How to Concentrate for Better Memory

Time to give it up—forgetting names and faces. It's a bad habit and you know it. Here are some helpful tips and techniques to increase your concentration and boost your memory. Remembering names and faces will improve your personal life and boost your career.

Over and Over and Over. How do you catch data like a person's name? You start by repeating it over and over and over, in the first conversation you have. When you meet someone, try using their name two or three times right away. For instance, you've just met Jeff, a new trainer for your unit. "Hi Jeff, nice to meet you. Where did you work before this, Jeff?"

And later, "when do you plan on your first training session, Jeff?" Or "Have you found a place to live yet, Jeff?" Don't worry about sounding like a broken record. People love to hear their own names, and it will help you remember, too.

The more often you use the name, the more likely you'll remember it when you meet again. This is a great memory technique.

Match the Name to a Descriptive Word. Memory techniques are full of classics, and this is one that's so good you won't forget it. And you'll have fun using it. When you want to remember a name, look at the person and think about their appearance or behaviour. Choose a word to describe the person. Since this is all in your head, the word can be silly, outrageous, or even goofy. Nobody knows but you. So imagine you meet Wendy, who talks a lot. In your head call her "Windy Wendy." Or pink-faced, chubby Jeff. You call him "Strawberry Jell-O Jeff." When you meet smooth-talking Connie, imagine that she's "Con artist Connie." Believe me; you don't forget people's names after using your secret descriptors. (Just don't say them out loud!)

Give the Gift of Naming. Remembering someone's name is a double gift. People love hearing their names, so it's a gift to them, a little gift to their self-esteem. The second gift is one you give yourself—your self-esteem gets a boost because you remembered! So when you concentrate on remembering a name, you are creating a social compact with that person and to yourself. Enjoy the process!

If you want to remember, just focus, repeat, describe, and feel good about the whole thing.


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André Thunestvedt is the creator and owner of http://www.How-Improve-Memory.com Want to know 10 Ways To Improve Your Memory And Amaze Your Friends? Get the report at improve your memory