The Magnetic Memory Method Podcast

Picture this: You're a bright student well on your way to completing your high school diploma, but also … You're a child of chaos. Yes, you love your parents, but … It's been a rocky road. You live an all too interesting life. And most days, school is the last thing on your mind. Plus … when you do go … School Is Utterly Boring! At least, that was almost always the case for me. I mean … seriously? What the heck is a high school diploma to a guy who just wants to play bass, write lyrics and hang out with his friends? And the teachers? Not exactly friendship material. And yet … Why You Should Never Forget Any Of Your Teachers Sure, I had some real characters for teachers. For example, there was the guy who had a fishing boat on his truck. We always saw him leaning against it and smoking a pipe before wandering off to his classroom during the breaks. Another teacher was a champion curler. He could make the trash bin stop on a dime right beside the desk of anyone chewing gum. And then there was the math teacher who always used beer in his examples because it was the only thing he could do to get anyone's attention. And you know what? Even though I forget 99.99% of everything they taught me … They still teach me because I use them as Bridging Figures in my Memory Palaces. Milk Those Teachers For All They're Worth! Advanced memory improvement tip: Go through your life history and write down the name and a description of every teacher you've ever had.Click To Tweet If you remember their names, all the better. But more importantly, focus on their classrooms. What they looked like. How they moved. Then keep these details in mind for the next time you need to remember something. If you've got the Magnetic Memory Method under your belt, those teachers will serve you very well as mnemonic tools for the rest of your life. You just have to finesse them a little by doing the simple memory exercise of "excavating" them from your past. Anyhow … … As amusing as those teachers were … I still thought grinding out the hours toward this abstract thing called a "high school diploma" was … A Complete Waste Of Time! It really felt that way. Besides, almost every teacher I spent time with obviously had other things they would rather have been doing with their time. Fishing … Curling … Drinking beer … No Wonder I Became A High School Dropout! But here's the thing … Just because I dropped out of high school doesn't mean I stopped learning. Far from it! When I took my leave from the hallowed halls of high school education … I did it in a very sneaky way. (Hi Mom, if you're reading this!) Every morning, I'd head out to the bus like usual. But instead of standing and waiting for that rusted bucket along with the other kids … I'd leave for school a little bit earlier. No one ever saw me. This was rural Canada, after all. Frosty mornings … Turkey farms … Lots and lots of trees. The True Story Of My Real High School Diploma And back then, I carried one of razzmatazz yellow Walkman cassette-radio players. You know the kind: Chunky plastic that you bolted down. Grey plastic nozzles to protect the headphone jacks from getting wet. (Oh yes, multiple headphone jacks. You just never knew when there was going to be need for a spontenous listening share. We didn't have Facebook for sharing music videos on YouTube, after all …) But instead of my fave Metallica and Megadeth or Slayer cassettes those frosty schoolday mornings … I would listen to CBC Radio. Peter Gzowski's Morningside, to be exact. I could get lost in his voice so easily. Oh! and he always had great guests. Amazing guests … People who taught the listeners about themselves … About the world … And how to think about it from a myriad of exciting angles. To hell with school! I Learned Everything I Needed To Know About My Country And Science And Literature And World Political History During Those 6 Months Just By Walking Up Into The Hills With My Walkman! To this day, I can't quite understand why they even bothered having schools! Seriously? Why bother back when Gzowksi was so good at asking important authors, musicians and politicians the right questions. And my-oh-my, the stories they would tell! Anyhow, about 10 minutes along the road, there was a path up into the mountains. Like some kind of solace-seeking samurai of the mind, I would enter the forest. And yes, it was dangerous. More than once I nearly got my head kicked off by a startled deer. I can only thank my Magnetic stars that I never encountered a bear. Not Even That Tank Of A Walkman Could Have Defended Me … Listening away, I would begin my hike. Up, up, up. And once I'd climbed to one of my favorite crests … I would stand stoic over Silver Creek and watch the road. I could monitor my mom's place from that vantage point and even see a Lego-sized version of her scraping ice from the windshield of her car. Then she'd unplug the engine from the wall, wrap up the orange cable and then motor her way up to the road. I would half-chuckle, half recoil in horror as I watched her car wind its way towards town. I was getting away with educational-murder, after all, and couldn't help but question when it was all going to catch up with me. And here's the thing: Dropping Out Of School Always Catches Up With You! So I would stand there awhile. A good long while. And listen and listen and listen. And remember some of the books that were mentioned on Morningside. And then walk back down the mountain. Once home, most kids probably would have switched on the TV and Nintendo. I did neither. None Of That Brain-Rotting Material Would Do! Instead, I opened up the encyclopedia. The same encyclopedia my mother had purchased for me piece by piece when I was a kid. (I'm so grateful for them – they've help me know how to live an interesting life!) I remember her clipping coupons and all the excitement around getting a new edition month after month. I was too young to appreciate it at the time, but I understand now that she was investing in my future. And if I hadn't dropped out of high school … The Opportunity To Soak Up All That Knowledge Would Have Been Lost! Back then, I hadn't heard of memory techniques. But in my own way (just as you should develop your own way), I was still using them. Like a sponge … Connecting data … Linking pieces of an ever-expanding puzzle … Referring backward and forwards. Long before "hypertext," I was making the volumes and pages of the encyclopedia connect. No Tap. No Click. No Swipe. For example, when an encyclopedia entry on an author like James Joyce would say "See Modernism," I would obey. I would have to down Collier's Encyclopedia Book of J and haul out the Collier's Encylopedia Book of M. And those books I remembered from Morningside? A lot of them were available at the public library! And the odd time I would hitch a ride into town on the bus and go hang out there so I could read them. I would even hang out in Bookingham Palace (where I would later work) to check out some of the books I heard mentioned. And what exactly what I was doing in all this? Exactly what we should all do in life. Don't Rely On Schools! Make Your Own Textbooks! I don't know exactly how I knew to do this. I was just following my instincts, I guess. And my technique for reading encyclopedias and books would evolve into something I call Magnetic Bibliomancy. It's not too different than what my good friend Jonathan Levi calls "Brute Force Learning." And it is delightful. You should learn it. Jonathan has a free trial just for Magnetic Memory Method fans and students so grab it now. Looking back … there's only one thing I would change. I'd hop into a time machine and teach myself memory techniques so that my present self could … Remember More Of Everything! With mnemonics, that would have been more than possible. It would be insanely possible. In fact, if I'd only known what I know now … I could have set a number (as I do now with learning projects) and simply reached it. Anything is possible when you have a combined memory and learning strategy.Click To Tweet Not Just How To Memorize, But What To Memorize This ability is important, and it's what the Magnetic Memory Method is all about. But as a young person, you mostly likely have a distinct advantage: The time and energy to pursue your interests. Mine was learning. And I didn't let school get in my way. And so if you're a parent listening to this and you have any opportunity to give your son or daughter a "sabbatical" from school so they can pursue a passion or interest … Just Do It! I'll bet your most precious family member has more self-direction than you imagine … … if you just let them find their way to it. Anyhow, that's all I did during my months as a high school dropout. Learning. Learning. And more learning. Audio. Text. Want to know what dragged me back into those hallowed halls so that I finally finished my high school diploma? Make sure you're subscribed and tune in for next week's episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast and full text version on the only memory improvement website devoted to making school easy, fun and downright Magnetic. Till soon! Sincerely, Anthony The post What To Do If You Or Someone You Love Wants To Drop Out Of High School appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

