Remember Everything: 5 Exercises to Boost Your Memory

The author of the exercises, psychologist Angels Navarro, believes that the method of associations is best suited for memorization, when certain connections are created between objects and ideas. Perhaps she is right. Shall we try to practice?

Exercise 1. Everyone knows Juan

Meet Maria, Bibiana, Mercedes and Juana. Try to memorize their clothes, objects and names in a minute and a half.

Now, without looking at the picture, answer the following questions:

1. Who has blue bows on their heads: Maria or Bibiana?
2. What is the name of the girl in blue boots?
3. Which of the girls has bangs and a polka dot suit?
4. Which of the girls has a kitten: Juana or Bibiana?

Exercise 2. More than numbers

Come up with associations for each of the numbers from 0 to 9 or use our tips:

0 – egg;

1 – candle;

2 – duck;

3 – bird;

4 – sailboat;

5 – children’s slide;

6 – snake;

7 – ravine;

8 – snowman;

9 – balloon.

Then close the notes and try to answer the following questions (replace our associations with your own if necessary):

1. What number corresponds to a snowman?
2. What numbers correspond to the ravine and the candle?
3. What numbers correspond to a sailboat, an egg and a snake?
4. What numbers correspond to a ball, a bird, a children’s slide and a duck?

Exercise 3: Rewriting History

You have a minute to remember the names and dates of birth of these wonderful people:

Now we have confused them. Close the top picture and try to correct the mistakes.

Exercise 4. Is it time to go to the store

Try to memorize this shopping list:

• Drinking water
• Paper towels
• Laundry soap
• Tangerines
• 1 bride
• Vermicelli for soup
• 4 chicken breasts

Now, without looking at it, tell me which of the lists below is correct: A or B? Please note that the order of purchases may have changed.

List A:

• Drinking water
• 4 yogurts
• Vermicelli for soup
• Paper towels
• Laundry soap
• Fruit
• 1 bride

List B:

• Vermicelli for soup
• Tangerines
• Drinking water
• Laundry soap
• 1 bride
• 4 chicken breasts
• Paper towels

Exercise 5. Cryptogram for the smartest

You have a minute and a half to memorize the secret cipher:

Now close the picture and try to decipher these three words:

Source: Angels Navarro “Memory never fails.” Moscow, Mann, Ivanov and Ferber, 2017