Tell yourself why you want to remember something, and how you will remember it. To remember a person, think about how that person will be important to you in future, where you'll see them next, and anything you notice about them. Clearly seeing importance of remembering will help a lot, and additional associations (where you expect to see person next, for example) will set memory more firmly in your brain.

Have you ever forgotten where you set down your car keys? You have probably tried retracing your steps, or at least doing it in your imagination. This works fairly well, but do you ever create scenario beforehand, so you won't forget? Try it. When you set down keys on chair, see yourself walking in and setting keys on chair. You'll remember where they are if you do this.

Create Good Memory Habits

Do you know what biggest problem with memory techniques is? Remembering to use them. No joke. Many popular methods work, but if you don't have habit of using them, you'll forget to when you need them most. So if you take time to learn a technique, make a conscious effort to use it until it becomes automatic.

Another benefit of writing is that it helps you remember. Many, if not most, highly productive people are always taking notes. You can try keeping it all in your head, but if you keep a journal of your ideas next time you're working on a big project, you'll probably have more success.

To Write Is To Understand

Want to understand a topic? Write a book about it. That's an extreme example, but if you are learning something new, write a letter to a friend about it, and you will understand it better. Want to invent something? Write a explanation of problem, why you want to solve it, and why it is worth solving, and you're half-way there.

Writers don't always write because they clearly understand something beforehand. Often, they write about something because they want to understand it. You can do same. Writing will help bring you to an understanding. Give it a try.