It's annoying when the memory improvement exercises on your smartphone don't help, isn't it? Your smartphone is supposed to be smart after all. But instead, it's packed full of junk you never use or apps you never get results from. And if you're like most people, you've downloaded a few brain trainers, some of which included memory improvement exercises. Don't worry. I've been there. And the good news is … Memory Improvement Exercises Make Everything Better It's true. It's not just about improving your memory. It's also about bringing a higher level of fitness to your mind. But the truth is that the science just doesn't stand in favor of apps for exercising your memory. Far from it. Worse, companies have even been punished for some of the claims they make about the memory improvement an app can make possible. Stop wasting your time on memory improvement apps. Mind you … I have discovered one that I think is worth your time and I'll be talking about it later this year after I gather some more experience with it. But for now – and even if you take up the app I'm using now in the future – you never need memory improvement apps in order to complete the best memory improvement exercises in the world. Let's dive in to my Top 5 faves. 5. The Gary Small Memory Improvement Exercise It's been awhile since I interviewed Dr. Gary Small, author of the excellent book, 2 Weeks To A Younger Brain. My favorite exercise from the book involves a simple exercise that will amaze you. You not only feel your memory improving over time, but you get a clarity boost too. All you have to do is pay attention to people in the world. Pick one of them. Notice four details. Then, later in the day, recall that person and the four details you noticed. For example, the other day I chose a man I saw on the way to the gym. He wore a red scarf, black jacket, held his key in his hands and had scuffed brown shoes. Don't Try To Memorize! This is important: I didn't try to memorize these details. Instead, I just noticed them and asked my brain to pay attention. Then, on my way home from the gym and once again later in the day, I recalled those four details. It's such a simple exercise. Better than all the memory improvement vitamins in the world. And it feels so good. I've played a lot of memory improvement games and not a single one of them created nearly as much pleasure. Best part: You don't have to stop with just one person. You can do this memory exercise all day long and really stretch yourself. For example, when I got to the gym, I made it a point to notice four things about the woman at the desk who took my card and gave me my wristband. I noticed the grooming of her eyebrows and the colors of her sweater, jogging pants and shoes. And that made me more present. Something we all need to be practicing. We know that meditation is good for the brain, and this exercise, although not a form of meditation, relates to the practice because of how it keeps you aware of your surroundings. Instead of being lost in thought, you're actively paying attention to the world and the things you encounter in it. 4. Memorize Information From A Book But not just any information. Information that matters. Information that enhances the experience or even helps you make the world a better place. For example, some of us are sloppy readers. Because character names are repeated so often, we never bother to memorize them. That, or the authors focus our attention on the meaning of names in order to ensure that we instantly remember them. But what if we made it our goal to actively practice our memory by making some memory improvement exercises from the characters? For example, you can modify the Gary Small memory improvement game. Even if the author doesn't provide visual details for you to practice remembering … You Can Simply Make Them Up! I do this all the time when reading. For example, the novel I'm reading now has a character named Stone Luckman. For obvious reasons, that name is instantly memorizable, especially since you can see the character getting stones thrown at him. (Congrats to the novelist Matt Eaton of Blank for building an amazing mnemonic into this character's name!) But I add details. Like that he's bald, has a scar on his cheek, wears a vest and knee-high military boots. Disrespectful to the author? Perhaps, but as Stephen King points out in On Writing, he tends to scrimp on physical details in his writing because he knows readers go ahead and paint their own portraits of the characters anyway. The only question is … Do Readers Remember Those Details? Probably most don't. But you most certainly can. To let this exercise show you how to improve concentration and memory, give yourself a simple test with the next character you encounter in the novel you're reading. You are reading a novel, aren't you? If not, no worries – the same exercise applies to non-fiction as well. For example, I just finished reading No Limit: The Rise And Fall Of Bob Stupak And Las Vegas' Stratosphere by John L. Smith. (Nothing like a book about buildings that can be used as Memory Palaces, right? ) In this case, I looked up pictures of the people mentioned in the book and commanded my mind to remember details about them. Then, I ask my mind later in the day to recall those details. This is one of those memory improvement exercises that simply can't be beat. And You Can Do It Too! You improve your imagination and knowledge of the world through reading and by adding one simple feature, improve your memory too. Oh, and discipline helps too. Here's how to get some: If you want to take things to the next level, you can also check out How To Memorize A Textbook. Go ahead and download that episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast and the infographic. I know you want to! 3. Create More Than One Memory Palace On A Single Day If you've been following the Magnetic Memory Method for any length of time now, you now the phrase: "One is the most dangerous number in memory improvement." People want just one book. Just one memory technique. Just one memory improvement guru. Just one Memory Palace. And no fantasies, like the belief that binaural beats can improve your memory. Sure, some people can get away with that. Memory competition history holds some legendary tales about people who scanned through a single book and went on to win in a short period of time. But Those Cases Are Rare! And the truth is that one is never enough, especially when it comes to the power and the glory of the Memory Palace. If you have only created and used one Memory Palace, that's like enjoying pizza at just one restaurant. Sure, you've had pizza. But do you really know what pizza's all about? Didn't think so. The reality is that the full experience of pizza is always yet to come. You can always learn more about what defines a truly great pizza by eating another one. (Pizza's a really bad example, by the way, but like the Memory Palace, it has stronger originary ties in Ancient Greece – and even then, that's still not the beginning of the story. Eat these foods that improve memory instead.) Creating a Memory Palace the right way is really simple. Make sure you have the Magnetic Memory Method Worksheets and free video series so that you're good to go. And then make it one of your favorite memory improvement exercises to simply sit down and create at least one new Memory Palace each week. It's easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy. 2. Use A Memory Palace Every Day You knew this one was coming, right? Well, the truth is that I've gotten a lot of people to make Memory Palaces. I've got folders on my computer full of pics and scans from people all around the world. And making them is great memory exercise. It's great memory activity for kids and one of the most powerful memory exercises for seniors. But there's a difference between creating a Memory Palace and using one. And you can certainly benefit by creating Memory Palaces and not using them. I do this all the time. But the real magic and the real way to blast far and beyond what the memory improvement apps can do for you is to actually use them. What Are Memory Palaces Good For? They're good for encoding and decoding information you want to memorize. That's a fancy way of saying that we use a Memory Palace to place information into long term memory so you can remember it any time you want. Information like: The Vocabulary Of Any Language Professional Terminology From Any Field Poetry, jokes, quotes, long speeches Any string of numbers or equations The most important information from textbooks Names and faces Concepts Oaths Computer commands Streets on a map Facts from history, geography, science and all disciplines Important points from lectures Things said during conversations … and much, much more, all with near or total accuracy! I suggest that you pick whichever of these categories interest you the most and get good at just that area. You can learn more on the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass product page if this training might suit you the best. Then add another. Before you know it, you'll have skills that enable you to use a Memory Palace to learn and remember anything you want! The point is that we should always use memory improvement exercises that involve Memory Palaces to remember information that improves our lives. Which leads to … 1. Remember And Recall Information About The Ones You Love You wanna know why families fall apart? The following is a bit of speculation on my part, but I honestly think it's true. And I'll bet a recent experience proves it. Let me set the scene: I got married recently. It was awesome. April and I went all over the map on our honeymoon. And yes, I can tell you the name of the judge who married us. How Memory Improvement Exercises Can Create The True Ties That Bind I don't say that to brag, but I see stuff like that as a kind of cement that binds two people together. And when April and I finally got our butts to Beijing for the family party … I went out of my way to ask for and memorize the name of every single person I met. Why? Because the old cliche is true (and I don't care if people send hate mail after reading this): A happy wife = a happy life. And what could make a person happier than a spouse who cares? A spouse who can talk about different family members by name? Heck, a spouse who can actually look someone in the eye while shaking their hand and say, "Hey, Steve, thanks for coming. We appreciate it." And then do that again and again and again. Now in my case, there really was a Steve at my wedding party. And because he's Chinese, I had to do double-duty in some cases. In others, I just went with one name. The Curious Reason Memory Improvement Exercises Are The Most Powerful Investment You'll Ever Make But the point is that I was not just practicing my memory. I was investing in my wife. And my challenge to you is that you learn to be a good partner to your loved one too. Even if you're single, equip yourself with this skill. I'm not just saying this because Valentine's Day is just around the corner. I'm saying