The Magnetic Memory Method Podcast

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.

It happens. We all have verbal diarrhea from time to time. Sometimes we say something we think is funny. Other times we're just being rude. Heck, sometimes we don't even know why we get the feeling we've said something wrong or offensive. For whatever reason, often within seconds… Ours words suddenly rub us the wrong way. Worse: The bad feeling that won't go away starts to itch… It may even burn, sometimes leading us to say even more ludicrous things that make us feel even worse. Once those words are out there … they're out there. The worst thing of all: This Problem Chews Up Your Mental Space And Memory Resources! Make no mistake: The things we say can be damaging. Very damaging, especially regarding how others perceive us and how we perceive ourselves. But it's probably our self-perception that takes the hardest hit, especially if we have OCD tendencies and repeat words and phrases in our minds. (That happens to me a lot, along with earworms.) The "Childish" Reasons People Self-Punish Ultimately, no one knows why we self-punish. It could be that our bodies and minds are trying to build up energy to deal with the pain. But we do it in a childish way. Ludwig Wittgenstein has been credited with originating the story of the child who made his way into a cocktail party. While there, the child banged his knee on a table and started crying loudly. "There, there" said all the adults when they saw his bloodied knee. And the adults continued cooing at the child to comfort him as they applied rubbing alcohol and a bandaid to the wound. Now imagine the same cocktail party. This time, instead of a child, a grown man bangs his knee. He feels the exact same pain and his wound produces the same amount of blood. But the difference is that the man does not bawl in public. Instead, the grownup observes silently that he has banged his knee and excuses himself to the washroom. There, he finds the rubbing alcohol on his own and administers a bandaid. Do You Scream In Silence? Why does the man do all of this in silence instead of crying his heart out? Simple: Social conditioning over the years has not changed the nature of the pain or the work needed to care for the wound. But social conditioning has changed the nature of what makes for an appropriate response to the pain. According to some self-punishment theories, even the maturest of adults have minds that still need conditioning so that they respond in mature ways to mental pain. Exactly How To Mature Your Mind And Stop Mentally Punishing Yourself I don't know about you, but in my past, I've called myself an idiot for the verbal mistakes I've made at least a thousand times. In fact… I've said many things worse than that to myself. And no, I'm not going to repeat them. But I've come to understand that they were just the signs and symptoms of an untrained mind. There was nothing wrong with that mind. It just hadn't been matured. And although this self-punishment still happens once in awhile, I've learned to settle the self-abuse down. The cure mostly comes down to a combination of relaxation, mindset and huge respect for memory and the practice of memory improvement and maintenance over many years. Here are four ways I've dealt with the self-punishment so that it no longer chews up memory power, no longer bashes self-esteem and no longer has the power to reduce life satisfaction: Tip #1: Learn The Scary Truth About Social Inattention Here's a power reality: A HUGE percentage of the things we say to others tend to be forgotten. In fact, thanks to something called inattentional blindness, most people barely perceive what you're saying at all. Why? Because the people you're talking to are barely paying attention. Even if they were, human memory is flawed in your favor. If the minds of other people are barely tracking a tenth of what you're saying, they are encoding far less than that into memory. The Ultimate Proof That Few People Remember What You Say Want proof? Go ahead and study yourself when listening to others and I think you'll find that it's true. You're not focused like a laser on what they're saying. You're not enjoying photographic memory, nor recording everything like a video camera. Quite the opposite. The truth? Your Mind Is All Over The Place! More than half the time, you're thinking about what you're going to say next. You're probably even obsessively repeating what you want to say in your mind so you won't forget. The rest of your conscious mind is either thinking about the past, the future or fantasizing about some alternate present. This significant amount of brain activity means that you'll miss entire details completely. All this happens despite the fact that you'll be experiencing reality as an unbroken continuity. Scary, but true. What this all means is that when you say inappropriate things, you shouldn't get too worried about it and start flagellating yourself. You also shouldn't start self-punishing yourself for having the attention span of a goldfish (you don't). But if you get all hot and bothered about something you said, the best trick I know is to confront the feeling head-on. Just ask the person point blank: "Did what I said about x a little earlier offend you? Because I apologize if it did." Chances are you're the only one bothered by what you said, and it's probably already been forgotten – assuming it was registered in the first place. If you punish yourself at all for things you've said, please take up this practice of publicly confronting this feeling. You will feel tremendous relief when you do. Tip #2: Take Responsibility For Your Verbal Oil Spills As I've just suggested, one great solution to managing your anxiety about verbal diarrhea is to confront it directly. If you've said something that bothers you, don't be afraid to draw attention to it. And go in