Visualization TechniquesSignificantly increase retention as you visualize a word or concept with action and emotion in a context that is out of the ordinary. Consider how hard it is to remember a string of hundreds of unrelated words; however, if those same words are turned into a movie, it is much easier to remember them. For example, consider the following words: and, the, to, as, was, man, his, screeched, on, running, head, jumped, house, and cat.
It is easier to remember them if they are transformed into a mini movie: "As the man was running to his house, cat jumped on his head and screeched."
Visualization should involve:
*Action - We remember things that are moving better that stationary objects (we remember movies better because they move).
*Emotion - Emotions can deeply anchor words to us. For example, if someone has been in a car wreck, just saying the words "car wreck" can immediately brings back a flood of emotions and vivid memories. The words "car wreck" takes on a different meaning to the person who has actually been in a car wreck.
*Out of the Ordinary - People remember things that are out of the ordinary. For example, when visualizing the word "run", you could visualize yourself running the Boston Marathon with a famous celebrity. The word "run" then becomes linked to you for a longer period of time.