The Magnetic Memory Method Podcast

Looking for ways to learn anything fast and remember it in 2018 (whatever it may be)? You're in the right place. Why? Because 2017 was a landmark year for the Magnetic Memory Method blog and podcast. To sum up the year, I've gathered 18 of the most highly-shared and impactful posts from 2017. Scroll up and click play to hear me sum up the year on the podcast. Then get busy downloading each of these episodes and make yourself an audiobook so that you know how to study without forgetting what you have studied in 2018. For the first category of memory-boosting material from 2017, we begin with: The Biggest Learning Problems And Their Solutions 1. How To Stop Google From Ruining Your Memory Digital Amnesia: 5 Ways To Stop Google From Ruining Your Memory Yes, the threat is real. Please make sure you pay the closest attention to this special message because the "Google Effect" is something we all face. In order to overcome, measures must be taken. This blog post and podcast provides the deep-dive you need to preserve your memory for the long haul. 2. Beware of Apps 5 Memory Improvement Exercises That Don't Require Another Annoying App I know, I know. Apps are attractive. The idea that you can download an app that will help you remember or train your brain is seductive. But as this post demonstrates, there are better brain exercises you can use to improve your memory. And if you want more, here are five additional brain exercises that will benefit anyone. 3. Recycle Your Reading 11 Reasons You Should Reread At Least One Book Every Month I'm so glad I started a solid rereading strategy. I've learned so much and really fortified a lot of things I wanted to remember. The best part? Discovering all the things you didn't notice the first time. This can help you avoid many life mistakes that harm your memory improvement journey. Remember: You can't recall information you didn't notice, so have a rereading reading strategy is really important. 4. Know What Really Counts As Memory Loss The Most Important Difference Between Memory Loss And Forgetfulness In The World I survey thousands of people every year. One thing is clear: Many people don't know how to distinguish between every day forgetfulness and the kind of memory loss that should send you running for the doctor. Please check this material out. 5. Destroy Memory Mythologies 3 Reasons We Must Destroy The Human Goldfish Attention Span Myth Nothing is more dangerous than the lies we tell ourselves than the lies we allow to shape our behavior. If you're sick of being told that you have the attention span of a goldfish (and you should be), we took a look at the origin of this silly myth. Better: We learned to replace that destructive myth with an empowering metaphor that serves our memory instead of tearing it down. 6. Make Memory Easier And Faster 4 Easy Ways To Learn Faster And Remember More We all have a need for speed. But if you want to know how to make your brain stranger and train it for focus, you need strategy. Like knowing R.A.M.S. and which one to avoid: Good news: You'll learn everything you need to know about how to attract information into your memory on that video and the learn faster post. Please check them out. 7. Use A Pencil 5 Note Taking Techniques That Force You To Remember More Of course, I realize that we want to siphon information directly from our eyes and ears into our brain. But the reality is that old technology like paper and pencil still play an important role. And not necessarily in the way you think. I gave you some of my best tips for note taking from the viewpoint of someone who has been both student and professor. Memory Improvement Lessons From Experts & Other Warriors Of The Mind One of the my favorite roles as the host of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast is to: 1) Interview world class memory experts 2) Invite world class memory experts and students to take over the show. For example: 8. Learn From Those Who Really Face The Pressure 7 Killer Memory Improvement Tips From The World Of Conference Interpreting Lukas Van Vyve guest hosted the Magnetic Memory Method podcast and wrote everything down for its fans. You will definitely want to get the full run down on how conference interpreters work their magic. 9. Learn How To Take Online Language Learning Courses Properly How To Consistently Get Quick Victories With Language Learning Courses A lot of people fail to remember information because they don't know how to take courses. Olly Richards, who had just released his new Spanish course, came on to discuss the problem and give many powerful solutions. 10. Know Your Memory History For Some Of The Best Tips The Memory Code: Prehistoric Memory Techniques You Can Use Now Lynne Kelly wrote the best memory improvement book of 2017. Why? Because in The Memory Code, she connects memory techniques for our deep past and shows how they're just as relevant to human survival today as they were in prehistoric times. Learn the tradition and use it traditionally. You'll be glad you looked to the elders for guidance. Why else would they have worked so hard to preserve all that knowledge except for your benefit? 11. Get To The Root Of Your Memory Loss Problems Memory Loss Story And Memory Recovery Tips With Jennie Gorman If The Memory Code shows us the link between memory and survival, Jennie Gorman's visit to the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast extends it to modern medicine. If you're struggling with severe memory loss, her story will give you tips for a simple checkup that most people never consider. 12. Get Back On The Horse The Perfect Learn Japanese App With Kevin Richardson Kevin Richardson was looking for the perfect app to help with Japanese. He found it in the form of the Magnetic Memory Palace. Yet, after a short attempt, Kevin gave up. This is the epic story of why he came back to the Memory Palace and what happened next. His story is inspiring, insightful and will give you many tips on how to make memory techniques work for you if you're struggling. Your Memory Mindset & Preparing Your Attitude & Brain For The Future In all my years teaching memory improvement and memory techniques, one thing never changes. I'm talking about the importance of mindset. The truth is that the human brain is designed to give you negative messages. It does this not because you're bad, unworthy or lacking in the wit needed to make memory techniques (or any other skill) work. It's just trying to conserve energy. Rest assured, you're more than skilled enough. The best part: Your most unlikely thoughts are actually a power. 13. A Little Skepticism Goes A Long Way 3 Reasons Why Skeptics Succeed With Memory Techniques Better Than Anyone Else It's true. Those who succeed with memory techniques the most tend to start off as the biggest skeptics. Lynne Kelly talks about this experience herself in The Memory Code. It's mentioned throughout the memory improvement cannon of literature. And it was certainly the case for me. So if you're feeling skeptical, no worries. That skepticism has the potential to be a special power. Just… 14. Don't Let Skepticism Become Poisonous Two Truly Evil Spells People Cast Against Memorizing Vocabulary With A Memory Palace Lurkers must be connected to the Digital Amnesia problem. But it's not just lurkers. Even people willing to use their own names come along who are ready and willing to claim that because something didn't work for them… It couldn't possibly work for anyone else. We set that negative lie to rest in 2017 and hope it stays resting in 2018. In case not, it's important to remember that the negativity comes from the human desire for quick wins. 15. Learn To Love Delayed Gratification By Using These… 3 Powerful Ways To Destroy The Cancer Of Instant Gratification It's normal to get frustrated when you don't get immediate results. But the Internet has created a world filled with people who have unrealistic expectations. According to Will Self, that might be the result of the Gutenberg Mind having said bye-bye in the age of Digital Amnesia: That is very compelling, but as far as most of us are concerned, even without a history of reading novels, memory techniques work super fast and fine. But what I like about Self's critique for those who come to memory techniques is this: Depending on your age, level of interest and exposure to depths of plot and imagination, picking up mnemonic skills can require varying degrees of take time. And that's a very good thing, I venture. Why? Because no matter who you are or where you come from, you are the only person who can experience memory techniques in quite the way you will experience them. When you get in touch and share your experience, we learn more about how these memory techniques work with greater specificity about for whom and under what conditions. In other words, learn to love delayed gratification. It rewards all of us when you arrive and send your report from the frontier of your own imagination. And yes, as you can see on this live version of today's blog post, those of us who belong to the Magnetic Memory Method Family are practicing long form discussions about memory improvement using the available technology. And loving it: Make sure you're subscribed to the Magnetic Memory Method on YouTube and have clicked the bell icon so that you're notified the next time we go live. 16. Learn To Shift Mindshift: 3 "Time Travel" Secrets From People Learning How To Learn The question is… How do you change yourself when old habits die hard? We start by thanking our lucky stars for Barbara Oakley. And if you haven't read Mindshift yet, you are missing out on something truly special. You may need an especially big mindshift if you believe Aphantasia is the reason you can't use memory techniques, for example. (Hint: It's not the reason.) 17. Keep Abreast Of New Topics Forcing Mindshifts Mastering The Memory Demands Of Bitcoin And Cryptocurrency With Jonathan Levi Yes, change is coming. Including how we use our wallets. That's why I was delighted when Jonathan Levi created this free trial of his new Bitcoin Academy for Magnetic Memory Method fans. Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are currently one of the most challenging, and yet most important topics on the scene. I'm grateful Jonathan stopped by and created this course to help us all out. Of course, I'm not 100% in favor of all technological change. 