Forget Less, Laugh More
We’ve all done it—spent 20 minutes hunting for the glasses that were on top of our head, or forgotten why we walked into the kitchen (again). The good news? Forgetting is normal. The better news? There are ways to give your memory a gentle tune-up without turning into a brain-training app addict.
Neuroscientists remind us that memory isn’t just a filing cabinet—it’s an active system that stores what’s important, ditches the rest, and sometimes plays tricks on us. Luckily, research shows that with the right habits, we can keep those brain circuits flexible and sharp at any age. Here are four memory-boosting tricks that actually work—and a few might even make you laugh along the way.
1. Give It Meaning (a.k.a. Make It Personal and Playful)
Random facts are slippery. But when you add meaning—whether through a rhyme, a silly image, or a personal connection—your brain grabs hold. Psychologists call this “deep encoding,” and decades of studies show that meaningful material is much easier to recall than random information.
So instead of trying to memorize a new name straight, link it to something familiar. Meet a woman named Carol? Picture her belting out a Christmas carol. Meet Sam who loves to cook? Think “Chef Sam-I-Am.”
And for practical stuff:
Remembering your daily meds? Try a rhyme: “Pink before dinner, white before bed.”
Can’t recall your Wi-Fi password? Tie it to a silly story: “FluffyTheCat123 — because Fluffy thinks she runs the internet anyway.”
Want to remember your grandkids’ birthdays? Put them in order of the holidays near them—“Ethan’s around Easter, Molly’s close to Memorial Day.”
➡️ Why it works: Your brain doesn’t like empty facts. It likes stories, patterns, and connections. The sillier or more personal, the better.
2. Space It Out and Struggle a Bit
Cramming is great for high school pop quizzes, but research shows it doesn’t stick for long-term memory. Neuroscientists at Boston University have found that spacing out practice sessions—called spaced repetition—helps the brain transfer information from short-term to long-term memory.
Here’s the kicker: a little struggle is good. When you pause to recall something before checking the answer, you’re strengthening the neural “wiring” for that memory. It’s called retrieval practice.
So if you can’t remember your new neighbor’s name, guess first—even if you’re wrong. Once you correct yourself, your brain is less likely to let it slip again. Same goes for things like trying to remember which show you watched last night (was it The Crown or The Golden Bachelor?). Struggle first, then check.
➡️ Why it works: Struggle creates stronger memory pathways. Think of it as a mental gym workout: a little resistance builds strength.
3. Say It Out Loud (or Sing It, If You Dare)
It feels silly, but science backs it up: saying something out loud makes it more memorable than reading silently. This is known as the production effect. By engaging your speech muscles and your hearing, you’re giving your brain extra cues to store the information.
It’s especially handy for short-term lists: groceries, errands, phone numbers. Studies show it works best for quick recall rather than deep comprehension, but when the goal is “don’t forget the milk,” it’s golden.
And if you want to go one step further? Try singing it. Remember the childhood tune “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”? Update it to fit real life:
🎵 “Keys, and glasses, purse and phone, purse and phone…” 🎵
It may get stuck in your head, but at least you’ll leave the house fully equipped.
➡️ Why it works: More senses involved = more brain regions activated = stronger memory trace.
4. Make It Sensory—and Intentional
Ever notice how you can vividly recall a childhood smell but not where you left your keys yesterday? That’s because sensory details—sights, smells, sounds—create stronger and more distributed memory networks.
Next time you put your keys down, take a second to notice: “I’m placing my keys on the counter by the bananas.” That little sensory “snapshot” separates today’s key moment from all the others.
And when it comes to life’s big moments—birthdays, vacations, reunions—don’t rely on memory to “just happen.” Research shows that being intentional about remembering (pausing to take in the sights, sounds, and emotions of the moment) makes the memory richer and easier to recall later. Even something as simple as thinking, “I want to remember the way my granddaughter’s laugh sounds right now,” signals your brain to hit the save button.
➡️ Why it works: Sensory details anchor the memory, and intention tells your brain, “Hey—this one matters.”
💡 Bottom line: Forgetting is part of life, but these strategies give your brain better tools to hang on to what matters. With a little humor, some science, and maybe even a sing-song about your keys, you can outsmart your forgetful brain and hold onto the memories you truly want.