Practical memory tips for encoding -- Newsday.com

Memory consists of three main components: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Both components are required to generate a memory.

When your focus is directed at the encoding process, retrieval will come naturally. Knowledge is power and practical use of your knowledge of how memory works will greatly enhance your memory, and life in general.

Limit distractions: When you limit distractions, it will assist in learning new material and in enhancing your recall. It is much easier to pay attention if you are in a quiet environment free from distraction. If your spouse, friend, boss, or significant other wants to tell you something, then turn off the TV, radio, or your internal thoughts and focus on what is said to you. (If you are trying to watch a movie, then turn off your spouse, friend, boss, or significant other.) If you find you're having difficulty grasping what is being said, repeat the conversation back to the other person. If you are trying to recall something or maneuver your way somewhere, such as driving to a new or even familiar location, stop all conversation, especially phone conversation. Put your makeup or razor away and focus on where you are and where you're going.

Keep your windshield clean: It's difficult to see where you are going and to read street signs if your windows are dirty. Distractions as simple as hunger, tight apparel, or something in your eye are all disruptive and drain energy from focusing on the task at hand. Removing these types of distractions when you want to concentrate will lead to an improved memory.

Memory spot: Create a memory spot in your home or office. Find a container, such as a beautiful basket or a decorative crate, to stash all those important items you need before heading out of the door. These might include your calendar, directions, wallet or purse, glasses, keys, lists, and so on. Train yourself to check out your memory spot before you leave your house. Be consistent. It may take a while to train yourself to empty your pockets or purse and place the contents into your memory spot at the end of the day. But once you've established this as a new habit, it will be very helpful in your daily life. Also, you can create mobile memory spots. If you are a man, always put your keys in your right front pocket. If you are a woman, always carry your keys in your purse on the right side. If you always place important items on the same side, you will quickly develop the habit of looking on that side for important personal belongings.

Reminders for remembering: If you are in the middle of a task or out somewhere and you suddenly experience an "Oh, I need to . . ." moment, give yourself a reminder or a cue to remember this task. For example, switch the wrist you wear your watch on, or place a loose rubber band around your wrist, or turn a piece of jewelry in a different direction. Be sure to change the placement of something ordinary so it will stand out from your normal environment and thus serve as a useful reminder to remember to do the task you just remembered!

Verbalize: Give yourself spoken reminders to do a task. For instance, if you need to remember to care for your pets, say aloud, "Feed the cats. Meow meow meow." You will reinforce the encoding of this memory with verbal reinforcement as well as with a touch of humor. You will also increase the likelihood of completing this task, and your pet will be grateful. This trick also works for reminders like "turn off the oven," "lock the doors," and "call Mary."

Organize: Generally speaking, the better organized you are, the more likely you are to remember everything you need to remember. There are a variety of ways to organize. It may be beneficial to link the items you need to remember to a number. This works especially well if you have a short shopping list or if you need to perform tasks in a specific sequence. For example, if you have eight items on a grocery list, remember the number eight. Memorize both the numbers and the items. Or, at the office, you can number the tasks you hope to accomplish during the day and write that number in a bright color on your desk calendar as a reminder.

Reprinted with permission from "The Memory Doctor: Fun, Simple Techniques to Improve Memory & Boost Your Brain Power" by Douglas J. Mason and Spencer Xavier Smith (New Harbinger Publications, $11.95), www.newharbinger.com.