it because it's true: Love = Happiness At least … most of the time. And one of the best ways to express love is to actually care about the names of the people in your family. And what about your partner's friends? Their childhood pets? And all the other names we all throw around in our day to day lives? Why let that information pass you by when you can capture it all, pop it into a simple-to-create Memory Palace and remember it forever? Use it to help improve your episodic memory? I'll tell you why. I'll tell you the major objection. Stop Leaving Your Success In Life To Chance It's because people leave their lives to chance. They prefer it that way. Rather than lifting a finger to make life awesome now and prepare for a great future, they open themselves up for that divorce request that comes out of the blue a years down the road. Except that request ain't out of the blue. It was set into the wall of the life you're building right now. Because whether you like it or not, you are building your life. And if you want to know what real love is all about, you're going to want to make sure that memory improvement exercises are a part of your life. It Really Is That Simple So what do you say? Are you ready to get out there and do some simple memory improvement exercises? If the answer is yes, then you already have more than you need to get started here on the Magnetic Memory Method blog and podcast. Have fun! The post 5 Memory Improvement Exercises That Don't Need Another Annoying App appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Annoying, isn't it? You're an attentive person and you care about people. But no matter what, the names you encounter completely slip your mind. And it happens in a flash. In one ear and out the other. Zap! It's not just the names of people either. We're talking about the names of: Pets People Places Months Days Holidays Historical periods Wars Books Vehicles Events Institutions … and even adjectives derived from proper names. The List Goes On And On! The question is … Why is information like this so darned difficult to remember? Well, you're in luck. Although some of the reasons may shock you, today you're going to learn everything you need to know about exactly why proper names of all kinds of thing challenge your memory. And as we go along, we'll solve the problem so that names become much easier for you to remember. Why The Meaning Of Names Fuels The Fire In Your Brain At the most basic level, some names are easier to remember simply because they mean something as opposed to meaning nothing. For example, The Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall are less challenging to remember than Ostkreuz and Shun Yi for most people because the names themselves come soaked in meaning. But if you hit a name cold with no base line of familiarity … It slides out of your grip like sand. Certain names also enter your memory at a younger age than others. Bugs Bunny, Marvin the Martian and Donald Duck all hold special favor in my memory because I've been encountering them for years. But in the John Grisham novel I'm reading right now, I needed to deliberately go out of my way to remember the names of the characters. Names like Troy and Nate are so bland, there's little for the mind to grab onto. Mnemonics to the rescue. How Authors Trick Your Brain Into Remembering Characters Other novelists are good at making remember character names easy, however. I'm also reading Blank at the moment. Author Matt Eaton uses names like Luckman. This naming strategy deliberately attaches meaning to the hero by reducing abstraction to a concrete signal that says this man has a relationship to luck. It tells your brain to look out for signs that confirm or disprove this, making the name instantly more memorable. On the other hand, the meaning of names spikes in value when Maxine is subtly shifted to Max. This technique asks the reader to think about her name as an object and wonder if she abbreviates it because she's fun and funky or to give her a masculine edge. The Name-Letter Effect And Your Brain's Endless Name Meaning Search The truth is that names usually have no meaning. And in the real world, there is no author in the sky using literary tricks to help you remember names or find meaning in them. But that doesn't stop your brain from seeking the meaning of names when you encounter them. For example, Jozef Nuttin has demonstrated your brain finds the alphabet letters in your name more attractive than others. Now called the Name-Letter Effect, Nuttin's discovery sheds light on why some people do better in school, gravitate towards certain cities and remember some names better than others. In the main study, Nuttin presented students ranging from elementary school to university with letter pairs. Some were given random letters. Other subjects were given lists that more closely matched the letters in their names. In either case, when asked to select the letters they preferred, all subjects showed a preference for letters that were in their own names. Although memory studies don't all agree, it is possible that the Name-Letter Effect also explains why we remember some names better than others. And It Seems To Appear In Just About Any Language! Note that this effect does not appear to be language-specific. It has been tested in Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish. Other experimenters have tried it with other alphabets like cyrillic and done experiments to see if the effect persists into adulthood when people learn a foreign language that uses a different alphabet or character-set. Also note that the Name Letter Effect might apply to numbers as well. Although I use the Major Method, I tend to find 2 and 7 easier than other numbers, and that advantage may reflect the fact that my birthday is overloaded with both of them. Sound Has Its Own Sex And Success Appeal There's no doubt about it. Some names sound nicer than others. And that appears to have a psychological effect. For example, if your name "sounds" like it belongs to a successful person, you may be motivated to fulfill the prophecy. So one cool trick for remembering names a lot better you can explore is to always associate new information with successful people. This is why the Magnetic Memory Method teaches you to create lists of celebrities. When you do this, you're not just equipped with a "crib" of associations ready to go. You also have the success effect working in your favor. How To Cut Through The Noise And Remember Names Properly One huge barrier to remembering names is noise. Sound can be crippling when it comes to remembering names. If you can't hear it, you can't guess how it's spelled or properly pronounce it. And that means your brain can't create proper pathways in the brain for remembering it. In order to hear names better, you need to practice listening. You also need to monitor yourself for laziness and shyness. For example, I have often made the fatal mistake of remembering names I didn't hear correctly and then using memory techniques. In combination with the Recency Effect, the Magnetic Memory Method is so powerful that the mistake can be impossible to shake. You wind up calling that person by the wrong name for the rest of the night. The solution? Ask people if you've got the pronunciation right. And then use your correct pronunciation to remember the name. There's no shame in asking and it buys you time to overcome some of the other things that make remembering names difficult. But the ultimate barrier we all face is the lack of inherent meaning in most names. Why Your Brain Always Drops The Ball Like A Bad Juggler When you meet a new person, you're not just meeting a name. You have the room around you, a face and all kinds body language and unconscious communication. Plus, names rarely tell you what a person does. Someone being named "Baker," for example, does not mean that they work as a baker. And if someone says they are named "Glirkzifal Mershkevork" and work as an architect, your brain is going to seize upon what it understands and skip over the information it has never encountered before. Plus, your brain needs to store the name in a different area than it does the information about the Glirkzifal being an architect. The filtering happens due to something called "plausible phonology." Even though you likely have never heard the name Mershkevork, your brain accomodates the idea that such a name exists. (On the other hand, if someone says that they're a mershkeverker, your brain will do a backflip trying to figure out if such an occupation exists.) Given the split-processes and the fact that most names have no meaning, you're in trouble. Unless you're using memory techniques, you're bound to drop the ball on the harder to remember information. 3 Language Features That Make Names Easier To Remember Luckily, there are some features and conventions of names and naming that make the meaning of names irrelevant. Understanding these will make a huge difference for your success. 1. Names are both acoustic and physiological. In almost all cases, you have the opportunity to experience names both in your ears and using the muscles of your mouth. You can also see many names represented in writing on paper. By simply taking time to notice the different perceptions you go through when encountering names, you'll improve how you remember them. 2. Some names have "logogens." For example, I might say the name Jon. As a listener of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, you might immediately think that I'm talking about Jonathan Levi. (His SuperLearner Academy free trial is still running, if you're interested.) The reason his name would come to mind is because Jon is a logogen within a context you understand. But I could have said "John" and meant "John Wayne." The point is that most names have some kind of logogen in them. To take our friend "Glirkzifal Mershkevork" again, "ifal" and "kevork" are deliberately implanted logogens for real names like Percival and Kevorkian. No matter what names you encounter, and no matter how difficult they may seem, you can always look for the logogens within them to help you make memorable associations. 