STEP THREE: Strategy # 2 – Elaboration and Connection

​The last post discussed improving memory by creating mental pictures of information that needs to be remembered. The second strategy builds upon that. Now, in addition to just creating a mental picture of the object or information itself, take a few steps further and elaborate upon that picture, connecting it with other, related information.
 
For example, using the paper towels from the previous post, I would first create the mental picture of the paper towels. Then I would elaborate by generating a mental picture of where the paper towels are located in the basement. That might include a specific shelf. I might also imagine what other objects are on the shelf next to the towels, including anything that I might have to move out of the way.
 
I could elaborate further by ...

​...creating a mental picture, or rather a mental video of myself walking over to the shelf, removing the paper towels, and carrying them back upstairs. This process seems like it would be time consuming and too much work. In one sense it is, but the extra time and effort are actually part of the reason why this strategy is helpful. However, if you have already practiced strategy # 1: visual imagery, then this second step won’t be as troublesome as it sounds. Additionally, the more you practice it, the easier and faster it becomes.
 
How about the doctor appointment that needs to be remembered? Hopefully you have already written down the appointment in a calendar, or put it into your smartphone with a reminder alert. Even so, you can still use such a situation to practice this memory strategy, which will help you be more effective at using this memory strategy for information that you didn’t have a chance to put into your calendar or phone.
 
For the doctor appointment, create a mental picture of yourself not just at the doctor office, but create the mental video of yourself going to the doctor office and walking through the door. More importantly, use the elaboration strategy by thinking through details of the day on which you have the appointment. For example, think through:

• What will you be doing right before that appointment?
• Where will you be? How will you get to the appointment?
• What route will you take to get there?
• Who will be with you?
• Where will you be going afterward?
• What will you do if the appointment runs late?

 
Run through these extra details in your mind, and then create the mental video of yourself leaving your previous location, traveling to the appointment, and arriving on time, including a mental image of yourself looking at your phone calendar as you walk through the doctor’s office door. Watch the mental movie in your mind.
 
For another example, consider a grocery list. Again, hopefully you have it written down. But how many times have you created a grocery list, and then forgot it at home? Or you started a list, expecting to get to the store on Wednesday, only to find yourself at the store on Tuesday unexpectedly, and without the list? You should keep making grocery lists, but use that as an opportunity to practice these memory strategies. Write out your list, and then memorize it.

You should keep making grocery lists,
​but use that as an opportunity to practice
​these memory strategies. 

Using the two strategies so far, create mental pictures of each item on your list. Elaboration could then involve picturing where each item is in the store, and imagining the route you might take around the store to pick up the items quickly. Picture the specific brand, packaging, and the expected price of each item.
 
You might then use a combination of visual imagery/visualization and connection to create a single picture containing all of the items on your list: elaborating on the details and connecting the items to each other. You create a piece of abstract art in your mind. A sculpture. For example, visualize: a loaf of bread on the bottom, a carton of eggs on top of the bread, a gallon of milk balancing on the eggs, and so on. Add to this the picture of what would happen if you actually stacked these things for real: the squished bread, broken eggs and such.

The more silly you make it,
the better it will stick
​in your memory.

Over the next week, look for opportunities to add the strategies of elaboration and connection as you continue to practice the visualization strategy. After a few days of practice, leave a comment below so we might all learn and benefit from each other. What information have you remembered with these strategies? When have the strategies worked? When have they not worked? What questions do you have?