Four Simple Techniques to Improve Your Memory
Understanding how memory works can help us devise effective memory aids.
Posted January 16, 2026 | Reviewed by Tyler Woods
In the 1920s, a Russian journalist named Solomon Shereshevsky became famous for his extraordinary memory. He could memorize and repeat up to 70 unrelated words, provided they were read about three seconds apart in a quiet room. Shereshevsky could recall the words backward as easily as forward. When tested years later, he still remembered most of the words in order. How did Shereshevsky do it?
Features of Long-Term Memory
Thousands of bits of information are transferred from short-term memory into long-term memory every day, but most of that new information doesn't stick. New memories are fragile; they're weak signals in the brain. Most of them fade away quickly unless they're consolidated.
Consolidation is the term cognitive psychologists use to refer to the process by which a new memory is stabilized, strengthened, and embedded within a network of related memories. A good way to consolidate a new memory is to dredge it up over and over. That's why it's easier to recall your Social Security number than it is to recall the name of the Russian who could memorize long lists of words. (Go ahead. Scroll back. I'll wait.)
Once a memory is consolidated and stored securely, we need a way to find it and bring it back into awareness. We need an effective retrieval cue , a tag or label or trigger that makes the memory "pop" into our head.
There are dozens of techniques that can be used to improve memory. Here are four that are easy to use.
1. Keys, Phones, and Toothbrushes
Chances are good that you sometimes forget where you put your keys or phone. It's frustrating, especially when you're running late.
Do you ever forget where you put your toothbrush? Probably not. People don't misplace their toothbrush because it has a home. It "lives" in a cup or holder next to your bathroom sink. If the toothbrush isn't there, it's in your hand.
To reduce the likelihood of forgetting where you put your keys, phone, or anything else, use this simple technique. Give every important object its own place, then put the object there and only there. I put my keys in a wooden bowl on top of my dresser. If the keys aren't in the bowl, they're in my pocket or in my car's ignition. Those are the only three possibilities.
2. Recreate the Original Setting
One summer several years ago, I wandered through the empty halls of my old elementary school, peeking into classrooms and reading bulletin boards. I was completely surprised by what happened next. Dozens of memories flooded into my head—names and faces and experiences from decades earlier.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that memories are linked to the specific circumstance in which they were formed (Smith, 2013). As a result, we're more likely to recall information if we recreate the original setting. For example, the police sometimes take a witness to the scene of the crime to help the witness remember more about what happened. This is known as context reinstatement .
To improve your own memory, reinstate the context whenever possible. If you're struggling to remember how you felt on your honeymoon 15 years ago, pull out a few photos and be amazed. When you take a test at school, arrive early so you can sit in your usual seat, the place where you first learned the information. If you drank coffee and nibbled on chocolate while studying for the test, drink coffee and nibble on chocolate while taking the test. (Reinstating physiological states and smells can increase recall. Not a lot, but a little—and every little bit helps on a test.)
3. Use Vivid Imagery and Bizarre Associations
It's easier to remember things that are weird. In fact, the weirder the better. Bizarre images and ideas are more memorable because they are perceptually distinctive and less likely to be confused with other images and ideas.
Suppose you meet a man named Harold Shuman and want to remember his name. In your mind, picture your new acquaintance as an elderly, grotesquely hairy salesclerk carrying a wobbling stack of shoeboxes. The next time you see Harold Shuman, you will automatically recall the vivid image of a "hairy old shoe man."
4. Take a Stroll Down Memory Lane
To memorize long lists of words, Solomon Shereshevsky used an ancient mnemonic (memory aid) called the method of loci. ( Loci , in Latin, means locations.) The method of loci is an orderly arrangement of locations into which one can place items or images to be recalled at a later time.
Shereshevsky grew up in a small village where he knew every street, house, and shop. To memorize a list of words, he took a mental stroll through his village and visually placed a separate word or image in each location. "Bread" on the front porch, "hammer" on the fence, and so forth. When it came time to recall, Shereshevsky mentally retraced his steps and identified what he "saw" at each unique location.
If I plan to give a short speech (without notes) that presents separate arguments, I'll place a vivid image of each argument on (or around) a different body part, starting with the top of my head and moving down to my feet. If my first argument, for example, is "we can't afford it," I'll imagine a broken and empty piggy bank balanced on top of my head. If my final argument is "the policy would be too restrictive," I'll imagine a boa constrictor wrapped around my feet.
Give these simple techniques a try. I think you'll be pleased with the results.
Smith, S. M. (2013). Effects of environmental context on human memory. Sage Handbook of Applied Memory (pp. 162-182).
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Lawrence T. White, Ph.D. , is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Beloit College in Wisconsin.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.