3. Phonetic Symbolism. The meaning of names is often found in sound. For example, approximately half of words that begin with "gl" words are visual in nature: glance, glitter, gleam, glow, glower, glimpse. Likewise, many "fl" words are associated with light, such as flash, flare and flicker. In fact, a 1929 study by Edward Sapir showed that there is some relationship between vowels and the meaning of words related to size, speed, brightness, pleasantness and disgust. For example, listen to how the vowel /u/ helps convey meaning in these words: dull, blunder, clumsy, mucky, muddled, bunged up and bungled. Many authors have noted the relationship between meaning and sound in naming characters, particularly Charles Dickens and the marketing departments of many companies. And, of course, any time you meet a person, you can use memory techniques to inject your own meaning into any sound. You just need to pay attention to how names sound in the first place. Never Be Satisfied With Your Memory The takeaways from all this doom and gloom about your memory? You have options, even if the meaning of names is never apparent to you. One of the biggest option is to simply start paying more attention to language, both sound and physiology. Take time to expose yourself to interesting names and words. Be disciplined about this practice and extend it to looking at visual representations of names. There are entire branches of art devoted to representing words. For example, check out the Visual Poetry section at Ubu. You'll find amazing pieces like this by b.p. nichol: But It's Always Okay To Make Mistakes Even though we should never be satisfied with our memory, it's important to understand that you never make errors with your memory. You only learn lessons about how it works and how to make it better. But you need to take risks. And when you forget things, simply explain to people that you're working on your memory. And tell them that's it's not just about your memory. It's about the health of your brain. And that means it's also about the quality of your life. You do want a good life, don't you? The post The Real Meaning Of Names And Your Memory: Why You Find It Hard To Remember Proper Names appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Annoying, isn't it? You say to yourself, "I'll just Google it." Then you do. Get the goods. Move on. Only problem is … Next time you need the info … Thanks to Digital Amnesia … It's Gone! Honestly, this condition called "Digital Amnesia" or "Google Amnesia" … stinks. Not only do you have a fine brain humming along in your skull … There are also a gazillion good reasons why you should be using it properly. Yes, properly. Even if you really can just look stuff up online. Because here's the VERY good news: This year is the best year ever to use your memory at the highest possible level. And this is the year you're going to make it happen, even if battles with net neutrality are starting to make the Internet we've come to love look like an endangered species. Here's how: You Can't Annihilate A Problem You Haven't Defined It's fun to throw around cool terms like "The Google Effect" and "Digital Dependence." But until you've spent some time defining the monster, you'll have a hard time setting it on fire. Or at least using your Magnetic torches to herd it out of the village. That said … what exactly is "Digital Amnesia"? Back in 2015, the Internet security company Kaspersky Lab put out an interesting report on the matter. You really should read it. To condense the report for you, Digital Amnesia occurs whenever your mind draws a blank on information you've stored on a device you trust. And as the report suggests, this outcome isn't always a bad thing. For example, do you really need to remember the thousands of website addresses you've bookedmarked (and never visited again)? Heavens No! But that doesn't mean you're off the hook. Also included is information like the phone numbers of family members and friends. And the reality is that by not remembering them anymore, we're endangering lives as we weaken our brains. Seriously. Without knowing the numbers of your loved ones, what would you do in an emergency if your phone wasn't working? Ask a good Samaritan if he remembers your spouse's number? No way, Jose. That's your job. And you've got all the tools you need to get all kinds of simple number strings done when you use the Major Method. How To Suck The Life Out Of Half Your Brain Ever heard of "deskilling"? It basically means that you become less capable over time because you're no longer using certain skills. And that can only lead to bad outcomes: * A destroyed brain * Crappy employment * No employment * … and much, much worse, including linguistic deskilling. But you're probably asking: How exactly does having Google and your devices remember everything for you destroy your brain? Simple. When you develop dependence on technology, the areas of your brain responsible for memory start to decay. Just like the muscles in your body would do if you stopped walking. The Truth About Deskilling Your Brain No, deskilling the muscles of your memory won't necessarily happen to you overnight. But one day you'll wake up and … Bam! You Can Barely Remember A Thing! And it gets worse. Because memory has a sibling. Concentration. And as long as you have the Internet at your fingertips, you don't even bother using your concentration to try and access things you might actually have in your memory. How To Put A Barrier Between Need And Action Instead of instantly searching for information you already know, pause for a second. Give your memory a bit of space. Ask and you might just receive. But when you push it away and go straight to the search engines, you're deskilling your memory every time. And that means you're also damaging your concentration. The good news is that you can improve focus fast with these tips, but there will be more work to be done. Starve The Brain To Rebuild The Brain Yes, I'm talking about destroying digital amnesia by going on an information diet. But wait! you protest. I don't want to miss out on – Miss out on what? More fake news of the impending apocalypse? Come close, my friend. I'll show you exactly how to take a powerful, memory-boosting digital detox so you can seriously improve your entire life in the process. Stop Letting The Internet Push You Around Here's a little secret for you: I have never once "allowed push notifications." So far, I don't think I've missed out on anything of any interest. I could be horribly wrong about that, but I recommend you never accept notifications of any kind in your life that you don't control. By being in control of when you're disrupted, you automatically improve your ability to concentrate. Fight Digital Amnesia Like A Magnetic Jedi For a real Jedi Mind Trick memory exercise, try setting a notification with a positive message for 12:03 p.m. every day. Then work on remembering and reminding yourself that the notification comes at that time. It's tough, but doable. Your mind really can track time and remind itself to remember. (For more cool Mind Tricks like these, check out my post on brain exercises.) Put Your Devices In The Dog House Virginia Woolf famously wrote that writers need their own rooms to create in without disruption. Well, all humans need their own place to sleep without their machines. Problem is, so many people use their devices as alarm clocks. This sad fact means that they're checking their notifications and messages before even stepping out of bed. That's no way to build a better brain. Instead, put your laptops and smartphones out in a hallway closet, kitchen or completely other room. If you need something to wake you up, use an old fashioned analog clock or one of those fancy lamps that slowly turns on over time. That gives you the effect of waking up with the sun and gives you a great dose of light that will contribute great things to your health. Use Airplane Mode Without Fear It's no secret that I write almost every episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast on my iPhone. But people ask me all the time, How on earth do you do it? There's actually a long answer coming out in a new training I'm putting out, but the fast and dirty response is: Airplane mode. I concentrate like there's no tomorrow when writing because Airplane Mode prevents anything and everything from contacting my iPhone. And since all Push Notifications have been disabled, it's just me, my words and the music. Same things go for when I'm using The Big Five Of Language Learning in combination with my Pimsleur Memory Technique: There's nothing to interrupt me as I exercise my memory. And that means that my concentration muscles grow at the same time. Remember this simple equation: Exercising Your Memory = Improving Your Concentration However, don't make the mistake in thinking that it works the other way around. Concentration is a tool that helps you remember more based on paying better attention. But it's not a sure-fire guarantee. That's why it pays to learn how to use the best possible memorization technique. (You are subscribed to this blog and have taken my free video course, right? If not, just scroll up and tell me where to send it.) Cut The Umbilical Cord At Least Once A Week Don't worry, it'll grow back. I'm serious: The ultimate way to help your brain is simple: Take entire blocks of time away from the digital onslaughts to which we subject ourselves. When you start, start small. Vow to not check your device and stay off all computers for an hour. Just one hour. Doable, right? You bet it is. Then see if you can't extend it to an entire 24 hours. And listen, you're not getting this advice from a wanker who doesn't walk his talk. Hard as it sometimes, week after week, I perform at least one digital fast. What To Do During Your Digital Fast Personally, I like to have options. But if I were to boil things down to one portrait, here's one of my fave "digital detox walkabouts." First, I pop a blank page notebook into my backpack along with a bunch of colored pens. Then I pack in my Chinese character book and a deck of playing cards. Next comes a bottle of water, usually my Soul Bottle. Maybe something to read, like