How to Make Facts Stick Using Simple Memory Tricks

A young student confidently recalling a list of planets using a mnemonic story technique

If facts slip away the second you look up from the page, you don't need a bigger brain—you need better hooks. Memory tricks, known as mnemonics, are simple mental devices that make information stick by tying it to something your mind won't ignore. They turn forgettable lists into vivid, memorable snapshots.

Identify What You Need to Remember

Start by pinpointing the exact information you're struggling to recall. Is it a sequence of historical dates? A list of key terms for an exam? The order of the planets? Once you've identified what's slipping through the cracks, you can choose the right trick to catch it. Your brain doesn't fail you—it's simply waiting for something worth holding on to.

Create a Vivid Story

Here's where the magic happens. Turn that dry list into a silly, memorable mini-story. Imagine each fact as a character or object in a scene that's so absurd your brain can't help but remember it. For example, to recall the planets in order, create a sentence where the first letter of each word matches the first letter of each planet: 'My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Noodles.' The more vivid, visual, or downright ridiculous the story, the better. Your brain is wired to keep what's interesting.

  • Connect new information to something you already know well
  • Use humour, exaggeration, or unexpected images
  • Keep it simple—complexity is the enemy of recall

Visualise It in Your Mind

Don't just write your mnemonic down—see it. Close your eyes and picture that eager mother serving noodles on a plate shaped like Saturn. Walk through your mental story step by step, adding colour, movement, and detail. You can also use the memory palace technique: place each fact in a familiar location, like spots around your house. Front door, kitchen table, living room sofa—each becomes a mental anchor for a piece of information. Later, you simply 'walk' through that familiar route in your mind to retrieve each point in order.

Recall with Effortless Ease

Once you've built your mental hooks, recall becomes natural. Instead of staring at blank space trying to force facts back into your head, you simply follow your story or retrace your mental steps. The information appears when you need it, without strain. Test yourself a few times to strengthen the connections, and soon you'll be pulling up facts on cue, just like that confident student in panel four.

These neurodivergent-friendly techniques work because they align with how your brain actually wants to learn—through connection, visualisation, and meaning. When recall matters, don't just read again—add a hook.

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