18. Keep Your Brain And Memory Organic 7 Reasons Having A Memory Implant Would Really Suck I'm a techno-positivist. I see mostly only good things. But as I hoped to demonstrate in the podcast and post on why memory implants make no sense to me, if you want a properly functioning brain and memory in the future, you've got to keep a healthy division between your brain and technology. Will my opinion change in the future? Perhaps. I'm a scientist, after all. New evidence always plays a role in shaping – and reshaping – my convictions. But as of the end of 2017, I can tell you this: As with my 2016 State Of Your Memory Address, journals, friendships and learning a new language remain the most likely ways to experience optimal brain health and superior memory. Stick with the fundamentals and keep clear of smartphone addiction if you want to learn anything fast and remember it, Memorizers, and you'll do just fine. Here's a free course to show you how: More than having your learning accomplishments be just fine in 2018, your mind and memory will become truly Magnetic. Happy New Year and thanks for all the great memories of 2017! The post 18 Ways To Learn Anything Fast And Remember It in 2018 appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Have you been looking for the perfect learn Japanese app… Or maybe just wondering how to learn Japanese on your own with memory techniques? Are you still at the level where you're searching Google with "learn Japanese alphabet," unaware of its unique character sets? Or how about that wish to know how to speak Japanese fast? Well, in today's guest post and featured podcast guest host, Kevin Richardson share his experiences using the best app to learn to speak Japanese in the world: The Memory Palace. But not just any Memory Palace. A Magnetic Memory Palace. Scroll up and click play to hear my interview with Kevin and read his separate assessment below. Take it away Kevin! The Man Who Almost Gave Up On Learning Japanese Without Magnetic Memory, I would have packed up my bags and given up on ever learning the readings of Japanese kanji. Now, I have no doubts that I'm going to complete my mission. I want to be fully literate in Japanese … and I want to be able to handwrite kanji too. In for a penny, in for a pound! This is actually my second attempt at using the Magnetic Memory Method. I won't lie to you, the first time I tried making a Memory Palace wasn't a great success. So take heart, don't give up if you don't get everything right the first time. Treat it as a learning experience. I promise you, you'll get better quickly. I'm still only a fledgling Memory Palace maker, yet now I'm able to remember up to thirty kanji readings in a single day! Best of all – I know they're there forever! Before employing the Magnetic Memory technique, I'd used Heisig's "Remembering the Kanji" volume 1 to memorize over two thousand kanji meanings in six months. I wasn't setting the world on fire, but for someone who can't even remember why I've gone to the convenience store, I was still pretty pleased with myself. Maybe The Memory Palace Stuff Wasn't For Me… In hindsight, I wish I'd known more about Memory Palaces when I set about using Heisig's method, but my first attempt wasn't very successful and I resigned myself to thinking maybe this Memory Palace stuff wasn't for me. It was then that I listened to Olly Richard's podcast with Anthony Metivier talking about learning hiragana with the Magnetic Memory Method. By happy coincidence, I was just starting to think about the daunting task of learning thousands of readings for the kanji characters. I knew that if I could get the hang of it, this would be make or break. After all, Japanese people take about ten years to accomplish the same task; so for me, any technique that's going to supercharge my memory was worth a punt. My first Memory Palace was a modest affair. I drew a sketch map of my apartment in Japan, numbered my memory stations in a logical route from bed to genkan (the place you leave your shoes). The first kanji vocabulary word I added to the bottom of my bed – 主に (omoni – 'mainly'). The story, "oh money is mainly found at the bottom of my bed". Next, 大気 (taiki – 'atmosphere') … That utter tyke, Russ Abbot singing "Oh what atmosphere, I love a party with an atmosphere" in the cupboard next to my bed. And as the tour went around my apartment, the story developed into a bizarre journey that I couldn't forget. Do you remember the Hana Barbera cartoon of Godzilla? I always hated the baby Godzilla, "Godzuki", yet when I came to the bathroom, I have to think about that dinosaur, Gojira (as the Japanese say) … I'm a big fan of Godzilla … (dai no gojira zuki desu). My Mind Couldn't Help But Fill In The Gaps I took Anthony's advice and walked through my Memory Palace ten times that first day. That made a big difference; I think by walking through the same linear path through my apartment, visualizing the story ten times, the story in my mind became like a sequence of video clips. My mind couldn't help but fill in the gaps, so I'd see myself mainly getting my omoni from the bottom of my bed, so that I could throw some spare yen at Russ Abbot busking "atmosphere" in my cupboard etc etc. The next day, I walked through it in my mind a couple more times during breaks at work. I loved the fact that I didn't need any technology, no batteries and could simply walk through my Memory Palace whenever I had some downtime. I decided that I'd start making one Memory Palace a week from that moment onwards. I'm now on my fifth Memory Palace and have gone from making twelve Magnetic Stations to now making over thirty Magnetic Stations in each Memory Palace. (* Note: During the making of this Memory Palace, a mosquito collided violently with my notebook … to honor it's death, I shall always remember "Yuu HAVE made a mess here") I'm not rushing anything. Like I say, I'm still a fledgling at this technique, but in the course of a month, my Memory Palaces are becoming richer, stranger, surreal and most importantly … unforgettable. I now draw my map and number my Magnetic Stations. Then I think of a mnemonic to connect the kanji with it's reading. Then I write the whole story out as a walkthrough. Read it to myself and my mind can't help but connect one station to another. My favorite on this page has to be Hulk Hogan speaking in his "hougen dialect"!) Now, I remember Olly and Anthony talking about the effort of making Memory Palaces being "top loaded." Certainly seems to be true for me at the moment – I spend far more time constructing my Memory Palace and creating a walkthrough story. The Time I Save BUT … it works … and if it means I don't forget anything, that's time I save in the long run. In time, I can see myself not needing to write out my walkthrough story … and in time, I'll eventually be able to take forty or fifty kanji readings, plot them out in my head, walkthrough the Memory Palace without having to write everything down. I can see how that will give me the ability to remember hundreds of readings a week … but small steps grasshopper … I'm happy enough that I've gone from having a sketchy memory of maybe six readings a week, to now remembering fifty or so kanji readings a week. That's already a massive improvement … it's certainly given me a huge boost in confidence that this heady goal of remembering thousands of kanji readings is much more achievable than I'd ever thought possible. The post The Perfect Learn Japanese App With Kevin Richardson appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Would you like free tickets to participate in or watch the upcoming Memory Games in Las Vegas? If so, hit play on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast. This is a tremendous opportunity for Magnetic Memory Method fans in the Las Vegas area. Of course, even if you're not in the area, you can help spread the word about memory techniques by sharing this page. If you know anyone who would like some free memory training and an opportunity to practice them, please pass this information along to them as well. You can also watch for all the details about getting free tickets in this video: Hosted by Dave Farrow, these Memory Games present a great opportunity to learn new memory skills, practice the ones you already know and challenge yourself to a friendly and fun competition amongst fellow memory training enthusiasts! This competition will teach you the memory techniques used in the games in a low stress environment. You'll develop courage and confidence with your memory while making new friends. This event is a precursor to the annual Pan American Memory Games in Florida and the annual US Memory Tournament held at eBay in San Jose, so if you'd like to be informed, make sure to get in touch with Dave so you can be notified. Is This Memory Games Event Just For Adults? Not at all. Of course, memory games for kids help young people develop skills that will be useful throughout life and this is a great entry-level opportunity for all ages and skill levels. Also, tune in to this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast to learn about: * A forthcoming book with contributions from Alex Mullen and myself. * The major reasons entrepreneurs and professionals need memory skills more than ever before. * Why memory games are a great way to learn these techniques. * Why the spelling bee competitions may be slowly disappearing and why competition might be one of the best memory activities for students. * Options you have for using memory techniques, even if you're not visual or experience aphantasia. * And much, much more! If you'd prefer to pay for tickets, please grab your Memory Games in Las Vegas now. More information about the event, including time and location are on that page. To contact Dave Farrow directly, please email him using the link provided in the video and podcast or go directly to the contact page on Farrow PR. About The Host Of The Las Vegas Memory Games Dave Farrow earned his second Guinness World Record for memory by recalling the exact order of 59 decks of shuffled playing cards. He created 'The Farrow Method' to help combat his severe dyslexia and ADHD and this is now a certifiable memory system backed by a double-blind neuroscience study at McGill University. Dave has been a featured guest on Dr. Oz, Steve Harvey, The Today Show, Discovery Channel and many others. Most recently, Dave won the grand prize on episode 5 of the hit FOX TV show, SuperHuman. For More On Brain Games And Brain Exercises… Brain Games: The Truth You Need To Know For Memory Improvement Crossword Puzzles For Brain Fitness: Fact or Fiction? 5 Brain Exercises That Ensure Memory Improvement Brain Training: 3 Unconventional Techniques Guaranteed To Help You Conjure Your Best-Ever Ideas 3 Memory Games You Can Play With Your Childhood Tansel Ali on How Gratitude Can Help You Remember Almost Anything Thank you for attending this event if you can make it. If you can't, we deeply appreciate you helping spread the word about the 2017 Memory Games in Las Vegas. Your involvement in keeping this tradition alive is as central as learning and using the techniques themselves. Let us know in the comments below how you found the games or were otherwise able to participate! The post Want Free Tickets To The 2017 Memory Games In Las Vegas? appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