prepared to do so. Decide to be a conscientious conversationalist and own up to every faux pas you make. In other words: If you say something that either is insulting or you feel could be interpreted as insulting, be the one to call yourself out on it. What's the worst that can happen? The answer is simple: The worst that can happen is that people think you're weird… Not such a bad thing, is it? In all likelihood, they'll probably appreciate you more and admire you. Why? Because you take ownership over your mouth – even if they never noticed the thing you said in the first place. Tip #3: Always Be Cool I can't always pull it off the Always Be Cool rule due to food sensitivities and psoriasis arthritis. Unfortunately, even with the strict dietary controls I place on my diet, it's impossible to know the location of every farm and every nibble eaten by every chicken. So yes, some things send me into a conniption that can last far too long. But overall, I'm generally a calm and cool guy. I owe that stability to a few things. The first is regular meditation. I practice multiple kinds, mostly structured around the sit-just-to-sit variety I learned from an Alan Watts recording. I'll also practice Savasana, breath-withholding and walking meditations that incorporate a bit of both. (Yes, you can lay down in parks during walks.) Use Memory Techniques Everyday For Mental Relief Second, I use memory techniques everyday. For reasons that go beyond learning. Make no mistake: A lot of people use memory techniques as a means to an end, which is great. That's what memory techniques are there for. Learning a new language, remembering numbers, remembering names, and more. Why Memory Techniques Are Better Than Psychoanalysis But there's also tremendous therapy to be had from memory techniques. They make you feel confident, composed and relaxed. These outcomes are especially important when you're a guy like myself who is always fighting for stability and hoping to stay off medication to do it. If you want the background to that story, here's a video from quite some time ago when I declared I was going on the psychopharmaceutical sauce for good: As brave as I sound in that video, it was actually one of the scariest things I've done in my life. But everything worked out. Why? The answer is simple: Memory Techniques + Meditation = The Perfect Time Machine When you practice meditation and memory, you're always more in the moment. In other words, you've got a "time machine" that keeps you focused on the present. Why is being present so cool? Because true presence means that you're paying attention to what you're saying BEFORE you say it. And that's the ultimate solution to self-punishment: Pre-awareness that prevents you from making the kinds of errors you punish yourself for in the first place. Tip #4: Learn To Listen To Yourself And Others This one is going to require a bit of self-analysis and the study of others. It might also be considered half-lunacy, as Freud himself noted in his General Introduction to Psychoanalysis lectures. Beyond that, the premise is that we all unconsciously encode messages in the things we say that seek to communicate what we're really thinking. We typically tend to send these messages in the form of the stories we tell or off-handed remarks. They can be attempts at manipulation, retaliation or simply telling truths too dangerous for our conscious mind to handle. I learned to spot the tendency to encode information unconsciously in myself and others from Robert Langs. Langs was a controversial figure with whom I underwent Communicative Psychotherapy in New York. His style of therapy is based almost entirely on dream interpretation in a situation in which death anxiety is deliberately invoked by the therapist. Langs died recently and I'm still stunned by his passing. He seemed like one of those timeless figures who would always be around, particularly because his ideas were so impactful and larger than life. Although I only spent six months in weekly sessions with him, in addition to reading his books, my time with Langs completely changed my way of living and communicating. How To Get The Best Psychotherapy In The World At Very Little Cost The best way to learn how to spot your unconscious communications without the help of a therapist is to journal your dreams. You're not going to try and interpret them as such, but just get a feeling for the kinds of narratives that come up. In a session with Langs, he would ask you to narrate one or more dreams. He would then have you free associate to it and recite whatever came to your mind. This task always brought up a lot of irrational resistance in me. There was never any reason not to tell Langs the things that came to my mind, but yet it would often seem threatening to do so. Sometimes the resistance would bring the session to a complete shutdown. Gradually I learned to open up and reveal the connections that would come up in my mind. I couldn't always do it, but Langs would always ask what the dream and how I related it had to do with him. It was always a perplexing question, but I'll never forget the day I finally drummed up the courage to start answering it. Because the truth is that when we tell stories to others, there does always seem to be some comment we're making on the present situation and the person to whom we're speaking. So if you can find someone to whom you can tell your dreams and who can hear what you're REALLY saying, this is a great way to practice the awareness of what you're saying in any conversation. And you can learn to listen to others better too. That doesn't mean judging them or necessarily telling them what you've perceived. But it will help you form better ideas about the real messages you're receiving and shape how you respond in more sensitive ways. Ready To Stop The Self-Punishment? Although it won't necessarily happen overnight and may