a print newsletter. All that done, I head out the door. No podcasts, no music, no communications technology. And when you do this, it'll be great because it'll be … Nothing But You And Your Memory! If you're still with me, let's play do-as-I-do. Picture yourself walking from your home to your favorite park or cafe. Depending on the weather, you go outside some place where you can soak in the sun. Heck, you might even do some of these exercises just standing on the side of the street: Or, if you're doing a coffee and memory experiment or it's unpleasant outside, you head for your favorite cafe. While walking, you think about all the buildings you're passing. You enter the odd shop you've never been in and consume it into your memory for use as a Memory Palace. You notice a street you've never walked down before and take it. Then, when you've reached your destination, you get out your supplies. Since you're the author of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, you'll start with a … MMBD (Mind Map Brain Dump) Or you'll use your blank notebook to do something else memory-related you're not telling anyone about … yet. Next, you'll pull out some cards, shuffle and memorize them. You'll set the cards aside, let a few minutes pass and write out all the cards you remember on a piece of paper. Optional method: Carry two decks. Once you've memorized the randomized cards in the first deck, you can reconstruct the order using the second deck. Then you can flip each of the cards over one by one, comparing them. The reason I don't use this method personally is because I feel that the writing process helps strengthen recall in many ways. I'll be looking into the claims that "the hand builds the mind" in a more scientific way throughout 2017. In the meantime, just test different options for yourself as you fend off digital amnesia. Memorize Something Related To Your Computer-Free Memory Project Finally, I crack open my Chinese Character book and draw a Memory Palace. Following the Magnetic Memory Method, I correspond everything with The Principle of Alphabetization and get busy. All of this is done without computers of any kind, including the walk home. Except this time instead of thinking about and gathering new Memory Palaces, you're practicing Recall Rehearsal (this is a flexible memory method, not a memory system). And the last thing you do before you switch the computers back on is test what you've memorized at the cafe. Either just the cards or Chinese or both (both is best). And for bonus points, you never do turn the machines back on. You just hop into bed with a good book and your honey-bunny for some oxytocin-inducing love memories. (Yes, sex helps your memory too while you're healing from digital amnesia!) Recognize The Privilege Of Having Memory Abilities You Can Improve Okay, I'll admit it. This is a mindset thing. But the reason I focus on mindset so much is the same reason it applies to dealing with digital amnesia. You've got to understand this one thing: Not everyone is so lucky to have memory. It's true. Dementia … Alzheimer's … Brain damage from trauma of all kinds … Heck, some people are born without ever having had the ability to use their memory at all. But Not You! If you're reading this post or listening to the podcast version, you can completely skip the rise and impact of digital amnesia on brains around the world. Why? Because you have the opportunity to save your brain. And you have clues and tools for exercising your memory and concentration. The only thing you have to worry about next is what you're going to do with all your super powers. With Great Memory Power Comes Great Memory Responsibility Yes, it's time to dust off that old comic book line once again. (In case you don't recognize the heading above, I'm trying to tap into your episodic memory of Spider-Man and a few other levels to remind you that you're a superhero.) But don't worry. I'm not talking about responsibility for the entire world. It's the responsibility to keep using your mind and memory. Your head isn't just for hanging hair on. It yearns for brain exercise. And your head demands that you take action. Trust me. If you don't use it, digital amnesia will take over. You will lose your memory and the overall health of your mind. So step up to the plate and stop Google from ruining your memory. You're the only one who can. The post Digital Amnesia: 5 Ways To Stop Google From Ruining Your Memory appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Entrepreneurs need a ton of skills to achieve their goals. And let's face it: The amount of material entrepreneurs need to learn can be downright discouraging. Just to stand a chance of "making it" requires so much know-how that a lot of people give up. Here's the good news: You don't have to give up on your entrepreneurial dreams. You can learn and remember everything you need to know. And you can recall it all with ease. But as they say in the entrepreneurial world, a lot of success comes from first knowing your "why." That's why in this post I'm going to talk about the 5 biggest reasons entrepreneurs need memory techniques. Don't Discount Any Of These! Each is important, and you'll find that the Magnetic Memory Method covers each. If you haven't already taken the free course I've got for you, grab the memory kit by subscribing above and get ready for an amazing memory boost that will impressive the pants off you and everyone you know. 1. Not Being Able To Remember Numbers May Be Causing More Lost Revenue Than You Can Imagine Numbers overload the average life lived in business: Conversion rates Tax percentages Statistical formulas Phone numbers Identification codes Dates and times … and many, many more. A huge part of the success of any entrepreneurial enterprise links directly with how well you can manage numbers like these. You can't wring more profit out of numbers you haven't remembered, after all. And you can't even begin to understand math concepts you haven't committed to memory. To get better at memorizing numbers, it's important that you learn the Major Method (sometimes called The Major System). What Is The Major Method? It's a way of quickly memorizing numbers by turning them into images. There are different ways of using the Major Method, but to get started, associate each number from 0-9 with a sound. Here's what I use based on a standard approach popular around the world: 0 = soft c, s, z 1 = d or t 2 = n 3 = m 4 = r 5 = l 6 = ch, j, sh 7 = g, k 8 = f, v 9 = b, p But right now, you're probably wondering … How On Earth Am I Supposed To Remember All Of That?!? It's pretty easy – if you're willing to experiment. I won't give you an example for each number, but to get you started: For zero, you could see a giant snake hissing as it eats its own tail. The shape of a snake in a circle resembles the digit 0. The sound of hissing reminds you of the 's' and soft 'c' sound options. For nine, look closely: From one perspective, it's like a 'b' standing on its head. From another perspective, it's a golf club facing the wrong direction and driven down into the ground. Check out five. If you hold out your left hand and stick out your thumb, you'll notice that you have five digits. The pointer finger and thumb make an L-shape. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy! Let's put it all together. If you wanted to remember a number like 905, the Major Method gives you several options with these letter-sounds. You'd just need to pop in a few vowels so you can make a word. For example, 905 could be: Basel (the herb) or Brazil (the country on a map or the Terry Gilliam movie). 509 could be an image of yourself speaking with a lisp. 590 could be Jennifer Lopez. Make her leaping to compound the 5 and 9 and it'll be even easier to remember. This Is Just The Beginning Of Remembering Numbers With Ease Give this memory technique a try. You'll find that it does wonders for your memory improvement. And it's fun to give your friends challenges, like Jonathan Levi and I have done. Even just a short run of numbers like the serial numbers on a dollar bill makes for great memory exercise in a restaurant. Just make sure that you're not totally exhausted – and even then the techniques can still work wonders. Here's the full story: I can't stress how important the ability to remember numbers is for an entrepreneur so please get busy and let me know how you fare. 2. A Simple Way To Remember Names That Works Even In The Noisiest Convention Halls And Business Meetings As an entrepreneur, you meet a lot of people. And there's nothing worse than forgetting someone's name. It's embarrassing. It's crude. It's unnecessary. To learn how to remember names, check out this Magnetic Memory Method Podcast and the accompanying illustrations. You'll find it useful. In brief, all you need for getting started with remembering names is the ability to make associations. You can create your Magnetic associations in advance or on the fly. Let's look at both options. I will ultimately suggest that you learn both … you'll need them! The Magnetic Memory Method Name Crib Some people who use memory techniques create databanks of celebrities in their minds. That way, whenever they meet someone new, they can make instant associations. For example, I have Tom Cruise as my instant go-to name when I meet a new person named Tom. When I meet someone named Lars, I whip out Lars Ulrich, the drummer from Metallica. New people I meet named Sarah are instantly paired with Linda Hamilton, who played Sarah Connor in The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The great thing about having predetermined celebrities and fictional characters is that the associations require zero thought. You meet the new person and then – BAM! – you can instantly see your new pal Tom in a fistfight with Tom Cruise. The Martial Art Of Remembering Names Method But what happens when you meet someone with a name from another culture? It's not that the name "Gangador Dianand" is unusual – it's just not one you'd expect to come across every day. Yet, it is a real name and if you're serious about memory techniques, you're going to want the ability to memorize it as quickly as you can memorize a name like Tom. In this case, you need to be able to chop the name into pieces and use Magnetic Memory Method Word Division. This mnemonic tool helps with associating images to just the "gang" part of "Gangador" and another image with the "ador" part. Also super-easy. All you need is to see something like a gang bursting through a door. If the gang "adores" the door they're banging through, all the better. Just think about how you can make that "adoration" visual in your mind's eye. What about "Dianand"? Also not a problem. Remember Princess Diana? I sure do. And I also know what an ampersand is. All that's needed after that is a way of getting Diana and the ampersand interacting in a strange way. And when you put it all together, you can make a little story: A gang who adores a door bust through and catch Princess Diana smooching with an ampersand. But Wait! I'm Not That Creative! I hear this excuse often. Here's the thing: You don't have to be creative to get started. As Benny Lewis points out in Fluent in 3 Months, using these techniques makes you more creative. And the more you practice creating associations, the easier and faster it gets. Just give it a try. