Featured Tools: The Story Method, The Major System
This post will show how easy it can be to learn and remember lists of names in order. This exercise will just use the story method to memorize the first 16 presidents, but you can substitute any list of world leaders, athletes, coworkers, students, etc.
Create an image for the name
The first US president is George Washington. This makes me think of a washing machine.
The next president is John Adams. This makes me think of an apple.
Link the two images together with a story
The most obvious way to link these two in my head is to put the apples in a washing machine. BUT, make sure we put them in the right order. Since I can picture George Washington in my head, I am going to have him putting apples in his washing machine. This enforces that George is first, and it gives me a main character to follow through the story.
Lets’ take a look at the next eight presidents and create an image for each. Then we’ll think of the action.
The images below are the first ones to pop into my brain. I have no doubt that some of yours may be different. Always use what comes to YOUR brain. Though using my images, some of which may be the same as yours, can be helpful, you will not realize your full potential until you are able to create your own images. Start practicing right away!
3. JEFFERSON: JIFF BRAND PEANUT BUTTER
4. MADISON: ANGRY
5. MONROE: MONEY
6. ADAMS: APPLE
7. JACKSON: MICHAEL JACKSON
8. VAN BUREN: A BURNING VAN
9. HARRISON: COUSIN IT (THE ADAMS FAMILY)
10. TYLER: NECKTIE (on a friend named Tyler)
Complete the story
All that is left now is to continue the story. This is the fun part! Just let your mind make the connections.
While awaiting his clothes to finish spinning, George snacks on a finger full of Jiff peanut butter straight from the jar. He runs out of peanut butter and gets very angry. He gets his money to go buy more. He takes the apthe vehicle is a van with burning flames painted on the sides. ples out of the washer before getting into a vehicle driven by Michael Jackson. In the back of the van, Cousin it is jumping around swinging a necktie.
Continue until you have reached as many people in your list as you want.
Adding Information
First Names: Do this the same way as you did the last name, just make sure you put the image for the first name in the story before the image you use for the last name to ensure you remember them in order.
Markers: If you want know the number of the president, you can start by just adding a marker to each 5th president. For example, the fifth president Monroe. What do you associate with the number five? If you have created a 0-9 number peg list, use that. So, I might put a glove on his hand, perhaps a large Mickey Mouse hand that is waving back at the Joker (the 4th president).
For double digit presidents, say the fifteenth president, Buchanan, combine a one (mine is a candlestick) with the glove. If you have learned the Major system and completed a 0-99 list, then just use that. As always, customize!
Dates: I would recommend using the memory palace method if you are serious about memorizing the presidents and the dates in office. That way, when you learn a new fact about a president, you can add an image to the specific location easily.
For example, if your location for George Washington is your living room, then you put a washing machine in there along with something to remember 89. Again, I would not necessarily be concerned with the 17 portion, as it is fairly easy to keep the centuries straight, especially when they are already in order. I would add an image for 18 and 19 for the first president of that century to mark the change. That should do it.
Random Information: Anytime you want to add information, you just add it to the story. If a president likes to play the guitar, then add a guitar to your story among the images you have for that president.
At this point, you will want to learn the memory palace system. It is not necessary, but it will be more efficient for storing a lot of information. You will find it to be a more structured and organized approach.
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