still recur from time to time, you can get a handle on punishing yourself for saying stupid things. Just use the tips above and you'll start to see a difference immediately. And if you're interested in learning more about how self-directed dream therapy can help, I recommend getting my video course with its bonuses, How To Remember Your Dreams. In this course, you'll learn more about hearing your true voice by unlocking an aspect of memory improvement that you've likely never considered before. Use Coupon Code "DREAM" and take $50 off your tuition in this exclusive memory improvement course. Alternatively, you can get How to Remember Your Dreams as part of the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass. You might want to take my free course on creating Memory Palaces first. The choice is up to you and we'd love to hear you in the conversation below. What are your thoughts on defeating self-punishment for the stupid things we sometimes say and do? The post How To Stop Punishing Yourself When You Say Stupid Things appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Hate flying? I sure do, but with a solid walking meditation, all aspects of the flights I take go much smoother. Same thing with going to the dentist or making your way to the surgical table. Having a go-to walking meditation method takes the edge off. Oh, and walking meditation helps create everyday stability too. And since most of us walk at least a little every day, why not use that time to experience memory improvement? The question is… What is walking meditation? It's a means of practicing mindfulness and presence. And how mindfulness and presence help your memory is about to be revealed… 3 Reasons You Should You Develop A Walking Meditation Practice 1. Meditation reduces stress and causes your brain to release healing chemicals. 2. Meditation has also been shown to improve concentration and memory, likely because of how the practice makes you more attentive throughout each day. And since you can't remember what you haven't registered, anything that increases your present-moment awareness is worth every second you spend developing it. 3. Meditation is a form of rest. In my own experience, a solid meditation of just 9-15 minutes can feel just as restful as a good night's sleep. Yes, meditation is that powerful. Why Walking Meditation Is Bliss On Wheels And the fact that you can meditate on the way to the grocery store makes everything about the practice even better. Instead of frittering away the time on useless thoughts and worries, you can focus on your physical being in the present moment. You'll enjoy life more and experience increased health. Both of which can lead to more time in which to enjoy your improved awareness. To help you out, here are three relatively unheard of ways to kickstart one of the best habits you'll ever develop. 1. Breath Counting Meditation One of the easiest ways to start a walking meditation practice involves nothing more than tracking and counting your breathing. Every time you breathe in, give the breath a number. Likewise, give each exhale a number. I like to count each number twice, i.e.: In 1 Out 1 … In 2 Out 2 … In 3 Out 3 … You can count to as high a number as you wish. Take note of anything that distracts you or causes you to lose count. Then gently bring yourself back and start over at '1' anytime you wish. Leave Judgment At The Door No matter what happens along the journey, it's important not to judge yourself or cast evil spells against your memory if you lose count while practicing. Simply allow yourself to practice. If you choose to see it as a challenge, always do so in good spirits. If you set meditation of any kind up as a game, you will find it frustrating because if it's a game, random thoughts will always win. But meditation is not a game. If it were, the only way to lose is by not practicing it at all. 2. Syncing Counting With Steps And Breathing Another way to count your breath as you practice walking meditation is to sync each breath with a step. You can create a number of patterns starting with a one-to-one correspondence. To begin, inhale and step and then exhale and step. Next, take two steps per breath. As you inhale, take two steps and then exhale as you take two steps. Increase the number of steps you take per breath up until 10 steps per breath or until it feels uncomfortable. The goal is to maintain focus on the practice, not pass out, so take care that you increase your steps slowly. Follow your instincts and enjoy the process. Pay attention to everything happening to you, including heart rate changes and thoughts that arise. 3. Sensory Style Walking Meditation You can practice the next approach on its own or in combination with breathing. The goal is to focus intensely on your physical body and its connection to the surrounding world. Beginning with your feet, notice each area and how it contacts the ground. Notice how your feet handle your weight and explore placing different levels of emphasis on various parts of your feet as you move. (You can also practice meditatively studying the way your feet contact the world while standing.) From your feet, scan your entire body. Notice the sensations of your clothing on your skin. Then, narrow your attention on the feel and temperature of the air. Instead of hearing environmental sounds, practice experiencing them as physical sensations in your ears. (You can practice sound as a physical sensation with music too.) The more immersed in physical sensation you become, the less random thoughts control your mind. You'll find the world unbelievably peaceful when you take it as a physical reality without thinking about it or making judgments. Take It To The Next Level With Impromptu Memory Palaces Once you've had some experience with walking meditation, try using the same immersive and breathing principles while reading, eating and even