What is Bitcoin and cryptocurrency? And why should memory improvement fans memorize a long list of virtual currencies? To help answer the question, Jonathan Levi joins me on this episode Magnetic Memory Method Podcast. And to help us understand why the topic is so challenging for even the smartest learners, we discuss: * The most important definition of Bitcoin (and probably all new digital currencies to come) and the software involved that you need to understand. * The truth about fiat currencies and the BIG problems with fractional reserve banking. * How Jonathan discovered Bitcoin and found cryptocurrency compelling enough to use his SuperLearner skills to learn how to buy Bitcoin stock in an easy and secure way. * The most popular crypto currencies and why so much terminology is needed to discuss how to buy bitcoins and store them in different kinds of wallets. * How Jonathan answered the central question: Is Bitcoin mining worth it? * Why even people in underprivileged countries can buy Bitcoins with a debit card and participate in a democratized currency that will allow them to buy valuable online education programs (like for learning a language). * The history of money and why everyone interested in this emerging form of currency needs to use their memory to help them learn about it. * Why bitcoin is a revolution in both commerce and technology the provides a strong alternative to a fiat currency and the current culture of debt. * Some of the history of money that "rots" as described by Lewis Hyde in The Gift and its relationship to the BlockChain. * Blockchain technology explained clearly for those who need a "blockchain for dummies" guide to understanding the irreversible functions of mathematics that updates the ledger across the word. * The special relationship between Internet money like Zcash and intellectual property that can never be copied. * How Filecoin and other services help transfer shares properly and establish proper ownership in the hugest paradigm shift since the introduction of the Internet itself. * A clear description of the problems being solved by bitcoin miners on the bitcoin market and how this creates tangible value. * Why mining transactions and rewards take place every ten minutes and yet involve trillions of difficult transactions designed to keep out bad actors. * Why the brilliant decisions of Satoshi Nakamoto helped make Bitcoin fraud very difficult, if not outright impossible. * Why credit card charges are so expensive and make Bitcoin value projections climb higher and higher. * Why every cellphone has the ability to function as its own bank without the need for a third person or elaborate trust structures. * The future of credit card bonuses, air miles, incentive points, interest and transaction fees in this new era of Internet money. * Why Bitcoin value is directly linked to a true understanding of democracy. * The ultimate answer to the question: Is bitcoin mining worth it? * Omisego and how serving the unbanked will prove revolutionary for learners around the world. * Why Copay is the best and most secure wallet to use when learning how to buy Bitcoin. * The role of transparency in a changing world of privacy and security and the role of anonymity when using these new forms of currency. * The role of a passwords manager when using Bitcoin and other issues of online security. * The ultimate question of whether these cryptocurrency solutions are making the world simpler or more complex. * The number one opportunity with Bitcoin, the number one strength you'll need and the number one fear each person should have – and how to avoid the need to fear getting involved in the cryptocurrency of your choice. If you're interested in learning more, click the image below to take a free intro course that will teach you even more: Jonathan Levi is the host of the wildly popular SuperLearner Academy and host of the Becoming A Superhuman Podcast. Together, we teach Branding You: How to Build Your Multimedia Internet Empire. Stay tuned for the 2.0 version of this course coming very soon! In the meantime, please be sure to educate yourself about Bitcoin, cryptocurrency and let the topic serve so you don't get left behind. If nothing else, this topic serves as great brain exercise, no matter your age or general interest. What about you? Excited about the future of money and this interesting learning and memory challenge? The post Mastering The Memory Demands Of Bitcoin And Cryptocurrency With Jonathan Levi appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Do you reserve your Saturday afternoons for the brain fitness promised by crossword puzzles? If not, congratulations. That could be a wise decision. But for over 50 million people, crossword puzzles are a part of their daily lives. And they think it's helping them. In fact, there's a pernicious myth out there. One that is generally assumed by far too many people who hope, wish and pray that doing word puzzles regularly can help keep your brain young and active. Many people also believe that the health benefits of crossword puzzles can even keep Alzheimer's or dementia at bay. The question is… Why Do People Believe These Crazy Things About Crossword Puzzles? Here's one reason: Many consider crossword puzzles to be the pastime of the intelligent and knowledgeable people – a connection that we are only too happy to have. More importantly? Playing word games may legitimately improve your vocabulary. Then again, so will developing your own mind as the perfect vocabulary builder (our focus on this YouTube playlist): So, ultimately… The idea that crossword puzzles will develop your memory is true enough. For some people, at least. Here's Who Really Benefits From The Memory And Brain Fitness Benefits Of Crossword Puzzles Can you guess who gets the most bang for their buck in the crossword universe? The answer is simple: The people who design crossword puzzles – the cruciverbalists – experience the ultimate benefits. As dedicated logophiles, crossword puzzle designers love using obscure words whenever and wherever they can. And because they're the architects of these games, they're the ones most likely to remember the words they've enjoyed building into them. To give a parallel example, it's kind of like how songwriters find it easier than anyone else to remember the lyrics they've penned. When Did We First Get Hooked on Crosswords: A Fascinating History The crossword – a standard feature in newspapers across the globe – celebrated its hundredth birthday on December 21, 2013. And it's still going strong! However, when journalist Arthur Wynne invented and printed the first ever "word-cross" puzzle in the New York World newspaper on December 21, 1913, it was hardly met with much fanfare. An editorial in The New York Times published on November 17, 1924 called crossword puzzles "a primitive sort of mental exercise" and a "sinful waste" of time. The craze of word puzzles spread after publishing firm of Simon & Schuster launched its career in 1924 with a book of puzzles. This was the same year when the World published its first daily crossword puzzle. Years later, the puzzle's success surprised Wynne: "… all I did was take an old idea as old as language and modernize it by the introduction of black squares," he said in 1925. "I'm glad to have had a hand in it, and no one is more surprised at its amazing popularity" (Lynn J. Feigenbaum, Crosswords at a Crossroad, The Puzzle Turns 100. What is the clue to its Survival?). Wynne was inspired by ancient word squares – where words read the same across and down. Wynne also took inspiration from another puzzle, the acrostic – in which sets of letters (such as the initial or final letters of the lines) taken in order form a word or phrase or a regular sequence of letters of the alphabet. Ultimately, the current format with its compact square diagram of white spaces and black bars, with connected across and down words, and numbered clues became popular. The Addiction Theory Of Why We Love Crossword Puzzles Word puzzles are not only fun, but immensely satisfying as every crossword problem has that one perfect solution – the feeling of perfection we miss in our everyday lives and seek through art, literature and now the Internet. There's also an almost addictive pleasure to finally finishing a puzzle. Why is that? Recall that 'aha' moment when you finally get that elusive word or phrase solution. Moments like those confirm, even if it's only to yourself, how knowledgeable, smart and well-informed you are. That's A Heady Feeling! Yet, therein lies part of the problem: Isn't it really the case that solving crosswords is the opposite of quest for knowledge? When you think about it, crossword puzzles are kind of like a quest for confirmation. A journey to confirm that you are knowledgeable in a way that gives your brain that addictive high of accomplishment. There's more: Some people have even called the crossword a sort of geometric Rorschach test, a kind of psychological experience that reflects the human need to solve a mystery. Want to Know The Real Story? In reality, crosswords encourage you to give up on things you don't immediately know. For instance, if you don't know a particular word linked to a clue … You don't know it! And here's the kicker… Even if you did research to find the answer, would you remember it over the long term? Worse: The amount of time the average person spends actually challenging their mind is questionable. Why? Because we usually know when we don't know something. As a result, we stop right there. The instant our lack of knowledge becomes clear… We're gone! Worse: If the original motive to complete a crossword was to develop your brain, stopping the instant you feel challenged is as good as cheating. Why Is Crossword Cheating Bad For The Brain? Simple: When it comes to playing word games, we find an imbalance between frustration and