don’t have to use the system—but it is reassuring to know that it is there. For example, the process of writing something down on a calendar might make it easier to recall that information later on and we might not have to refer to the calendar at all. Writing out a shopping list helps us in remembering what we wanted to buy—this is especially useful when we get to the shop and find we have left the list at home. And don’t we feel proud of our achievement when we get home and check the list to find we got everything!

  My analogy for memory is a 50-cent piece on jelly. The longer you leave the 50 cents there, the stronger the imprint it makes on the jelly. That’s how I think about memory. When I meet someone, I say their name a few times whilst I’m talking to them, so the name makes an impression on my memory, like the 50 cents on the jelly. It’s the same with shopping lists. If I take the time to write a list, I don’t need to take it with me because I have impressed the information onto my memory. Nic, 73

  Writing things down

  If I write it down, I don’t have to waste my time remembering it.

  Jacob, 49

  There aren’t many of us who haven’t written something down so that we will remember it later. People use written memory aids for remembering just about anything!

  Where something is located

  Writing things down helps us remember where things are. We label folders, so that we know what is in them. We label drawers of filing cabinets for the same reason. Sometimes it would be very useful to have a few more labels around the home!

  I got so sick of rearranging the linen press at our holiday house that I decided to write labels on each shelf. Now people who stay there know which size sheets go on which shelf! I wish I had got my black marker pen out earlier!

  Moira, 55

  Some people write down the level that their car is parked on when it is in a multi-storey car park. You can write it on your ticket if you take it with you, in your diary or phone or perhaps resort to the back of your hand!

  For that odd occasion when you do leave something behind, some suggest that you write or engrave your name and address for return on things that you might leave around, such as your umbrella, book, glasses or handbag.

  Something that you have to do

  People use diaries or calendars to help them to remember social events, appointments, medication for pets, and other important things to do. Many people use digital diaries and reminder systems on technical devices. Either system works—it’s just a matter of choosing a written reminder system that suits you.

  At a parent information night at my son’s school when he was in Grade 6, his teacher handed out student planners to the class. She said, ‘I want you to get into the habit of using these planners because the more organised you are with your planners, the more organised you will be in here’, pointing to her head!

  Anne

  Calendars are often used as ‘social planners’. If something is written on the household calendar, then everyone in the house knows about it, which can prevent double-booking. It is important to h
ang the calendar in a place where everyone will see it and to look at it regularly. Next to the phone, on the fridge or in the kitchen are all good locations.

  My husband is always up-to-date on our social plans now—I’ve hung the calendar in the toilet!

  Varinder, 68

  When I was at work I never had to keep a diary, as my personal assistant did this for me. Now that I’m retired, I’m finding it hard to keep on top of all my social engagements and appointments. I think I’m going to have to be my own personal assistant now, and buy a diary!

  Dennis, 72

  A diary is useful if you are often on the move, as you can take it with you wherever you go. It helps to get into the habit of checking your diary as part of your daily routine.

  ‘Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us.’

  Oscar Wilde, 1895

  A diary that allows space for a list of things to do is doubly useful. Or you might want to use a separate notebook as a compilation of your ‘to do’ lists and future plans.

  I write all my bright ideas in a notebook that sits on my desk. I want to renovate my garden this spring, so I have a few pages where I write down ideas for plants and the conditions that each plant likes to grow in. When I think of a good idea for a gift for one of my grandchildren, I write that down too. If I write the ideas down, I’m more likely to follow up on them.

  Gail, 80

  Keep your reminder system as streamlined as possible. If you write reminders in too many different spots, you might forget where you have written the reminder! Whiteboards or blackboards in strategic places are sometimes preferred over pieces of paper that tend to get lost. Leaving your notes in attention-grabbing places can often jog your memory about something that has to be done. Sticky ‘Post-it’ notes must have been designed for exactly this purpose. Their bright colour makes them stand out—but beware, they have been known to fall off!

  I put a post-it note around my front door key to remind me to do something when I get home.

  Judith, 87

  What to take with you

  When you are about to go on holiday you are usually very busy, tying up all those loose ends before you go. It can be very helpful to write down, not only what you have to get done, but also what you have to take with you. If you tick off each item on the list as you pack it, and take a final look at the list before you leave home, then you are more likely to remember everything you need.

  We have a holiday list for the family which we keep in a special drawer and pull out each time we go away.

  Jackie, 62

  What to buy

  We all have different ways of compiling a shopping list, and it is something that most of us do regularly. Some people hang a list in their kitchen, and write things on it as they discover they need them. Others compile a list just before they go shopping. Some people have a pre-printed list of commonly needed items, and tick each one as needed. Others are even more organised …

  I have a very analytical mind and like to list my weekly grocery shopping in the same order as the rows of the supermarket. This saves me time and having to retrace my steps, to go back to aisle 5 to get the olives, etc. The system worked well until a decision was made to enlarge and remodel the store. It quite threw me out and I didn’t know whether I was Arthur or Martha for several weeks.

  Terry, 68

  What people tell you

  One of the most common times that we have to remember what people tell us is when we take a phone message. For this, it is useful to have a pad by the phone. It is even more useful to have a pen there, too—one that works—preferably attached to the pad.

