As a memory aid, chunking can be useful to anyone. But it may be especially helpful for people who have trouble with working memory. People with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia often struggle with this key executive function skill.

Chunking helps the brain hold more information in working memory by grouping pieces of information. That way, there are fewer items to store.

Remembering phone numbers is a good example of chunking. Most people can’t hold on to a string of single numbers (5-5-5-6-2-9-7-7-6-0) after hearing it only once.

But the brain groups phone numbers into segments (555-629-7760). If the area code is a familiar one, the brain remembers it as one unit, not three individual numbers. That makes more room in working memory for the other numbers.

When it’s time to make the call or repeat the phone number, the brain retrieves the units of information from working memory and puts them together.

A very common strategy for memorization is mnemonics. It involves creating associations between pieces of information and images, patterns, or phrases. 

Combining pieces of information into fewer units is about efficiency, according to Understood Expert and clinical psychologist Monica Johnson, PsyD. “If you had 20 items to fit in the back of your car, just throwing them in randomly probably wouldn’t work,” she explains. Combining them into a couple of boxes makes it easier to move them in and out. And it lets you find a particular item more easily. 

Ways to combine items for memorizing

A very common strategy for memorization is mnemonics. It involves creating associations between pieces of information and images, patterns, or phrases. 

Here are some types of mnemonics:

Acronym: Use the first letter of each word in a list to create a new word or phrase. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is an acronym. 

Acrostics (sentences): Create a sentence where the first letter of each word corresponds to the information you want to remember. “When I was in school and they taught directions, the mnemonic was Never Eat Sour Watermelon,” says Johnson. “I’ve never forgotten directions because of that.” 

Rhymes and jingles: Make up a rhyme or tune to associate with the information, similar to the ABC song or the “months” song. (Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November….) Or put the information into a favorite song.

Imagery: Create a vivid (and pleasant) mental image to link with the information. For example, to remember what Amelia Earhart was known for, picture a smiling woman standing next to an airplane under blue skies.

Method of loci (memory palace technique): Visualize items in specific locations in a familiar place, like home (your palace). Then, “walk through” that place to recall them. For remembering a class schedule, first-period biology might be “on” the bed, followed by English “on the kitchen counter,” and PE “by the front door.”

There’s a different use of the word chunking that has to do with managing tasks, rather than aiding memory. This type of chunking breaks down tasks and assignments into smaller pieces so they’re easier to organize, manage, and complete. 

For example, instead of reading a long assignment in one sitting, you might divide it into thirds and read it over three nights. Chunking is useful for writing assignments and projects, too. List all of the items involved, from gathering information to final review, and create a timeline for doing each one. 

There are many ways to build and reinforce executive functioning at home! Check out this article to learn how you can support and mentor your children as they develop these important skills.

It’s easier to focus on a smaller number of items that fit together than try to consider all of the aspects of the project at once. Approaching a task one item at a time helps avoid overloading working memory. It also reduces the cognitive load.

Chunking of any type offers another key benefit. It can make the process of learning, remembering, and doing tasks feel less overwhelming.

Excerpted from “How to Use Chunking to Help with Memory” from Understood. Read the full article online for more information on how chunking can help you learn and recall information.

Source: Understood | How to Use Chunking to Help with Memory, https://www.understood.org/en/articles/chunking-memory-strategies | Copyright 2026 © Understood for All, Inc.