challenge. The frustration is often too strong. It overrides the fun of challenges that propel you forward throughout the puzzle without creating barriers that make you want to quit. Or worse, cheat and look up the answer without submitting yourself to much of a challenge in the first place. The Stimulating Benefits Of Working With Crosswords All's not lost though… While the research results in this area are mixed, some studies have found doing crosswords can actually stimulate the brain. A study of 488 elderly people by researchers at Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego found that solving crossword puzzles delayed the onset of accelerated memory decline by 2.54 years. It was not all good news, however. Check this out: Once mental decline sets in, the deterioration is usually rapid. However, some findings suggest that word puzzles did help delay the onset of dementia. For example, researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School and Kings College London analysed data from more than 17,000 healthy people aged 50 and over. They found that the more regularly people did crosswords, the better their brain functioned in later life. According to their results, people who engage in word puzzles have brain function equivalent to ten years younger than their age, on tests of grammatical reasoning speed and short term memory accuracy. But There's A Catch… And It's A BIG One… "It is essential that we find out what lifestyle factors really make a difference to helping people maintain healthy brains to stop the soaring rise of the disease (dementia). We can't yet say that crosswords give you a sharper brain — the next step is to assess whether encouraging people to start playing word games regularly could actually improve their brain function." This quote is from Clive Ballard, Professor of Age-Related Diseases at the University of Exeter Medical School. Basically what he's saying is that the results don't really demonstrate that crossword puzzles help. There are too many competing factors to tell. To make things even more confusing, check this out: According to Dr Doug Brown, Director of Research of Alzheimer's Society: "This new research does reveal a link between word puzzles, like crosswords, and memory and thinking skills, but we can't say definitively that regular 'puzzling' improves these skills." He recommends "keeping physically active, avoiding smoking and eating a healthy balanced diet" to reduce the risk of developing dementia. What Are We Supposed To Conclude From These Confusing Contradictions? Well, for one thing, these researchers are trying to have their cake and eat it too. They are saying that "yes, solving puzzles helps" on the one hand, "but it probably really doesn't" on the other. Which is it? The truth: It's Not all Fun and Games When it Comes to Helping Your Brain (And It Doesn't Need To Be) If only games could help you gain brain power! While crosswords can be fun and satisfying, after the first dozen or so puzzles, the activity doesn't offer enough variety or difficulty to engage your whole brain. And as suggested, the temptation to skip over the challenging parts or cheat is so high that the actual amount of exercise you're receiving is highly questionable. And because of this high capacity for cheating and giving up that crossword puzzles invite, many people are actually not experiencing the ingredient that matters. The Key Rule: What Matters Most for a Healthy Brain The key to a vibrant, healthy brain includes challenge and novelty. Doing only crosswords will help you get really good at solving crossword puzzles but nothing more. This is because brain games can primarily improve the specific function that it is being trained for. A 1999 study found that being more experienced in doing crossword puzzles didn't offset the effects of aging when it came to mental tests of vocabulary and reasoning. Moreover, the study revealed that success in solving crossword puzzles largely appeared to be a function of the amount of knowledge the individual already had, with little or no contribution of reasoning ability. An independent panel set up by the National Institutes of Health also concluded that there is "no evidence of even moderate scientific quality" that exercise, drugs, dietary supplements or increased social engagement, reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease. I can't emphasize this enough. Research also states that any positive effects of being proficient in crossword solving does not elevate frontal lobe brain functions like decision-making, planning and judgment – functions that allow us to carry out our daily lives. Moreover, just like physical exercise, when you stop doing the mental workouts, your brain loses the immediate gains. How Crossword Puzzles Work For Kids Vs Adults Surprisingly, solving crossword puzzles can build confidence and poise in school kids. This was the result found during a project presented to the Faculty of the School of Education, The University of Southern California. The project also found that solving puzzles can also help young people learn to concentrate, develop systematic work habits and build the ability to recognize and deal with various problems. Moreover, according to the report, puzzles with their natural inference to games, can stimulate children's interest. (Robert Louis Ramsdell, Educational Use of Crossword Puzzles for Elementary Schools) A Better Way to Improve Your Brain and Get Smarter Now: One quick and easy way to make you smarter is to address people by name every time you see them and dialing frequently from memory rather than using speed dial. If you are looking for a complete brain workout try this brain fitness method… Click on the link below to get started: Memory improvement training should always be linked to memorizing information that will immediately improve your life. And that's at the core of Magnetic Memory Method. When you build Memory Palaces the Magnetic Memory Method way it lets you measure your memory improvement activities. Why Is This Important? Because tracking your outcomes leads to rapid improvement. You not only get to remember the information faster, but also get predictable and reliable permanence that grows in strength each time you use the Magnetic Memory Method. Even better: All other memory techniques including playing crossword puzzles can be used inside of Memory Palaces. But this never takes place the other way around (For example, you can't use Memory Palaces inside of the Major Method the way you can use the Major Method inside of Memory Palaces.) The Real Value Of The Crossword Puzzle Crossword puzzles do have a value – but these ultimately amount to being little more than recreational in nature. At the most, if you can solve a puzzle, you know your brain is still pretty much intact. But whether your brain is getting stronger and sharper, the more puzzles you solve, is a matter of opinion. The undebatable fact remains that using Memory Palaces the Magnetic Memory Method way can help you see some real improvement in your brain's problem solving faculties. It not only stimulates your brain, it also helps move information into long term memory faster and with predictable and reliable permanence. So, let's get started playing the games that truly help. (Hint: It's using the Memory Palace to learn and remember anything forever!) Are you in? The post Crossword Puzzles for Brain Fitness: Fact or Fiction? appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Do you pop vitamins for memory improvement? For many people around the world, dumping hundreds, if not thousands of dollars per year on the hope that pills in a pretty package will lead to a boost in memory is a common habit. Sadly, many seniors believe that it is essential to take nutritional supplements to combat against age related memory loss, brain fog, everyday forgetfulness or to deter the onset of Alzheimer's or dementia. But falling for that ruse isn't just for the older generations. Even for the young and healthy amongst us, it is not uncommon to take vitamin pills in an attempt to improve retention or recall of information, learn a new language or excel in studies. The question is… How vital are memory enhancing pills? Before we look at the answer, take a quick peek at the truth about the best supplement for memory and concentration: It has long been argued that regularly eating foods rich in vitamins and daily exercise is the best way to maintain a healthy body and mind. Can vitamin supplement pills that help with memory be an easier option to provide the same nutrients to your body and mind? Let's find out. What The Heck Are 'Vitamins' Anyway? An Astonishing History Vitamins are a group of organic compounds – different from fats, carbohydrates and proteins – that nourish our body and are essential for our growth and functioning. We usually get them through the food we eat. More importantly, research shows that vitamins are important to maintain brain health. Check this out: "In particular, research over the past 5 years has provided exciting evidence for the influence of dietary factors on specific molecular systems and mechanisms that maintain mental function." That's from Dr. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a leading authority on nutrition and the brain at the University of California, Los Angeles in his research paper, Brain Foods: The Effects of Nutrients on Brain Function. Here's Something Even More Important: While we need vitamins only in small quantities, if any vitamin is absent from our diet, a deficiency disease may occur – a fact first noted by William Fletcher in 1905. In 1912, the Polish-born biochemist Casimir Funk discovered a mysterious compound that he termed 'vital amine,' which later came to be known as 'vitamin'. A year later, in 1913 that a biochemist named Frederick Gowland Hopkins discovered Vitamin A – the first vitamin to be discovered. By early 20th century researchers had identified the 13 compounds or vitamins crucial to maintaining a healthy life. They had also found that the underlying trigger for obscure illnesses such as scurvy, beriberi and pellagra was vitamin deficiency. That's not all… It was around the same time that deficiency in certain vitamins was linked to loss of memory, focus and concentration. Today, dietary supplements like B vitamins (folic acid, B6, and B12), antioxidants (vitamins C and E), herbal supplements (ginkgo biloba), and nutraceuticals (fish oil, coconut oil) are very much in-demand as pills that help with memory. The Most Important Fact About Vitamins For Memory In The World Remember this: Deficiency in Vitamin B12 can cause memory loss. This means that Vitamin B12 probably presents the most critical case in which supplements can help improve your brain's ability to remember things. But here's the kicker: If you are already getting adequate B vitamins though your diet, getting extra through supplemental pills will not give you a memory boost. There are other foods that improve memory well worth checking out for that Magnetic outcome. Exposed: The Billion Dollar Business of Vitamins In the century since their discovery, vitamins or rather vitamin supplements have become big business. In the United States alone, annual sales of all multivitamin and mineral containing supplements totalled $14.3 billion in 2014. Since the 1940s, Americans have been taking multivitamin and mineral supplements. But get this: To date, there has been no concrete study to substantiate that popping vitamin supplements has improved people's health or their memory more than what can be achieved by a healthy diet and exercise. For more on how this ruse is taking place, you might want to check out The Darkside and the Brightside of How Marketers Manipulate Your Memory Every Single Day. Interestingly, although more than one-third of all Americans take these supplements, they have no standard scientific, regulatory, or marketplace definitions. Why does this matter? Manufacturers decide the types and levels of vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients in their supplements based on factors that are not always guided by science or in your best interest. The Demons In Your Daily Diet Now let's get down to the core of the problem: Processed or refined food is routinely fortified with added vitamins to increase its price as well as appeal among consumers. So when you are taking supplements, on top of vitamins added to your foods, you really don't know whether you are ingesting more than your daily requirement. This is a potentially deadly fact that matters above all: Consuming more vitamins than your daily dietary requirements can be as detrimental to your health as being vitamin deficient. Research by McGill University geneticist Rima Rozen and her colleagues reveal that taking 10 times the recommended daily intake of folic acid – often the dose recommended by doctors for pregnant women – causes liver damage in mice. Research has also found that Vitamin E at doses of 400 international units (IU) or more per day is risky for people with heart disease. Such dosage may also raise the risk of prostate cancer. Moreover, other studies show that Vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, and fish oil supplements can slightly inhibit blood clotting. When combined with an anticoagulant drug, such supplements can actually make you bleed or bruise more easily. Messing Around With Memory Vitamins Is No Joking Matter So you see… Taking vitamins in the form of pills is not to be taken lightly. You can't just grab any bottle off the shelf and expect to get the outcome you seek – certainly not increased mental focus. That requires memory and concentration training. And keep this in mind: Any vitamin supplement has to be taken in context of your diet and how your body absorbs nutrients. This is one of those occasions where it's okay for things to really be all about you. Let's face it: Our bodies are constantly undergoing change due to social, psychological, physical and medical factors which in turn affect our intake, digestion, absorption and excretion of nutrients. Consuming highly processed food or not cooking your vegetables properly can also cause inadequate vitamin intake. These factors need to be taken into consideration when selecting your memory pills. In any case, you should always consult with your doctor before taking any supplements to rule out overdosing on any particular vitamin. Rooting Out Flaws In The Plan While many vitamin supplements, fish oil and herbs like ginkgo biloba are touted to improve memory, there is hardly any evidence to back up the claims. A 2013 study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found no evidence that drugs, herbal products or vitamin supplements (including vitamin B6 and omega-3 fatty acids – products thought to help brain function) helps prevent memory loss in healthy people. In fact, the study revealed that certain treatments actually seemed to contribute to cognitive problems. That's completely the opposite of the goal! Worse: Healthy women who were given estrogen hormone treatment to improve memory actually suffered from higher memory loss over time, compared to subjects who were given a placebo. The Ugly Ginkgo Lie About Alzheimer's and Dementia A study showed that ginkgo herb did not decrease the incidence of Alzheimer's disease or dementia. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, ginkgo is one of the top 10 natural products used by Americans as the best supplement for memory and concentration. The issue is even bigger than that: Since dietary supplements are not regulated the same way as prescription or over-the-counter drugs, manufacturers don't have to pass the rigorous Food and Drug Administration process to ensure they are safe and effective before selling their products. So, manufacturers can claim that the supplements "support" or "help" memory without needing any strong medical evidence supporting those claims. Dietary supplements – that include vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, and other 'natural' substances – also pose a big risk for consumers. Not only that, but get this: Between 2008 and 2011, the FDA received 6,307 reports of health problems from dietary supplements, says a 2013 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). That's a lot of problems! The Truth About How To Improve Brain Function and Memory When it comes to brain vitamins for studying or memory enhancing drugs, nothing works better than a balanced diet, lots of hydration, an active lifestyle and 7 hours of sleep every night. Easy isn't it? Well, hang on there, because it gets even better… Foods like walnuts, green tea, blueberries, salmon are all super foods when it comes to protecting you from brain fog and memory loss. The best part? An easy-to-follow Mediterranean-style diet can have lasting benefits for brain health, confirmed a 2017 study. It showed that participants who closely followed a Mediterranean-like diet were less likely to lose brain volume as they aged, compared with those who didn't follow such a diet. Another study published in the journal Neurology suggests that a Mediterranean diet – rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, potatoes, nuts, olive oil and fish – may help make your brain about five years younger. Processed foods, fried and fast foods, snack foods, red meat, poultry and whole-fat dairy foods are usually eaten less under this diet plan. Drinking water also helps to improve memory and focused attention. A new study revealed that if you are even slightly dehydrated, it can impair your attention and memory. D.O.C. & Vitamin M: The Best Scientifically Proven Vitamins For Your Memory Apart from good food, if you want a real memory booster you'll need to exercise your brain. Your brain is a muscle and like all muscles it must workout to retain and grow its strength. In other words, you must use your mind. Regularly! How do you do that? Use D.O.C. It's a special compound anyone can muck together at any time and dose themselves with. Broken down, the compound tells us that doing is the origin of confidence. Memory confidence, that is. Also general mental competence. Why is confidence so important? Because confidence is a powerful "substance" that nourishes everything in your brain. It leads to accomplishment. And working your mental muscles in a way that creates accomplishing-by-doing is one of the best brain supplements in the world. The other vitamin that can really help improve memory is Vitamin M. Vitamin M comes from creating Memory Palaces the Magnetic Memory Method way. This is by far the coolest and easiest way to boost your brain function and make it easy to learn and remember anything. That's not all… D.O.C. comes almost free because getting started involves nothing more than a simple drawing that follows some simple principles. Why Is The Memory Palace The Best Memory Vitamin? The answer is simple: Unlike mind mapping, which unlocks multiple intelligences, a Magnetic Memory Method Memory Palace approach does that and more. Creating Memory Palaces the Magnetic Memory Method way allows you to develop and use spatial memory in a way that unlocks the power of your multiple intelligences plus autobiographical memory, episodic memory, semantic memory, procedural memory and other kinds of memory. This incredible combination of intelligence and memory strengthening is very powerful because, combined with Recall Rehearsal, the holistic process lets you move information from short term memory into long term memory faster. Even better: You not only get to remember the information faster, but also get predictable and reliable permanence that grows in strength each time you use the Magnetic Memory Method. Memory Palaces also have another unique characteristic: All other memory techniques can be used inside of Memory Palaces. But this never takes place the other way around (For example, you can't use Memory Palaces inside of the Major Method the way you can use the Major Method inside of Memory Palaces.) If you choose this memory training technique… Click on the link below to get started: Vitamins For Memory Are Not At All About The Fruit Now… It is super-simple to use a Memory Palaces, but you've got to create time for it. And a great way to make sure you get time for your daily dose of 'memory' pills is through P.E.A.C.H. What the heck is P.E.A.C.H.? Practice Encoding At Calm Hours This is such a powerful principle because the question is not how to practice memory techniques (just take the free course to learn how). The real question is: when? If you take the time to practice building Memory Palaces and exercising your brain through other means during times when you are uninterrupted, it leads to better implantation of that information in your long term memory. When you P.E.A.C.H you also get the time to create effective Magnetic Imagery and perform effective Recall Rehearsal – both essential to building effective Memory Palaces. Using the Magnetic Memory Method is great because, once you're rolling, good memory abilities get you more time. More time means you can practice