One of the oldest methods of aiding the memory, and self improvement, is with the use of Mnemonics. By using Mnemonics which means to aid the memory, you are helping your mind remember by using mind tricks that are easily remembered by the brain.

The use of an anagram for remembering the colours of the rainbow for instance. Some of you have already recited the anagram that you learnt in school to remember the colours, haven’t you ! Come on, own up !  So why is this memory so powerful ? It is because we have used rhymes and words to remember the sequence of the colours. We have used the incredible power of association and linking.  Say the rhyme remember the colour sequence.  Say the colour sequence, remember the rhyme or acronym.  It’s powerful stuff, and even the Romans used this type of method.

So Mnemonics are “Memory Aids”.  It’s as simple as that.

Below you will find brief descriptions of some of the most commonly used or most effective ones around.  Some will allow you to remember single items; some will allow you to remember lists of items.  Some can be developed to allow you to remember language vocabulary, which can be used for foreign language learning.  Some are to remember numerical lists, or items like phone numbers.