conversing with other people. You'll be more involved with your life in the present moment. You can also use the technique to help you create impromptu Memory Palaces: It's a super-simple technique and one you can use any time you wish in just about any location. The Ultimate Walking Meditation Benefit In a word? Presence. Presence is the most precious thing in the world. Why? Because it helps you encode more information into memory. But please note that meditation works best with regular practice. Many experts agree that a minimum of 4 sessions per week are required to experience substantial benefits. I would suggest going in with an abundance mentality and meditating daily. The trick is to take it small at the beginning and enjoy the ride. Meditation is best learned by doing and walking meditation requires doing above all. Like when you're walking to your next flight and feeling anxious… Or taking a trip down to surgery… Don't overthink the process. Don't give in to analysis paralysis. Instead, take action. I've shared these three practices as a guide for exploration so you don't have to do anything but implement the techniques. And after you've taken action, then let analysis have a cameo. Analyze what happens after you perform a walking meditation. That way, you can improve your practice over time. And do feel free to report your results. I'd love to hear what happens! The post Walking Meditation: 3 Memory Improving Ways to Walk Yourself Into Bliss appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Even if astrology is complete nonsense, it's a neat memory exercise to know the Zodiac inside and out. Plus, committing the star signs to memory lays the groundwork for memorizing the months of the year in any language – fast! The memory skills needed to memorize Zodiac and horoscope info all begin with accepting one fundamental truth: If you can imagine something, you can remember it. The Undeniable Truth About Your Imagination A lot of people attracted to memory techniques get hung up on the idea that mnemonics involve visualization. Not true! Memory techniques involve imagination, and… If you're reading and understanding these words now, you definitely have one. Each letter and every word is an image… Your brain is rapidly transforming these micro and macro images into sounds and meanings… And delivering these meanings to the Understanding Nations in your brain. Introducing VACKSOG… The United Nations Of Your Brain That's right: Your brain is a United Nations of Understanding. Together, your internal "UN" understands a variety of images: Visual Auditory Conceptual Kinesthetic Spatial Olfactory Gustatory When we put all of these together, we make your memory "Magnetic." What does this idea of "Magnetic Memory" mean? Simple. It means that the information you want to stay in the Understanding Nations of your brain remains. Anything that distracts or detracts is "Magnetically" repelled away. All you need are… 13 Simple Mental Images To Magnetize The Star Signs Into Your Mind Hold up now… 13?!? Aren't there only… 12 star signs? That's right. Don't get your knickers in a twist. We need one Magnetic Image to guide them into our long term memory. It's called a Memory Palace. This technique draws upon the spatial memory and spatial imagination of your brain. Don't know how to make a Memory Palace? No problem. Just claim this free, complimentary Memory Palace training kit: Once you have a Memory Palace with 12 Magnetic Stations, it's time to start associating each month with a simple Magnetic Image. Annoying Janet Smashes The Jam Jar Ever see Rocky Horror Picture Show? If so, then it's going to be easy to associate the abstract idea of January as a period of time with Janet from that movie. This Janet could serve as a one off image before you move to February, or she could be the Bridging Figure you follow throughout your Memory Palace for the Zodiac and other horoscope related information. Don't know Rocky Horror Picture show? No problem! Any Other Janet Or G.I. Jane Will Do! Perhaps even a close match like Jane Fonda. Or Janie from that Aerosmith song… The important point is to associate the Janet you pick with an object and an action. Smashing a jar of jam on the ground works well. Especially if you can make the jam specific. (Note: Some people in the memory training world call such a chain of associations PAO, and this is a rare case where I would use a small PAO set for a limited purpose. Here's why I normally do not use a PAO system, however.) Like the raspberry jam your babysitter used to make. Or the BOB jam in Sweden you remember from camping near Östhammar back in 2013. (Oh no, wait. That was me. Enjoyed BOB a lot that first while in Sweden. But the point remains the same: Specificity matters to your United Nations of Understanding.) The Gangster Unicorn Pops A Cap Let's review: At this point, you've got a Memory Palace. You've got someone named Janet in mind. She's smashing some particular jam that means something to you on the ground. Now you need to imagine something in your mind that you can associate with the weird-sounding word, "Capricorn." Like how about a gangster unicorn? You know the kind, right? They all wear a dark gangster hats, have a gold-capped teeth and swear they're gonna pop a cap in yo' you know what. Oh, and that ain't just any kind of gun he's toting. It's a gun that shoots corn. These are the unicorn's bullet caps. At the first Magnetic Station, associate Jane smashing a jam jar on the ground with the gangster unicorn furious enough in response to start shooting his corn gun. Rinse And Repeat A Bundle Of Associations Once you've completed this step, move on to the next Magnetic Station in your Memory Palace. Give each month a Magnetic Image and associate it with the star sign. Use the Memory Palace to help you practice recalling each association you create until each is in long term memory. The