memory enhancing techniques more often. And that means experiencing better memory, better focus, clarity and concentration. It's a win-win! 0.2% Advantage? No magic pill or supplement can help improve your memory or lift brain fog. In fact, vitamin supplements can at best give you a .02% verbal memory advantage (whatever that means). It's only through a balanced diet, meditation, sleep, and an effective, dedicated memory strategy (like the Magnetic Memory Method) that you will be able to enhance your memory, concentration and focus in a way that improves your entire life. So, what are you waiting for? Let's build your brain powers today! The post How Vital Are Vitamins For Memory Improvement? appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Are you sick of taking language learning courses and falling flat on your face? Let's face it: Language learning is a multi-million dollar industry, ranging from online video courses to books to slips of paper you can flip in your hands. And not all of them are designed to help you succeed. In fact, there's a delicate balance between general language learning skills and the tangible results you get from second language acquisition with the help of a skilled teacher. The questions you might have are numerous. They might include… Are any languages easier or harder than others? And which language learning courses truly and authentically help, regardless of real or imagined difficulty and your current level? These are all great questions, and in this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, Olly Richards joins me to discuss how he's using story and experience to make language learning courses more immersive. Not only that, but Olly's devoted to creating multiple quick victories that create motivation, remove obstacles and keep you moving even when they arise. For a taste of how Olly's courses works, checkout what I've found to be the best free Spanish language learning video series out there: I suggest you click the image above now and register for Olly's new course even if you're not learning Spanish. You'll learn great principles that apply to any language you might be studying, online or off. Once you've registered, click play on this episode as Olly shares: * Exactly when shared characteristics between languages gives you "short cuts" and when they create obstacles. * The ultimate answer to "what is language acquisition?" (By understanding how the similarities between language acquisition and language learning can help your journey towards fluency, you'll save yourself a lot of headaches!) * Why quick victories help you compound your activities and keep your energy high during the language learning process. * The truth about "cognate rules" and why Olly never introduces them into his language teaching. * Why you need to spend time with the language you're learning. * Why not having time is rarely the real problem for most language learners, certainly not in the way they think. * Why the struggles most people experience with language learning have nothing to do with the language. * The different kinds of "emotional turmoil" Olly has experienced and how to understand them when – not if – they happen to you. * How do to deal with the consequences of learning hurdles people face so you don't have to give up. * How to find and enjoy language learning experiences that don't force you into panic mode. * The real reasons why the Michel Thomas recordings may work for some people, but don't for others. * The importance of listening and reading in ways that allow you to listen and observe naturally without the need for rules. * Why story is the root of all human communication and learning. * How story can connect you to all elements of the culture of your target language. * How to structure your week so that you have time every day for learning with a language course online. * How to model yourself after a great linguist to learn any language. * Why taking long breaks does not help in learning a language. * Why "conquer the morning, conquer the day" is not true for all people and how to find other times of day for consistently showing up to accomplish your learning goals. * How Digital Amnesia plays into the language learning experience and how Olly thrives by keeping a healthy majority of his learning offline. * The only two apps Olly uses in his language learning and why they're useful. * The true path to "deep focus" with simple study tools that immerse you in the task. * The truth about the scientific evidence for how and when language learning takes place. Further Resources From Olly Richards Olly Richards on Crazy Language Learning Goals & Mastering Motivation Olly Richards Talks About Language Tech & Real Communication Olly's Fluent Spanish Academy Channel on YouTube How about you? What's your experience with online language learning courses? How have you balanced them with offline materials and avoided some of the "Digital Amnesia" issues we've discussed in this episode? The post How To Consistently Get Quick Victories With Language Learning Courses appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

There are three causes of forgetting that memory science strangely never mentions. Oh sure, the scientists talk about short term memory and long term memory. Retrieval failure and ineffective coding. Motivated forgetting and memory loss due to brain trauma, not unlike the kind we learned about in this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast (and how to bounce back from it): All important stuff. But let me ask you this: What About The Real Causes Of Forgetting? To find out, you've got to be a bit of detective. I'm going to suggest three of the biggest causes, but at the end of the day, you also need to seek out the causes in your own life. Like a detective. But the following three are widely unknown, and the best time to start ousting them from your life is now. The first is simple: It's general mental and memory fitness. But the majority of people? They're doing nothing about it. And get this: Not Exercising Your Memory Is A HUGE Mistake Why? Well, let me ask you something: You know all those little slips all memory experts make from time to time? They're nothing. N-o-t-h-i-n-g. Certainly nothing like the Garden of Oblivion featured on this Wiki page about forgetting some people make it out to seem: Definitely not a problem compared to the mountains a person with decent memory skills can move when push comes to shove. But if you're not keeping your mind fit with organic memory exercise – not "apps" – you're cruisin' for a bruisin'. The solution? Develop some organic memory fitness instead. To help, here are 5 Memory Improvement Exercises That Don't Require Another Annoying App. The Big Fat Memory Lie People Love To Tell A lot of people out their aren't telling the truth. They'll tell anyone who'll listen about having a weak or bad memory. Look: It's bad enough if you lie to yourself. But lying to others? That's a big problem. Why? Because those to whom you lie might actually hold you accountable to the things you tell them about your memory. Never Ever (Ever!) Insult Your Memory Look, I know it seems innocent enough, but telling people you have a bad memory is far from in. In fact, it's a crime. Why? Because your thoughts matter and you should NEVER insult your memory. How To Stop Lying About Your Memory Instead of saying, "I can't remember" and things like that, try something else. When memory "fails," try saying things like, "I'm sorry. I'm always exercising my memory. It'll come back to me." I promise. By doing this, you'll create an entirely new and more powerful relationship with your memory. This new relationship will make you very happy and bring you immense success. How To Chill Out And Remember More Do you want to know why memory improvement seems like such a drag when others teach it? Because they put so much pressure on making it happen. No. Oh no. Please no. We're not in a competition here, not in the Magnetic Memory Method universe. Sure, the Magnetic Memory Method can help you win competitions. I'm happy to announce that my memory training has contributed to such triumphs not once, but twice: That's a happy side effect, and one I'm proud of. By my core focus falls on getting you to relax your memory so you can slide important info into long term memory. Info you want to stay for awhile. Not Bland, Boring And Mind-Butchering Info You'll Never Use! In some cases (like when you're learning a language or skill), you want that info to stay forever. The blunt, cold hard truth: If you're as rigid as a rock, it never will. Information will bounce off your brain faster than you can blink. So here's what I suggest: Learn how to concentrate and improve memory Buddha-style. Then leave a comment below and tell me what you think. Are you making any of the 3 memory mistakes that cause so much forgetting? And let me know: What do you need to help you remove these mistakes? If it's a memory improvement video course, just click on the image below to get started: But please promise me one thing: Promise that you'll stay away from memory supplement pills. Trust me. Not only does taking them put a burden on your memory (you have to remember to take them, after all). But they don't get at the root causes of why we forget and all the core factors that influence forgetting. Look forward to hearing from you in the comments and talk soon! Sincerely, Anthony P.S. Do you have this book? The post 3 Causes Of Forgetting Science Never Mentions And How To Stop Them appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Human anatomy isn't exactly linear, is it? I mean, we love using the term "from head to toe," but… When it comes to everything that happens between these two parts… There aren't a whole lot of straight lines. That's why we need a dedicated Memory Palace strategy when it comes to memorizing human anatomy. And even if the human body is ultimately a whole unit, it is built from multiple systems. That's great because the Magnetic Memory Method operates from the basis of multiple Memory Palaces. (I prefer to think of these Memory Palace systems as "networks" because of how one Memory Palace strengthens the other.) Here's the raw truth: If you're using just one Memory Palace, you're not even close to the awesome power of multiple locations optimized for memorizing information like human anatomy. But first things first: Why Use A Memory Palace For Human Anatomy? When you look at the alternatives, the most direct and honest answer is this: Because Memory Palace systems and mnemonics