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how practicing memory techniques rewires your mind and memory for entrepreneurial success at many levels. 3. Join The Elite Crew Of Entrepreneurs Who Can Quote The Facts Right Every Time There's nothing more impressive than an entrepreneur who has a handle on the facts. Let's face it. Consumers are more skeptical than ever. If you haven't got your details in order and wind up stumbling all over the place to communicate your business knowledge, you have no reason to expect anyone will take you seriously. The only question is … how do you remember facts? You've got options, but the number one technique to learn is how to create and use a Memory Palace. What's A Memory Palace? A Memory Palace is a mental construct based on a real building. It can also be an imaginary, "Virtual Memory Palace," but for beginners, taking something simple like your childhood home works the best. Remember how we were just talking about Jennifer Lopez and 590? Well, the way a Memory Palace works is that you would place an image of her leaping all over the place on the desk in your study. Or you would have her leaping in the clothes washer. You can place images like Jennifer Lopez anywhere you like, but it's best to have a strategic way of creating your Memory Palace so that you're not just placing her any old place and hoping and praying you'll find your way back to her. Make sure you've taken my free course to ensure that you know the best ways to create a Memory Palace and avoid all problems. Then, when you have some facts you want to memorize, create images that help trigger those facts back to you. For example, a few weeks back, I memorized some information about Canada's second-ever Prime Minister. You can model this approach for any facts that you'd like to memorize. It's easy, fun and will rapidly increase your expertise. 4. The Ability To Remember Quotes That Will Get Everyone Talking About You If there's one thing that binds entrepreneurs together, it's the love of quotes. You've probably heard this famous line from Zig Ziglar, to take one example: "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing – that's why we recommend it daily." As cool as Ziglar's quote is, it really means nothing if you can't remember and pull it out at the right time. Entrepreneurs equipped with memory techniques have no problems, however. They can simply use the tools of the Magnetic Memory Method and zip any motivational quote they want into memory and recall it with ease. The Memory Palace is also the go-to technique in this case. Once you know how to use it, you just need to prepare and organize the quotes you want to memorize. When you hear a good one, you can also memorize it on the fly with ease so long as you have a solid understanding of how to use the ground beneath your feet as a Memory Palace. Wisdom Is Just One Vertical (Or Horizontal) Pillar Away When memorizing poetry using a Memory Palace, the temptation is to work horizontally. Nothing wrong with that. It works gangbusters. But for shorter pieces of information, like quotes, the entrepreneur can also try memorizing the words in vertical pillars. I recommend starting from the top corner of a room and then working your way down. For example, if you want to memorize the Ziglar quote, you can try seeing Pippi Longstocking in the ceiling corner attacking a jury with a vicious motive. "Pippi" basically sounds like "people" and her having a motive for the attack will help recall the notion of "motivation." Beneath that, you can see her bathing in a huge bathtub full of calendars. That will help you remember the core idea of bathing and the calendars will help you remembering that bathing, like motivation, is something entrepreneurs require daily. Heck, everybody could use a dose of both daily hygiene and continually renewing impetus … don't you think? 5. The Ability To Conceive Of And See Large Systems Full Of Moving Parts At the meta-level, perhaps the most powerful reason entrepreneurs would do well to use memory techniques is how they get you working with macroscopic and microscopic pieces of information at the same time. Think about it: If you're going to be an entrepreneur, you've got to have a handle on multiple processes all at the same time. And you've got to be able to see them in your mind at a glance. What better way to prepare the mind for this need than working with a system of Memory Palaces and information that will make you a better entrepreneur? Memory techniques not only help you with the skill of seeing the big picture and the granular details at the same time. Having a strong memory distinguishes you as a professional. If you aren't already using memory techniques, I strongly encourage you to get on board with them. They will not only change your life, but help you do much bigger things for the people you serve in your business. That's the desire that drives you every day and the next level is right around the corner. All you need to get started is a bit of training. Subscribe for my free Magnetic Memory Method training using the "Start Here" registration form above. The post The 5 Biggest Reasons Entrepreneurs Need Memory Techniques appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Was 2016 as amazing for you as it was for me? If you did anything to experience memory improvement, I'll bet it was great. Maybe even … Magnetic. My top highlight? Getting interviewed on my own show by none other than SuperLearner Jonathan Levi. So even there though's a lot of groovy things to read on this page and year end links to explore … Scroll up and hit that play button. Jonathan helps me dig deep into the Mind of a Memorizer. And it's all kind of fascinating, because when you think about it … Who Knew You Could Still Improve The Ancient Art Of Memory Improvement? Hard to believe, but totally true. And you can do it even if you were a "delinquent youth," which is just one of the topics we touch upon in the interview. We also talk about dealing with Manic Depression without medication … The nature of truth and memory … And my top book and movie recommendations, including: Books The Republic The Nichomachean Ethics Better Never To Have Been: The Harm Of Coming Into Existence Movies Lost Highway (best memory quote in cinema history) eXistenZ The Matrix And while you're jamming your way through those great movies, I have to say that my all time favorite video course from 2016 has been SuperLearner 2.0: Thanks to my friendship with Jonathan, you can now take a free trial of the SuperLearner Academy. Thanks for that, Jonathan! Speaking of friendship … The Magnetic Memory Method 2017 Predictions For Your Memory A lot of people are making 2017 predictions about a lot of things. As far as I know, none of them involve the state of memory improvement. Here are my top predictions for how things will go with some tips about how to make memory improvement part of your 2017 adventure. Why Friendships Improve Your Memory Friendship and memory, you ask? You bet. And as more and more social groups form online, the more "real life" friendships will matter. For example, a recent memory improvement book demonstrates that we just don't remember a lot of what we experience online all that well. Of course, you can develop techniques that help (check out Jonathan's course!), but my bigger concern is that you get the memory benefits of spending time with real people. In the world. Some ways to make sure you get your memory-friendly time with people in the world include: Daily walks with a friend Weekly lunches or dinners Meeting to memorize cards together Shared language learning challenges Just getting together to shoot the breeze I know you heard me talk a lot about him in 2016, and that's because the favorite new friend I made in 2016 is Tony Buzan. I have a prediction that there will be even more amazing stuff coming out from him in 2016, and I'm going to suggest to him a quarterly feature on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast called Buzan². He reads so fast … I wouldn't be surprised if he already knows about it before I've had a chance to ask him. For now, my favorite pic of the year: Why The Pen Will Remain Mightier Than The Sword in 2017 Penmanship used to be a preoccupation of mine. I predict I'll be returning to it in 2017. Maybe I'm old school. Or maybe I just like Da Vinci. Either way, there's no arguing that there's a thing called penmanship and developing it is good for your brain. It's tempting to say to hell with it. People type, tap and swipe now. But in watching April wrangle pinyin and hanzi out of my iPad on the same day I watched some of the beautiful Chinese calligraphy in Devils on the Doorstep: As I study Chinese calligraphy a bit myself, it seems clear to me that it's not just the multiple intelligences and muscular activity we're losing. It's a kind of art. And I predict that individuals and nations that hang onto it will outpace those who do not. Journaling Will Improve Your Memory Even Better Than In The