  Many people carry a notebook with them at all times. This can be useful for jotting down things that people tell you and that you will want to remember later—good books, nice wines, names of plants that you admire, new phone numbers and addresses—the list goes on! Some people find it helpful to take notes when they visit the doctor. It can be useful to prepare a list of what you want to talk about, and also to note any particular suggestions that the doctor outlines. It is also handy to keep a notepad in the car.

  If you attend lectures or seminars, take notes to help remember what was said. You will need to keep track of where you keep the notes, and summarising key points later or telling someone about the presentation will help to consolidate the memories. After someone has shown you how to use a new household appliance, such as a TV remote control, you can write down step-by-step instructions, and even stick them to the appliance. See Chapter 7 for more techniques for learning how to use anything new.

  Address books and birthday books are another example of written memory aids. Not many of us are able to remember all our friends’ and colleagues’ names, addresses, phone numbers and birthdays without looking them up.

  Names

  Written memory strategies can be very useful when it comes to remembering people’s names.

  I work in marketing, and I think it’s important to address people by their names. I have a pad by the phone. When someone says who they are, I immediately write down their name. Then I can say goodbye, using their name. It also gives me a handy record of whom I have spoken to during the day.

  Paula, 46

  I started a new job in sales six weeks ago and I’ve had to learn a lot of new names of staff and customers. I go to ring someone, and I can’t remember their name to call them. I end up scrolling through my contact list on my phone until I finally recognise the name of the person and then I can call them.

  Oanh, 39

  Written name tags are worn by staff in hospitals and are often used at social gatherings. Name tags work best if they are worn high on your body, and are in large print, so that people can readily read the name. Wouldn’t it be convenient if we all had name badges stuck to our foreheads!

  Some organised people keep a list of the names of people they are likely to see at a semi-regular meeting, and read through the list as preparation before going to the meeting.

  Before I go to a work meeting, I do some preparation. I get my papers out and I go through everyone’s names and then I’m more likely to remember them at the meeting.

  Dino, 72

  Record-keeping

  When you think about it, written memory strategies play a big part in our memory of things past, in literature and history.

  On a personal level, we write things down in diaries (for that future autobiography!), photo albums (written captions), travel diaries and ‘baby milestones’ books. We may want to retain the details of a recipe we created, or one a friend tells us. Written records of past financial accounts are often consulted. Some people keep written records of presents they have given people, and lists of people they send Christmas cards to each year.

  I’ve done it twice now—given the same present to my mother and my brother two years in a row. It was such a good idea, that I thought of it again! Mum loves scarves, and Hugh loves books about gardening. Needless to say, I now keep a book in which I laboriously list the presents that I give to people each year.

  Cath, 44

  At work many people record daily statistics of regularly completed activities. Remembering to use the travel log book in the car for recording kilometres driven is essential for income-tax claims for some working people.

  Putting something in a special place

  Where something is located

  Some people have set places in their home or workplace for specific things that they use, especially things that they use regularly. Wouldn’t it be great to always know where your keys, your wallet and your glasses are?

  When you first work out the special place to store objects, it can be helpful if you think of it, and where you have put it, at regular intervals afterwards. If you make these intervals a little longer each time, it can help reinforce your memory of where something is stored.

  Colour can be used to make the location and the object more visible. Buy brightly coloured versions of things such as keys and wallets, or store them in colo
urful bowls or boxes.

  It’s important that I shut the roller door on my garage each day, but I’d been finding it hard to find the little black zapper that I have to press to operate the door. This week I put the zapper into a little red purse that I keep on the kitchen bench with my keys, and now I can find it more easily.

  Goya, 69

  It helps if you store an object in a function-related spot. For example, many people store their keys near the front door of their house. This makes sense because most of us pick up our keys as we leave the house, and it is easy to put them back there when we return.

  This brings up an important point. When you’ve finished with something, make sure that you return it to its special location, ready for the next time that you are wondering where it is.

  I’ve worked out the best place to keep my glasses. Around my neck! Since I’ve attached them to a chain and worn them around my neck, I’ve spent a lot less time searching for my glasses.

  Dora, 84

  We have so many electrical cords in our house for all the different devices—charger cords, connecting cords and cords for the camera to put the photos onto the computer. I decided to get organised. On the inside of a cupboard I hung a clear plastic divider that is designed for storing pairs of shoes. I labelled each compartment for a particular device, and put the labelled cord for each device neatly inside the compartment. I feel so proud of myself now when I can quickly select the right cord for the job!

  Philomena, 51

  I was always losing my ticket in car parks. Then I discovered that the visor on the windscreen had a little strap on it. Now I always know where my car park ticket is because as soon as I get it, I put it under the strap on my car visor.

  Bill, 71

  Something that you have to do

  If you put something in a special place, where it is visible, then it will act as a reminder to do something. You are more likely to act on that reminder if you see it. How many times have you heard someone say, ‘Out of sight, out of mind’? For example, if you put the birthday card that you have bought for a friend on the kitchen bench, it will help you to remember to write it.