Do you need to remember the day numbers of each month right off the bat? You may not always have a calendar on hand when you need it. Therefore, it will be easier for you to memorize the number of days you have each month. There are some simple tricks you can use to remember this information. There is a common poem that people often use and a technique that involves the use of the knuckles. If these options don't work, you can use some common tricks to improve your memory and consolidate the information.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Remember the poem
Step 1. Remember the first half of the poem
There is a common nursery rhyme that is used to teach children the days of the months. The first part remembers how many months have 30 days.
- The first part says "November has 30 days with April, June and September."
- Based on this part, you will be able to remember that September, April, June and November have 30 days each. You will have to repeat the phrase a few times to be able to memorize it.
Step 2. Memorize the second half
The second half of the poem recalls that February is a short month, and which are the months that have 31 days. This part says "28 there is only one, and the other 31".
- As with the first part, you will have to repeat this phrase several times until you remember it.
- Repeat the entire poem a few times after memorizing both parts. This will help you remember it by heart.
Step 3. Remember all the words on each line
There is a simple trick that can help you if you have trouble remembering; memorize a keyword for each line of the poem and find a way to associate that word with the line.
- Imagine something to do with that month that reminds you of the rest of the line. For example, in some countries school starts in September. You can visualize a student multiplying 10 by 3, which results in 30. This way, it will be easier for you to remember that "30 days have September."
- Assign a symbol to 30-day months. For example, September may have a book and April an umbrella. June can have the sun and November a turkey.
- Keep using tricks like this with the rest of the lines of the poem to help you remember it better.
Step 4. Listen to the recording of the poem
Repetition is an excellent tool for memorizing poems. Find recordings of it online. For example, you can search YouTube and play the recording over and over again. Then, recite the lines along with the audio. This will help you memorize the poem.
In the event that you can't find the recording online, record yourself reciting the poem on your phone or computer. Play the recording while you recite the poem at the same time
Step 5. Add a little modification to remember leap years
Some people have no problem remembering the days that February has, since it is only one month. However, if you always forget the days in February, you can memorize a modification of the poem. Said alteration is "30 days has September, April, June and November. The rest have 31, except February which has 28 days, and 29 each leap year".
You can memorize this version of the poem using the same tricks that you used to remember the first version
Part 2 of 3: Using your knuckles
Step 1. Make fists and put one hand next to the other
You can use your knuckles to remember how many days you have each month. To begin, clench the fists of both hands. Then position them in front of your face. Place your fists in front of each other so that the two thumbs and index fingers touch.
Step 2. Count the months on the knuckles and indentations
It begins with January on the far left knuckle. Now, count the months by following the cuffs and counting each knuckle and cleft as a month.
- Start with the most extreme knuckle of the left hand. This is the knuckle of the left little finger and represents January.
- Continue to the right, to the indentation next to the knuckle of the little finger. This is the cleft between the knuckles formed by the little and ring fingers, and represents February.
- Keep counting both hands, assigning each knuckle and cleft a different name of the month.
Step 3. Don't count the thumb knuckles
Upon reaching the knuckle made up of the left index finger, immediately follow up with the knuckle made up of the right index finger. Do not count the thumbs or the space between the hands.
The knuckle made up of the left index finger is July. The knuckle made up of the right index finger is August
Step 4. Remember that the months that correspond to a knuckle have 31 days
These months are January, March, May, July, August, October, and December. They all have 31 days.
Step 5. Understand that the months that correspond to an indentation have 30 days, except February
The months that correspond to the slits are February, April, June, September and November. They all have 30 days.
If you perceive that these months do not correspond to the clefts, you may have missed a knuckle or cleft, or have counted the space between the hands. In this case, start over and slow down
Part 3 of 3: Using Tricks to Improve Memory
Step 1. Try an acronym
An acronym can help you remember the names of the months. It is a memory device that consists of inventing a word or sentence using the first letter of a group of terms that you have to memorize. Therefore, it can be a very useful tool to remember the days of each month.
- The first letter of September, April, June and November are S, A, J and N. You can make a sentence like "Sara Almorzó Along with Nicolás".
- January, March, May, July, August, October and December have 31 days. The first letters (D, J, M, M, O, J and A) can form a sentence like "Daniela Along with Maria They Looked at the Playful Bear with Astonishment".
Step 2. Use a mnemonic device
This technique allows you to remember complex information by associating an image with the information.
For example, if you want to remember that February has 28 days most years, imagine hearts that make up the number 2 and 8. The hearts are related to February, because it is the month in which Valentine's Day is celebrated
Step 3. Find ways to relate the months
If you can find a way to make connections between months that have the same days, it will be easier for you to remember. It's easier to memorize the facts if you can create some kind of connection.
- For example, September, April, June and November all have 30 days and mark some beginning. In some countries, school starts in September, spring in April, and summer in June. The day after Thanksgiving in November is the start of the Christmas season. Look for events that happen in your country in these months to be able to create a technique that allows you to remember the months.
- You may not be able to relate every month to 31 days, since there are many. However, you can find connections between the smaller groups of months. For example, in some countries, January can be harsh and cold, while March is more boring and rainy. In October, the Day of All the Dead is celebrated, a frightening holiday. All these months have certain characteristics that can be creepy, intense or harsh.