Rule of Five should get you there. Hold On There, Star Cowboy! What About The Specific Date Crossovers? Oh, right. In this strange and silly system, Capricorn becomes Aquarius on January 20th. No problem. I just see a giant nose sneeze so loudly it blows both Janet and the gangster unicorn out into space. Why a giant nose? Because I use the Major Method for numbers. That also happens to be my image for the 10 of Spades. If you don't have a way to memorize a deck of cards, here are 13 reasons you should have a system for remembering cards. Since all transitions across the Zodiac star signs occur between the 19th and 23rd, each transition point is covered by a playing card if you use the Magnetic Memory Method approach to card memory. Super-cool, or what? The D.O.C. C.U.R.E. For Memorizing The Zodiac Even though I've given only one example here, you can easily come up with your own for the rest of the year. And if you want, this precise same process will let you memorize the months of the year in any language. With a bit of imagination, you can come up with dozens of applications for the simple memory technique you've just learned. It all makes for great brain exercise, and you can give compelling cold readings if you're a mentalist or magician. (Just be honest about the fact that your psychic powers are not real. Ian Rowland's Full Facts Book of Cold Reading is highly recommended.) If you need more help with creating mnemonic examples, join the Masterclass. You'll be invited to an upcoming Implementation Bootcamp where we can practice creating the images you need together. The point? D.O.C. Doing is the Origin of Confidence Doing is the Origin of Creativity Doing is the origin of Consistency And together that amounts to the C.U.R.E. for forgetfulness. Create a Memory Palace for a targeted purpose Use your Memory Palace Review what you placed in your Memory Palace using Recall Rehearsal Explain what you remembered and enjoy That's all there is to it, and when you need more help (or just want to join the fun), the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass remains the world's premier resource for all things Memory Palace and beyond! The post How to Memorize Zodiac And Horoscope Info (For Entertainment Purposes Only) appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Would you like to eliminate the 'busy-work' from your language learning activities? You know the ones I mean: Scouring the Internet for vocabulary and phrases – the kind that will actually move you towards meaningful fluency… Hunting for images to open up the visual centers of your brain and memory… Driving yourself mad looking for audio clips that match the words and phrases you want to link together on your SRS device. Meet The 'Tesla' Of Language Learning Who Is Working To Engineer A Completely New Kind of Language Learning App As a polyglot, bestselling author and all-around nice guy, Gabriel Wyner is the man behind a completely new kind of language learning app and the book Fluent Forever: How To Learn Any Language Fast And Never Forget It. He also runs the incredible Fluent Forever blog where you can learn things like How To Use Flash Cards While Driving. And on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, scroll up, press play and you'll learn: Why pronunciation is one of the first barriers language learners face and why lack of familiarity with sounds frustrates most people. Why Gabriel talked about memory scientist Hermann Ebbinghaus as a masochist, and how he's helping eliminate masochism from the language learning process. The role of learning a language without translations to cause your brain to make associations you wouldn't discover any other way. How to create useful language connections using Google images and create fill-in-the-blank-sentences. Why Gabriel is working so hard to replace one of the most commonly used SRS software for language learning. Why you need to make your own flash cards and the decisions you can make to take a more active role in your language education experience. What makes SRS and search-based websites such a huge burden and Gabriel's hard won experiences learning to use them with "two-handed mouse and keyboard maneuvers." The difference between "busy-work" related to language learning and actually learning the language. The role of choice in language learning and why it pays off big time in language study. Why you need differentiation when looking at variation sentences for your memory to benefit from the Von Restorff Effect and related memory effects. The value of looking at words both in context and out of context. How engineering influenced Gabriel's quest to create a language-focused SRS app better than any other in existence. How Gabriel has tested and optimized the user experience in order to create an easier learning process with real people. The hidden connection between desperation, motivation and the unexplainable sources of inspiration that lead to the "joy-fueled" energy that propels learners towards fluency. Why you don't need to know your "why" to learn a language. Fascinating ideas on how to use recordings to help you remember gendered nouns – an incredible idea that you're not going to want to miss! Oh, and Gabriel's a great singer too. Check this out: So, what do you say? Are you excited? I know I am, so make sure to check out Gabriel's Language Blog on the Fluent Forever website so you can learn more about his upcoming app and how to get involved. Additional Resources for Gabriel Wyner And Fluent Forever Great Derek Sivers review of Fluent Forever Gabriel Wyner on the Art of Charm Podcast How to Teach Old Ears New Tricks on Scientific American by Gabriel Wyner MyQuest For Your Memory Improvement with Edan Kertis The post The Fluent Forever App: Eliminating The Busy Work From Language Learning With Gabriel Wyner appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.