First, what the Three Minute Memory Method is:
The Three Minute Memory Method is used to retain information that you have read, and it is a method that allows you to retain the information with as little effort as possible. It was originally published by Franklin Quest in the short book titled, Five Secrets to Personal Productivity. The premise behind the method is that things in short term memory tend to be forgotten. In order to retain information, the information must be moved into long term memory. All that is needed to do this is a quick scan (about 30 seconds for an article) of previously read materials at certain intervals. The intervals are: right after reading, the next day, a week, a month, 3 months, and then a year. The book fails to clarify if the intervals are based from the initial reading, or if the intervals are based from the previous scan (For example, is the week interval a week after the initial reading, or a week and a day after the initial reading?) My impression is that it is from the previous scan, but you will have to decide for yourself.
Implementing the Three Minute Memory Method into Getting Things Done (GTD):
If you have implemented a tickler file you can move the article into the appropriate folder after reviewing, and that is all that is needed. A tickler file, in short, is a system that allows an item to come up on a date that you have set. I use ThinkingRock, a cross platform organizational utility based on GTD methodology, so I am going to explain how I combine the three minute memory method into ThinkingRock. When I have read something, decided that I want to remember the information, and have scanned it over it, I create an action called “Review: Article Name. ” I also set the context to Read/Review as is suggested in the GTD book. I then schedule the action for the next day. After I have scanned the article the next day, I add a note stating the next interval (one week) so I will be able to keep track of where I am in the review process, and then I reschedule the event for one week from that day. The pattern should be evident, just keep rescheduling the action after reviewing using the above mentioned intervals.
I have found that the same method can be used to aid in forming a new habit, if you schedule reminders of the habit in the above fashion, it will help commit them to memory. You can adjust the intervals to whatever you find is needed. Maybe every day for a week, and then the above intervals.
This may sound quite involved, but if you use GTD methodology, everything is already set up and this only takes a few seconds. It should also free up some load on your mind that is being used for remembering information. This leads to less stress and a more creative thought process.
Sources:
Allen, David. Getting Things Done. ISBN: 0-670-89924-0
Kurt Hanks and Gerreld L. Pulsipher. Five Secrets to Personal Productivity. ISBN 0-939817-05-5.