How To Remember a Word or Name You've Blanked on

  • August 14, 2009
  • 7,442 Views
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It’s the most frustrating thing in the world: You’re in the middle of a story and can’t think of the word or name you need. Retrieve it fast with these tricks.

You Will Need

  • Hand gestures
  • Eye movements
  • The alphabet
  • The ability to forget
How To Remember a Word or Name You've Blanked on: Step 1

Step 1

Move or wave your hands. Canadian researchers have found that gesturing activates both the language and memory part of the brain, increasing your chances of remembering the word you’re looking for.

Wave your hands while you’re trying to memorize something. One study found that this makes you three times more likely to retain it.

How To Remember a Word or Name You've Blanked on: Step 2

Step 2

Move your eyes back and forth horizontally. It activates both the “spatial” right brain and the “logical” left brain, and together they can help you retrieve the lost word.

How To Remember a Word or Name You've Blanked on: Step 3

Step 3

Run through the alphabet in your head. When you come to the first letter of the word you’re looking for, it often triggers your memory.

How To Remember a Word or Name You've Blanked on: Step 4

Step 4

Fuggedaboudit. In a British study, people who stopped searching for the right word were 30 percent more successful at remembering it than those who kept struggling. Trying too hard makes things worse by causing stress, which impairs memory.

Some research indicates we forget 30 percent of what we hear after 20 minutes, and 50 percent within half an hour.

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Comments (6)

fac143

muito interessante este video nos ensinando a nos lembrar de algo esquecido em horas importantes como por exemplo durante uma conversa .muito bom,vou tentar quando me 4esquecer de alguma coisa e ver se da certo.

over 2 years ago by fac143

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John_R_Hill

I thought this was very interesting and had some advice that I haven't heard before. Well done.

over 2 years ago by John_R_Hill

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kpfingaz

The alphabet thing works for remembering people's names.

over 2 years ago by kpfingaz

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cmemove

association is important. things you collect and save, trips also help to remember

over 2 years ago by cmemove

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Robbyn

This post is both interesting and helpful. I plan to use it the next time I forget something.

over 2 years ago by Robbyn

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Kelly_Ries

so according to the facts at the end, i'll probably forget 50% of this in a half an hour

10 months ago by Kelly_Ries

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