Much of your memory is retrospective or trying to recall information that you learned: What is that guy’s name? Who was president in 1958? What’s my password?
Another crucial type of memory is prospective: remembering to remember. You rely on prospective memory when you remember to:
Failures of prospective memory can be especially frustrating facepalm moments because you did remember at one point. We’ve all told ourselves, “Don’t forget ___!” only to have it slip our minds at the crucial time. For example, we remember we need shampoo every time we’re in the shower but forget it when we’re at the store.
Fortunately, there are ways to boost prospective memory. The key is to give yourself cues that will activate the necessary memory at the right time. The techniques that have been shown to work fall into two categories: internal and external.
These approaches address your mental processes directly, helping the activity come to mind when you need it to.
Implementation Intention: Specify when and where you will do the intended activity. For example, say to yourself, “If I turn onto Lancaster Avenue from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., then I will pull into the CVS pharmacy and pick up my prescription” (Brom & Kliegel, 2014). For greater effect, write it down and say it aloud a few times. This exercise signals your brain that the intended task is important and builds an association between the........