are quite simply more fun. More fun than software. More fun than flash cards. More fun than the stress and strain of forgetting the words again and again (especially if you have medical exams looming). But the reality is this: Not All People Love Using A Memory Palace For Human Anatomy! And you know? As shocking as we mnemonists find this to be, it's totally normal. You don't have to enjoy the process to get results. But it certainly helps. And you'll probably find that the reason you don't like using memory techniques for human anatomy is simply that you find it a boring topic. If that's the case, then it's not the mnemonics to blame. And it's probably time to start thinking about how to live a life worth remembering. What Is A Memory Palace? Assuming you're on board to use memory techniques for human anatomy whether you love mnemonics or not, it's useful to know exactly what we're talking about. Unfortunately, the term "Memory Palace" is poorly misunderstood. This leads to a lot of questions, for which "yes" is usually the answer. Yes, you can reuse Memory Palaces (just watch out for the Ugly Sister Effect). Yes, a Memory Palace is something that you create in your mind. Yes, it is ideally based on a place that you've seen before. Yes, you can make virtual Memory Palaces (or even Memory Palaces based on movies and TV series). But at their core, Memory Palaces are really just points in space. You are turning spatial coordinates already known to you (thanks to a free resource called spatial memory) into mnemonic devices, one Magnetic Station at a time. The Goal With Proper Memory Palace Creation Is Simple: You use your spatial memory to help create efficient Memory Palaces that REDUCE cognitive overwhelm. This point is significant because most people create Memory Palaces in ways that INCREASE cognitive overwhelm. That's because they're trying to imagine the Memory Palaces at the same time as the Magnetic Imagery used in Memory Palaces. And that, Magnetic friend, is a huge no-no. (More on avoiding that huge no-no in a bit.) How To Create A Memory Palace For Human Anatomy The topic is best learned with some Memory Palaces up on the screen and a "homework" assignment. Just click here to get started: Once you've taken the free course and submitted your assignment, the only thing left to do is create multiple Memory Palaces and use them. How To Know How Many Memory Palaces You Need To create your Memory Palace networks in the best possible way, it's good to decide how many Memory Palaces you need in advance. Here's a YouTube Live discussion we help that will help you understand the concept: To put this part of the art of memory into the context of human anatomy, let's say you're going to become an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. I'm not a specialist myself, but even without invoking Digital Amnesia by using Google to hunt down some info, it's safe to guess that I'll want to memorize the anatomy and systems related to the: Inner Ear Middle Ear Outer Ear Nose Throat Mouth Skull So, keeping it simple for the sake of creating an example, that's at least seven Memory Palaces. Or is it? I ask because it looks like the entire ear could be covered by a single Memory Palace. Myself, I would start with the outer ear and focus on the three most important parts on most ear diagrams I've seen: Auricle Auditory canal Tympanic membrane All three could fit in a single room based on three Magnetic Stations (or less). In the next room, I would have the middle ear, but probably divide this into two rooms because the ossicles have parts of their own: malleus, incus, stapes. And the ossicle bones don't stop with just 3 names! They are also called the hammer, anvil and stirrup. For that, I would probably use the Pillar Technique. Ultimately, the exact management comes down to your experience using these techniques. Using The Power Of Pre-Organized Structures If you're using the Magnetic Memory Method, you could alphabetize your Memory Palace network. In this case, it probably will not make sense alphabetize the information inside of each Memory Palace, but it is an option depending on your Mnemonic Style. The reason the alphabet is such a powerful tool is this: Just as you know the buildings from which you create Memory Palaces by heart, you also know the alphabet by heart. This simple fact means that when you're practicing Recall Rehearsal, you can easily progress through the Memory Palaces in an order. You can also create a mnemonic hook built into the network that tells you which Memory Palace needs to be renewed next. Again, everything begins with knowing how much you need to know so that you can get your Memory Palaces created and tethered to the information you need to learn. From there, you can proceed based on the robust foundation of pre-organized structures in the world such as the alphabet. How To Use A Memory Palace For Human Anatomy The next step involves creating Magnetic Imagery. What is Magnetic Imagery? It's incredibly easy. Let's say you want to memorize the three parts of the ossicle (all six names). You would next create a Magnetic Image while mentally considering a point in space in a Memory Palace. You don't have to literally "see" these things in your mind. And yes, you can get results from this technique even if you have aphantasia: All that matters is that you can tap into your Magnetic Modes and start to create Magnetic Imagery that is: Bright Vibrant Dynamic Big Colorful Crazy Strange Emotional Physical Animated Forceful Loud Rhyming Punning And beginning to play with these terms now… I am thinking of my own Ear, Nose and Throat specialist from when I was a kid… In one corner of his examination room, I begin to imagine Malcolm McDowell wrestling with an eel… Now he's smashing the Toys R Us logo into the eel using a plastic toy "hammer"… Like this: Malcolm + eel + hammer + Toys R Us logo = Malleus and hammer. Sure, that's a picture, but I'm not really "seeing" it in my mind. I'm feeling it, hearing it, sensing it, playing with it as a concept. Put all of these sensory elements together with your spatial memory in a Memory Palace and you will be able to encode and decode any information in a way that enters long term memory fast. In fact, there techniques are … So Simple, Even A Child Can Do It! Really, there's no reason to struggle with using memory techniques for human anatomy. You've just got to get your strategy sorted out. And I know that a lot of people think it takes too much time… Looking at the amount to be learned… Making some projections and equations… Creating the Memory Palaces for anatomy… They think it's going to be too much work. But here's the thing: If It Feels Like Work… You're Doing It Wrong! I make no apology for this declaration. It just simply is the case that mnemonics for any subject are never hard. And they're certainly NEVER work. You're at play in the fields of your mind! You just need to understand something Tony Buzan once suggested: The Rules Set You Free And speaking of rules, there's just one more set you need to understand. Once you've got your Memory Palaces up and running… Once you're filling them up with memorable Magnetic Imagery so that you can learn and encode all the human anatomy words that you need linked with the areas of the body to which they correspond… You need only get those words into long-term memory. It's really easy. The Memory Magic Of Recall Rehearsal Just revisit the Magnetic Imagery you created in your Memory Palaces. As with how you will develop your own mnemonic style over time, you'll also develop your own style of Recall Rehearsal. You'll learn exactly how many times you need to revisit the information in order for it to stick. And you always have ways to speed up the process using the Big Five Of Learning that I teach throughout the Magnetic Memory Method trainings. Follow these principles using your Memory Palace network and you will never forget human anatomy again. On the other hand, fail to follow these principles, and you can hope for the best with the flash cards, spaced-repetition software and other techniques that you hate because they keep letting you down. These tools can be good, but we must admit one thing: They are built for use in environments that create digital amnesia. But understand this: A Good Memory Palace And Mnemonics Practice Will Never Let You Down! Not if you're using them well. And using them well means that you're making your memory more and more Magnetic each and every time you sit down to study. It's really that easy. Again, if you need help understanding Memory Palace creation, please take the free course. Or if you prefer ongoing support, consider subscribing to the Magnetic Memory Method Print Newsletter. Enjoy your new ability to use a Memory Palace to memorize human anatomy and talk soon! The post How to Create A Memory Palace For Memorizing Human Anatomy appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Nothing is more valuable than the benefit of hindsight from someone with experience, especially if you want to become a mnemonics dictionary. I know because I've been there. I used to struggle. Big time. But then something changed. And these days, many people marvel at how rapidly I toss out powerful mnemonic examples on demand. The truth: I trained myself to do it. And I've trained thousands of others since then to unlock this simple power. The only problem is… A lot of people never reach their goal of being about to pop out reliable Magnetic Imagery (a.k.a. mnemonic imagery) because they get the impression that creating mnemonics is too hard. (That's too bad, because the truth is, you don't even have to have a dictionary full of images in your mind in order to mnemonics to work.) People also worry that creating effective mnemonics takes too much time, even though all the evidence in the world shows that if you'll just learn the skill, it gets faster and faster. Here's What Most Unsuccessful People Do… They go running all over the Internet looking for a mnemonic generator or mnemonics dictionary, never understanding that true skill with memory techniques comes from honing your "mnemonics psychology," a.k.a memory improvement mindset. And let's not even try to dodge one basic truth: Becoming a person who can create useful mnemonics on the fly (even faster than they can create an impromptu Memory Palace) requires some personal power. After all, you're summoning up the best powers of your imagination, after all. And that takes… A Magnetic Fountain Of Mental Energy! The truth is that getting started can feel like