What is memorization?

Let’s start with a short definition of memorization. 

The Cambridge dictionary defines it as “the act or process of learning something so that you will remember it exactly.” 

And, in real life, memorizing represents an important life skill. As we get older, so do our brains. It becomes so much harder to memorize things, learn new skills, or even study. 

Memorizing is a great way to keep our brains active and slow down the inevitable neuron changes as we get older. 

I don’t know about you, but I would hate to be one of those old people who can’t remember their own phone number or home address. 

That’s why I want to make sure you understand the process of memorizing well. Let’s explain it first. 

The process of memorizing explained 

Our memory is our ability to encode, store, and retrieve information and experience. 

Now, to better understand how we memorize all sorts of stuff, we will take a moment to explain four processes that occur in our brain when we are exposed to new information or experience.

These processes are:

• Encoding
• Consolidation
• Storage
• Retrieval 

Let’s dive deep into each process. 

Encoding

Encoding is the first step in the process of memorizing. 

In short, encoding transforms internal thoughts and external events into our short-term and long-term memory. 

During encoding, our brain processes and categorizes the information for storage and retrieval. Thanks to encoding, we are able to understand the information in a meaningful way. 

Types of encoding

The three main types of encoding:

• Visual encoding: Converting a visual image to understand it as an object.
• Acoustic encoding: Encoding auditory information.  
• Semantic encoding: Encoding of sensory input (concepts, ideas, or definitions) that has a particular meaning or context. 

Consolidation

Consolidation represents the way in which memories are processed in the brain. 

In other words, consolidation helps us narrow down the information from our short-term memory before they are converted into our long-term memory. It’s how our brain turns our short-term memories into long-term memories.

Types of consolidation 

Two major processes lead to final consolidation: 

• Synaptic consolidation: This happens in the first few hours of learning and encoding in the hippocampus and neocortex.
• System consolidation: With this, hippocampal memories become independent of hippocampus storage after some time.

Storage 

After encoding and consolidation, the human brain stores the selected information. 

To understand how the brain stores information, we can use the storage room analogy: 

• Our brain is the storage room. 
• Our memories are all the things we keep on the shelves of our storage room. 
• Our brain keeps relevant information on the top shelves of our memory. 

That’s why it’s always easier to remember things that we like or that matter to us — that’s why they will always be available on the shelves of our memory. 

Where does our brain store memories? 

Our memories are stored in several parts of the brain:

• The prefrontal cortex is where short-term memory is stored. 
• The neocortex serves as an information processor. 
• Basal ganglia are involved in processes like emotion, habit formation, reward processing, learning, and movement. 
• The cerebellum plays an important role in fine motor control. 
• Hippocampus is crucial for long-term memory but it’s also where episodic memories are formed. 
• Amygdala is in charge of attaching emotional significance to memories.

Retrieval 

Memory retrieval involves remembering the information or events that our brain previously encoded and successfully stored.

During memory retrieval, our brain replays the neural activity that was generated in the brain during a specific event or experience. 

In this way, the brain recalls the information and details of the event. Memory recall shows us how creative our brain is and how it can gather relevant information from scattered, previously-stored information.

Types of retrieval 

There are three main types of recall:

• Free recall: In free recall, we recall a list of items in any order. 
• Cued recall: In cued recall, we remember a list of items with the help of cues and guides. With this type of recall, we often remember more than in free recall.
• Serial recall: In serial recall, we remember the events or items in the order they happened. This type of recall is helpful when you’re trying to remember events in chronological order. 

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Now that we’ve learned how our brain creates and stores memories, let’s see why memorization techniques are so important for us. 

Why are memorization techniques important?

Back in 2017, there was a study that set out to prove how regular people could use strategies devised by memory champions and achieve the same long-term results. 

Martin Dresler, one of the authors, mentions how even these memorization superhumans actually practice only a few weeks before a competition, for about half an hour to an hour per day. The rest of the time they can practice every once in a while.

However, he also states that no technique is going to help unless you actively commit to it. 

So, to get the full benefit of the list of strategies we’re about to share, you need to make memorization practice a habit.

For example, whenever it’s time for a mental workout, you can track your time to see how long it takes you to recall something. To see real results, it’s also good to follow your progress. 

Nowadays there are plenty of time-tracking apps such as Clockify that offer timesheets and graphs that display your progress over a select timeframe.

Additionally, you can choose one of the numerous habit trackers to ensure you get a little bit of practice every day or every few days.

So, let’s see what memorization techniques you can use to keep your brain active. 

Best memorization techniques

A memorization technique comes down to a very simple core guideline: transform a piece of information with no context so it makes sense to you personally.

And given how each brain has its own way of absorbing new information, memorization techniques are countless. To help you choose the best one for you, we will divide them into two groups: 

• Verbal memorization techniques
• Visual memorization techniques 

Let’s explore each category further.

 Verbal memorization techniques 

Do you have a way with words?

Do you rely on reading the instructions? 

Do you remember all the lyrics almost instantly? 

If you answered yes to some or all of these questions, you might benefit from verbal memorization techniques. 

And we have some fun ones for you:

• Spaced out repetition
• Chunking
• Good timing for rhyming 
• Laptops off — pencils out
• Spelling mnemonics: Stalactites or stalagmites?
• Helpful acronyms 
• Association by medication 

Stay tuned as we explain each memorization technique thoroughly. 

Spaced out repetition

An oft-advised technique for better memorization, especially with exams and language learning is the spaced-out memorization technique.

Hermann Ebbinghaus coined the term “the forgetting curve”. It’s the graphic representation of how our brain forgets information over time unless it is repeated at certain intervals.

It’s also important that these reviews have a break of a day, two or more between them. As seen in the picture, the longer the gap, the more likely the information will remain memorized.

So, how can you apply it?

You probably have several things going on at the same time that you want to memorize: 

• Preparing for a few tests.
• Learning several languages.
• Memorizing more than one poem, and so on.

You can log in to Clockify’s time tracker and create a memorization plan. Clockify also has a project tracking feature that you can use to make a schedule. 

Each project can be one subject or language. You then track the time spent memorizing for that particular subject.

After a full week, you’ll have an overview of how much time you’ve spent on each of them, and a schedule that can help you organize your learning time.