Remembering things can be difficult, yes, but there are all kinds strategies to make it easier. One way is by using association, or creating links between unrelated, easy-to-recall concepts or items and the ones you’re struggling to remember. A more advanced version of that is called the Shaper System and once you master it, you can more easily recall up to 100 things.
What is the Shaper System?
The Shaper System was developed by Erol Ozvatan, author of How to Memorize: The Science & Art of Memorizing. The goal of the system is to convert two-digit numbers into shapes that help you make associations, going way above and beyond what the standard number association system of 0 - 9 covers.
Each number is supposed to look like something. For instance, a zero can be an egg, a three can be a butterfly, and a seven can be a boomerang. Ozvatan has created his own list of images to be associated with every number from 00 to 99; while these are great, go through the list and make sure you really see each of the images in their corresponding numbers. If you don’t, you can use your own image. The goal is to create images and associations that make sense for you.
How to use the shapes in the Shaper System
Once you’ve figured out the shapes that work best for you (or think you have a good idea), try practicing with the Shaper System. Practice with a decently long list, like the US states in order of size. Imagine something like this:
Alaska: If your 00 is represented by two eggs, imagine an ice fisherman eating two eggs.
Texas: If your 01 is a plate and knife, imagine a Texan cutting into some barbecue on a plate.
California: If your 02 is a swan, imagine it walking down Rodeo Drive.
Montana: If your 03 is a rabbit, imagine the bunny admiring the glaciers.
New Mexico: If your 04 is a chopping board and big knife, imagine Bigfoot using it to prepare a meal.
Arizona: If your 05 is a lantern with a handle, imagine someone peering into the Grand Canyon with one, trying to illuminate all the crevices.
Nevada: If your 06 is a golf ball and club, this one’s easy. Imagine someone at Topgolf in Vegas.
Colorado: If your 07 is a megaphone, imagine someone skiing and yelling into one.
Wyoming: If your 08 is a pool ball, imagine someone shooting pool in Jackson Hole.
Oregon: If your 09 is a tennis ball and racket, imagine someone playing tennis in downtown Portland.
This can go on and on, but only works if you really commit your images and their associations with numbers to your mind first, so create your associations from 00 to 99 before tackling any big lists.