effort. And some beginners with mnemonics need more energy than others. But here's the thing: The effort needed when using memory techniques like a Memory Palace all amount to a special kind of effort. A kind of effort that is not only easy and fun to employ, but one that gets easier over time as you transform into a mnemonics dictionary. What Is A Mnemonics Dictionary? Basically, most mnemonics dictionaries serve as a crutch. Some mnemonics dictionaries show you pictures that will help you remember words. They could be for medical terminology or help remembering vocabulary while learning a language. For Chinese, Chineasy essentially serves that function. I've made my own version for MandarinHQ's Real Spoken Chinese Vault with special video walkthroughs. But the difference between Chineasy and the kind of mnemonics dictionaries I create is this: Whereas others tend to throw you piles of mnemonic examples on end without helping you understand your mnemonic style, I teach you the skill behind creating the mnemonics. Not only so you can develop your own mnemonics dictionary for a language you're studying or a particular body of expertise. But so that you actually understand how your memory and imagination work and can ultimately teach these simple skills to others. That leads to pure happiness. Seriously, just look at these smiles: Best part? When you learn how to fish instead of letting someone fish for you, the reduction in effort happens fast. And you come to understand one fundamental truth most people don't know: You're Using Mnemonics All The Time Anyway! You just don't realize it. And you probably don't have a positive outlook on what "effort" really means. The Truth About "Effort" Everyone Who Wants To Be A Mnemonics Dictionary Needs To Know The effort involved in using mnemonics is like kissing or eating chocolate. Once you understand this simple point, you become the world's best mnemonic generator. And because you'll remember all the mnemonics you'll create, you'll also become the world's greatest mnemonics dictionary. It's Really Simple To Understand That Math, Isn't It? Whether it's kissing or eating chocolate, in both cases, you're using the muscles of your mouth. And in both cases, your mouth requires energy. But even though effort is involved, you hardly notice the effort because the experience of kissing and tasting the chocolate feels so good. Whipping Out Magnetic Imagery Like A Human Mnemonics Dictionary Feels Even Better! Seriously. Get this simple point and you will quickly become a walking, talking mnemonics dictionary. And the wonderful after effects linger for a long time too. But I still have my regrets. I experienced painful learning curves. I sometimes got frustrated. Here's the thing: Becoming A Mnemonics Dictionary Is A Journey, Not A Destination It doesn't have to take long to get rolling (2-5 hours with the Magnetic Memory Method). But it is a skill that you grow with over time. More than a decade in, I'm still growing myself. And trust me: If you're still a beginner, you can't even imagine all the things memory techniques will do for you when you're just at the beginning. Best part: When you stay on the path with mnemonics, you have so many things to look forward to. More than you could ever imagine. But if you're still sitting on the fence about becoming a mnemonics dictionary, these 5 things I wish I knew before starting with mnemonics will help you. As always, everything starts with the foundations of the Memory Palace. 1. No One Cares About The Size Of Your Memory Palace When people start out with mnemonics, they usually start working on one MASSIVE Memory Palace. I made this mistake myself once in awhile at the beginning, and have at times have created mega-sized Memory Palaces. But almost every time… The bigger the Memory Palace, the harder it was to use. They were effectively useless. Small is almost always better, like this one from a Magnetic Memory Method student: What I've learned is that a Memory Palace is usually most effective when it is: * Small in size * Based on corners and larger fixtures * Used for memorizing tactically chosen information * Used for drilling immediately useful information into long-term memory But that shopping mall? Grand Central Station? Tiergarten? No – they're all far too massive for the beginner mind to conceive. And that means you have less time and attention to focus on what matters. Instead, work on developing… The Skill Set Of A Mnemonics Dictionary Master! For the mind of a memory skills master, massive Memory Palaces are indeed interesting, but not nearly as useful as smaller Memory Palaces for the same reason. The focus should always be on the Magnetic Imagery, not on the Memory Palace. Because even if the Memory Palace technique is the ultimate foundation, here's the truth: Memory Palaces Are Just One Tool In The Toolbox Of Mnemonics And without mastering them and moving past this skill, you never quite get to the part that matters: Using Magnetic Imagery so that you can have a mnemonics dictionary in your head. Frankly, your Memory Palace should be like a constellation. You should create it with enough simplicity that you can see and feel it in the same way you see the Big Dipper. In other words, you know it's the Big Dipper at a glance, WITHOUT having to impose a spoon on the constellation. Where does my biggest Memory Palace cap out? 50 Magnetic Stations appears to be my general sweet spot. (Yes, I have a magnificent Memory Palace with 58 Magnetic Stations, but 5 rooms with 10 Stations in each is a solid number when you can get it.) And as luck would have it, you usually have no problem putting that together in an apartment or home. The Mnemonic Magic Of Drilling Down But here's the thing: I've recently been enjoying great benefits from thinking of individual rooms as a Memory Palace. Whereas in the past, I would have considered my entire apartment a Memory Palace, I now think of the studio, bathroom, kitchen, etc. as their own independent Memory Palaces. My current apartment is still held for the exclusive purpose of learning Chinese, but I've found that shifting from "apartment as Memory Palace" to "room as Memory Palace" has made Recall Rehearsal much more fruitful. 2. The Map Is Not The Territory Over the years, I've made many Memory Palaces that have never been used. This is a good thing! Why? Because Memory Palace creation is a mnemonic skill until itself. Memory Palace creation exercises your spatial memory and keeps you thinking about the most important mnemonic strategy we've got: location-based mnemonics. Using a Memory Palace, on the other hand, is also an art unto itself. It's in using the Memory Palace that the real memory magic happens because the other tools of mnemonics come into play: Magnetic Association and Recall Rehearsal. So the irony is that you really can improve as a Memory Palace architect merely by blueprinting. But the only true growth and depth if insight takes place when you dive in and spend some time inside your mnemonic creation. 3. The Memory Palace Must Be Drawn I spent a long time creating Memory Palaces based on what I read in books. But never once did anyone suggest drawing out a Memory Palace. Looking back, this strikes me as insane. Every advantage I've experienced and principle I've discovered for creating well-formed Memory Palaces comes from getting pen and pencil in hand. And in nearly every case, the drawn Memory Palace works far better than one that is merely imagined on its own. Since teaching this important principle, I've received hundreds upon hundreds of Memory Palace drawings from people. They don't always follow the key principles of identifying certain core Magnetic Stations. But because they've drawn the Memory Palace, it's easy for us to look together and better strategize the mnemonic journey they'll be using to learn and remember their topic. 4. Small Sets Of Info Enter Long-Term Memory With Greater Ease Than Monster Lists Although any mnemonist can Magnetically encode and memorize large amounts of information, there's a difference between short term and long term recall. And if you want the amount of info in your mind that only a mnemonics dictionary can provide… Long-term retention is always the goal. Think about it in business terms: Maximizing the return on time and energy invested is the key factor. But because not all information is created equal, no reasonable person can expect a fast and solid guideline that applies across the board. The amount of Recall Rehearsal needed for some words may be more than others. You might encode one mathematical formula once and hold it in memory forever and require more exposure to another, even if it's technically easier. That said, Recall Rehearsal, based on Dominic O'Brien's Rule of Five, is a go-to starting point. Modify from there based on your needs and work with small sets of information for each recall session so you maintain focus over the long haul. You'll get more information into long-term memory by working with small sets over the course of a month than you will by cramming. 5. Never Cave Into Self-Critical Perfectionism And Judgment Judging the appropriateness of my Magnetic Imagery plagued me for far too long. No, I've never been a prude. But I was raised to be a gentleman and had suffered some abuses to my imagination from a religious upbringing that caused me concern as I developed my memory skills. Don't fall prey to internal or external judgment. Memory techniques work best when you eliminate the stress of judgment. Although the associations you make might seem extreme, they're just in your mind. Chances are you'll even forget them anyhow, holding only the target information in mind. Likewise, don't let perfection get in the way. The Magnetic Memory Method shows you the best ways to proceed, but again, the map is not the territory. You've got to dive in, take action and even make the odd mistake. Without taking action, you cannot learn. Knowing what I know now and having experienced the absolute power a superb memory brings, I wish I'd known these five things in advance. They are game changers when you have large learning projects. And as we all know, time is so short in this life. I hope this set of 5 hindsights help you avoid some of the problems I faced so you can race straight to getting results with the mnemonics dictionary you're building in your mind. So, what are you waiting for?… Ready, set, memorize! The post Want To Become A Mnemonics Dictionary? 5 Powerful Secrets Revealed! appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.