Victorian Era John Lee Dumas is an entrepreneur on fire. And The Freedom Journal is just one aspect of his genius. I'm not ready to share yet how it helped me on a massive project in 2016, but I can tell you that the The Freedom Journal has streamlined my daily journaling down to the essentials. Even better: The Freedom Journal has given me the means of tying those essentials to making huge strides toward an ambitious goal I had left dangling. Here I am using The Freedom Journal in Zürich. I carried it with me all around Europe while working on a project I predict I will tell you about in 2017. My favorite part is that The Freedom Journal is also a memory tool. So I also predict that in 2017 you'll hear me sharing more about this exciting tool in relation to memory techniques. Oh, okay, one more prediction about this: I predict that if you join me in being a Freedom Journal user, you'll massively upgrade your life while contributing to a great cause. Language Learning Will Increase In Importance It doesn't require any psychic powers to predict that knowing more than one language will be even more important in 2017 than it was in 2016. The question is … Will it be any easier in 2017? The answer is easy, but … The ease of that answer depends. It depends on the decisions you make and the tools you use. My 2016 recommendations won't change: 1. Know and use The Big Five of Language Learning Use your memory Read Write Speak Listen Every day. 2. If you're going to use apps, use them intelligently. Olly Richards is definitely your man for figuring out how to do that. Make Words Stick gives you some cool insights and I predict there will be many more interesting language learning and memory insights coming from Olly in 2017. 3. Speak with native speakers. My biggest recommendations for finding great speaking partners boil down to italki and Skill Silo. I'm expecting great things from both, but liked Skill Silo the best in 2016 thanks to a streamlined process that puts only one core language learning text on the screen with your teacher. But you still need to teach your teacher. Olly again has lots of ideas to help you get the most from that. N=1 Experiments And Competition Alex Mullen continues proving that human memory moves at least as fast as the human hand and eye. I've spoken with him and his results clearly come from the same processes all memory athletes and experts use. The real difference is in how you apply the techniques to your memory improvement goals. It could be winning the World Memory Championships. Or it could be learning a massive topic related to science, computing, philosophy or some interesting combination you make in a course of study of your own. How To Design A Learning Project That Works In 2017 To get the most out of any learning project, four elements will be key: 1. Use Magnetic Memory Method Memory Palaces. This is kind of a no-brainer, but if your Memory Palace strategy isn't bulletproof, you risk wasting time and energy. 2. Dive in and go all the way. The map is never the territory, so action is key. (Note: Getting yourself into the picture can and most likely will involve making changes to the map as you go along.) 3. Track your results. Stay tuned for some more information about tracking your results in 2017, particularly in combination with The Freedom Journal. 4. Refine Your Approach Once you have data on what's working and what isn't, I predict that all people serious about using memory techniques will be capable of learning faster, remembering more and having an amazing 2017. 2017 Will Be The Year Of Memory And Sleep Research My biggest memory improvement surprises in 2016 came from experiencing great memory wins despite way too much sleep deprivation. As the author of The Ultimate Sleep Remedy, I still stand behind everything I taught in that book. However, I also wrote the book during a period of time when I took lamictal every day. I had also done a huge course of research in sleeping 12 hour days and dream recall. But since becoming an entrepreneur and giving up the pretty pink pills as part of "Project Wolverine" … Things Have Been Different! I don't think the pretty pink pill ever helped me sleep any better. But I think it did give my like a machinic quality. And that consistency has been replaced with something more akin to the classic and cliche Bipolar Rollercoaster described in psychology textbooks. To combat the suffering that comes from Manic Depression, I've been experimenting with raw cacao and coffee, sometimes Bulletproof Coffee. There is no doubt in my mind that the swapping of these substances in for lamictal has changed the nature of my sleep. But overall, despite tons of exhaustion, my mnemonic memory has never been better. I find this amazing, especially since recent research has shown that the older you get, the less likely you are to get memory consolidation during sleep. My Mnemonic Calendar Will Come Back Into Use That said, the tasks to which I direct my mnemonic memory need refinement. I have a mnemonic calendar, for example, but need to use it more often so that I don't forget appointments. Or even better, remember when appointments have been cancelled. Sometimes the ghost impression of an appointment made can override the attempt to remember that it has been canceled. This is The Ugly Sister Effect in full force as too much competes for your attention. There is also the pressure of absentmindedness on memory. For this reason, it is important to place as many things on autopilot as possible so that remembering is unnecessary. Funny, right? But it's important to note that a great way to improve your memory is to remove things from it that stress it out. HumanCharger Light Therapy And Memory? Light is an increasingly important topic to me. In fact, light exposure has become a way of life. Since February of 2016, I've been using a unique light-therapy device to explore the topic. The benefits of using the HumanCharger have been clear, measurable and amazing. Basically, the device addresses a simple reality: The human brain is sensitive and receptive to light. There's a lot to that statement. Especially if you can find a way to let light reach more of your brain. Of course, your eyes have a means of doing that. But what if your ears were a pathway light could use to reach your brain too. I predict that I'll be part of spreading the good news about exactly how you can use the HumanCharger to bring light to your brain. I'm also excited to explore the relationship between memory and light as well. My initial n=1 conclusions are that feeling more alert and in a brighter mood definitely adds to the arsenal when you're living the art of memory improvement. The Magnetic Memory Method Will Be Enshrined As The Martial Art Of Memory Improvement I predict that I will continue extending my feeling that mnemonics are a kind of Martial Art. I've long felt that my background with Systema has helped my memory. Apart from meditation techniques derived from Alan Watts and Eckart Tolle, Systema continues to provide the basis for how I connect relaxation to memory. Ego-depletion will also remain important. Yet, ego is so crucial to memory techniques because you draw on what you know based on what you know about yourself. You tap into what you like, what makes you emotional, sometimes even what makes you mad. Case in point: I was filming myself learning some Chinese in a bank when I got some attitude from a guy. He basically told me I shouldn't get him on camera (a camera that was in no way pointing at him). But he did it so indirectly that I wasn't sure if he worked for the bank, was representing the bank's interest or … trying to audition for my YouTube channel … Anyhow, I was trying to remember how to say, "I am lost" using memory techniques in real time. But in the moment of conflict, I not only had to maintain calm to avoid getting into a fistfight. I needed calm to make sure I could create Magnetic Imagery to attach to the Magnetic Station I'd created on the fly in the impromptu Memory Palace. My images were Mini-me from Austin Powers and Jennifer Lopez. No, the phrase isn't epic in length. No is it particularly difficult. But neither is it extraordinary. And in a field of Chinese words and phrases, I needed to make it stand out. So while I'm managing my ego in the face of a potential attacker, running the camera and thinking about how I'll edit it, AND memorizing this useful Chinese phrase so I can get it into long term memory … It really does require Martial Arts-level memory to manage all of these elements and not forget the core information. Physical Fitness And Memory Will Remain Mutually Supportive In 2016, I dropped a lot of weight and built a lot of muscle. My trainer, Lars at Ignite.Fit, taught me a lot about my body, discipline and the nature of life. We also became friends and talked a lot about education, technology, business and how all three intersect. As I worked to heal my body in the gym, I started drafting "Project Wolverine." I can't say much about it now, but I predict that memory and physical fitness will remain important to me and all who care about the quality of their memory. Brad Zupp agrees on the connection between health and memory in this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast. I can't wait to speak with him again on the matter and predict that I will. My Year Two Of Chinese Prediction It's one year since I started learning Chinese. Fluent? Hardly. And I know for a fact that I've got a long way to go. But it raises the question of how exactly I define fluency. Context decides. When I asked my father-in-law permission to marry his daughter, he understood my request. I was fluent. When I sang her a Chinese love song I'd memorized on our wedding day, I was fluent. When I got an email from one of her friends expressing his amazement with my Chinese and memory techniques, I was fluent. But … … When I went to make dumplings during the 冬至 Dongzhi Festival … I was in the limbo every language learner knows so well. It feels like you must have been studying all the wrong things. Although you recognize dozens of words … It's still hard to penetrate even 10% of what's going on around you. But I am fluent