Plato, esteemed Greek philosopher, once said that "All knowledge is but remembrance." A trained memory is a very useful attribute to have in life. Despite reducing the annoyances of absentminded errors, a disciplined mind will improve performance at virtually any significant task. With the skill of keen observation, you take in more information about the world around you. Knowing how to recall the most suitable piece of knowledge in a given moment puts one ahead of most in any industry. Almost everything we do is based on memory in one way or another. Remembering purposefully is a learned ability that can be developed and mastered with practice.
Pay Attention
There's a significant difference between looking at something, and observing it. We tend to delegate unimportant tasks to the subconscious mind to carry them out automatically. Misplacing your keys here and there may not constitute a bad memory. You simply might not be paying attention when you put them down. When you desire to remember something, discipline yourself to become consciously aware of it beforehand. If it's an object, think of the next time you'll wish to use it, and imagine it beaming out to you from that spot. Absorb the surrounding area in your mind, tell yourself where it is, touch it. Get as much sensory detail locked into your brain as you can. Many times this alone is enough to put an end to the pesky inconvenience of short-term amnesia.
Pictures
Refining your ability to create mental pictures is an invaluable practice in regards to developing a strong memory. The unconscious, where memory is stored, thinks in images, feelings and symbols. Attaching a vivid, distinguishable picture to anything locks it in, and makes recall easier. If you have trouble putting names to faces, cast an individual's title into an image at first meeting. For instance, let's say you meet a man named Bob. As he's talking, you could imagine his head bouncing around like a bobble head doll that sits on the dash of a car. The crazier and funnier the picture, the better. Add in some amusing sound, and you'll probably have his name for life.
Write to Remember
Many people say that they make lists to remember, but this statement is usually inaccurate. People who are in the habit of composing lists typically write them to forget. They place things on paper to release them from the mind. Doing this trains one's mind not to focus on retaining information. Instead begin writing to remember. Keep a note pad near your bed. Each night, write within it everything that you can remember happening throughout the day. Do this in order, starting with waking up in the morning, going to the bathroom, or whatever takes place next. Don't skip anything that you can think of, but don't worry if you don't get everything. Every day you will notice yourself being able to recall more detail than the last, as doing this task directs your mind to increase its observation of the surrounding world.