in memory. I zone in on what I do recognize. I isolate what I want to memorize. Then, provided I follow the MMM to the letter … I'm on the road to fluency, which is the present moment, the only place anything is to be found. The Toughest 2017 Prediction To Uphold … Tough, but I still predict that I will maintain my love affair with German. It's actually kind of easy. All it will take is dedication to The Big Five of language learning to maintain my current level. Yes, even as an upper-level student of German, maximum attention must be paid to reading, writing, speaking, hearing and continuing to memorize German. I know, because I remember just how quickly it faded the last time I left Germany. I don't want to feel the fade of disuse ever again. What Are Your Predictions For Your 2017 State Of Memory Address? So that's my 2016 in a nutshell. I'm grateful to everyone who contributed comments here, left reviews on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast or joined the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass. It's been an honor and delight to improve the ability of people around the world to learn, remember and recall anything with greater ease, fun, passion and high levels of accuracy in their recall. Like how about this amazing win from a Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass member: Or this wonderful lesson from an action-taker with the Magnetic Memory Method: And then there's this short note from a great MMM Masterclasser: I received hundreds of emails and messages just like these in 2016. So when it comes to 2017 predictions and the state of your memory, tell me … Are you in? Have a great New Year and talk soon! Sincerely, P.S. If you think you don't have time for memory improvement in 2017, here's how to memorize things fast from my friend Tor. Have fun! The post The 2016 MMM State Of Your Memory Address appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Except for the threats, the sirens and the guys with guns … last night was amazing for my memory. First, April got invited to make dumplings to celebrate the last day of Autumn and the first day of Winter on the Chinese calendar. I love the Magnetic Memory Method because I was able to remember those words in Chinese … 秋天 qiūtiān (Autumn) 冬天 dōngtiān (Winter) Crazy thing is … I'd only heard them once in my life and used an impromptu Memory Palace to memorize them. Months later … They Were All Still Intact! As was this song that took really just a few minutes to memorize: Sure, I had a bit of a pronunciation problem here and there, but that's easily solved by developing muscle memory. It's understandable that words you don't use for months that you only heard once don't exactly snap into place. But what a GREAT feeling to be able to remember them! And all by doing something I really love: Using my memory. After that, we were shooting video and getting into more of the particulars about how all this works. We Got Lost! We wound up getting a bit lost and keeping warm inside the bank machine area of a building. And that's when the threats and guns appeared. Turns out, that a guy didn't like me having the camera on while April was teaching me how to say, "I'm lost" in Chinese. Good thing the Magnetic Memory Method teaches relaxation as part of the memory technique … You certainly need to be calm when a stranger starts telling you what you can and cannot do. It's hard managing your defensive instincts and memory at the same time. (You'll laugh when you see my reaction in the video and the guns that were there to keep us safe all along). So yes, April and I survived. Perfect Recall … Even Under Duress And the coolest thing is that I was still able to memorize "I am lost" in Chinese. I can still remember exactly how to say it this morning. Not to mention a couple of other words and phrases. Like, "Smells good!" And "garbage can." Instantly Memorized! No sweat. No tears. No index cards. No software. But as I was editing the video this morning … it occurred to me that not everyone learning Chinese has access to native speakers. And in the video I was talking about some solutions. They're all part of The Big Five of Language Learning. But then I remembered something really special I've been following for awhile. It's a website called MandarinHQ. And when they released a course on real spoken Chinese, I jumped at the chance yesterday to grab access to it. It's called The Real Spoken Chinese Vault. Yes, I laid down some cash even though I have a Chinese native speaker in my family. Why? Partly because I like to support awesome people out on the Internet who do good work. But also because I do memory research. Lots of it. And I also want to support because what I'm about to tell you helps solve a huge problem for people learning Chinese. It's the "Can you please repeat that?" problem. Chinese Native Speakers On Demand Imagine having a video course where you get access to vocabulary and short phrases that lets you … Instantly click a button … … and then instantly hear that phrase again. That would be cool, wouldn't it? Well, The Real Spoken Chinese Vault isn't just about audio. You Can Hear Them And See Them The Real Spoken Chinese Vault also has video. And you get strategically placed buttons so that you can see and hear 4-5 different native speakers repeat key phrases you'll need to learn. It's the kind of button I wish I had in real life when learning a language. For When You Can't Put Life On Pause Because, yes, I can memorize information in real time. But sometimes it's nice to be able to slow the world down and repeat things so I'm sure I've heard it right. In fact, most of my memorization errors from real-time memory work come from now having heard it right. What you're about to learn about solves that problem. Again, you get to SEE and HEAR native Chinese speakers. A Lot In The Form Of Important Questions And Answers Just like you'll need to know in every day speech. But there's more. Not much more, but just enough more to make this powerful package a no-brainer: Because the program really wants to help you learn Chinese without overwhelming you … Imagine a progression of exposure to the language in each lesson. You start with seeing and hearing the speaker. Progressive Exposure Reduces Cognitive Overwhelm You can repeat each one delivering the phrase as many times as you like. Then, when you're ready, you can see the pinyin. Same principle applies. Click that magic repeat button all that you like as you watch and listen. And then move on to the next stage. When You're Ready … Then, and only then will you see the Chinese characters on the screen. Your magic repeat button is right there, ready for use. This program truly is one of the only times I will support hard-repetition. It's very smartly done. It's not boring. It's not painful. And you learn in a way that doesn't waste your language learning time. I also like that each module ends in a quiz. You Get To Test Yourself So far, I've done really well and LOVE this program. Here are some Basic Chinese examples with my own tailor-made (and Magnetic) Mandarin Mnemonics: And you can get lifetime access now at a HUGE discount (time is running out, though!) (Note: The following offer expired at 11:59 p.m., December 26th, 2016. To let me know that you're interested in studying Chinese using memory techniques, please get in contact.) Let me introduce you to my friend Angel to explain her "listening framework" in detail. If you want to join me in the course, before the deadline … I'm going to do you even one better: I'm going to make you a short video course of what I'm doing to memorize the material I need from the course using the Magnetic Memory Method. But here's the thing: This bonus is only for people who take Angel's course and keep it. She's being VERY generous with this discount for early adopters on LIFETIME ACCESS. And I only want to reward people who take it for 30-days along with me. So that means I'll be sending you your access to the MMM Chinese Vault Supplemental 30-days after you grab The Real Spoken Chinese Vault before the deadline. Can't wait to share more of my Chinese memory journey with you soon! Sincerely, Anthony P.S. Remember: This amazing opportunity for LIFETIME access to Angel's The Real Chinese Vault with its unique listening and viewing framework closes soon. You should at least look it over. P.P.S. You're right. One bonus from me isn't enough. I'm also going to throw in a video I've already made about how that I quickly memorize Chinese poetry. The poems are usually only 4 lines long, but I only need to hear them once. Recall is so strong that I am delighted by the response of native Chinese speakers. Just check out this email I received after dinner the other night: "Dear Anthony, It was definitely happy time having dinner with you. Especially, I checked out your website, that's amazing. Those techniques, please forgive me that I call them techniques, help people memorize things. Actually, I was shocked that day, with your Mandarin. As you know, not even all of real Chinese people speak 100% correct mandarin. And the way you were trying to memorize the few Chinese poems is cool. When I was trying to memorize the same poem at very young age, I don't know what those words/characters mean. I just repeat it again and again. Those are ancient/classical Chinese words and very different from nowadays." ​If you'd like to get emails like that yourself from native Chinese speakers, don't miss out on my bonus. Scroll and click that link for The Real Chinese Vault now. P.P.P.S. Oh, okay, yes after 30-days in The Real Chinese Vault, you can also get access to my Secret Chinese Vocabulary Facebook Group. Unlike some of the other FB groups I run, this one isn't free and the fun for language learners who use memory techniques is only getting started …​​​​ Scroll up, click the link and check out The Real Spoken Chinese Vault now. Bonus Update For Action-Takers: How To Use The Real Spoken Chinese Vault With The Magnetic Memory Method If you joined us for the Chinese Vault special offer, here is your first bonus video: Your password will have been delivered to you via email, so please be sure to check your spam and/or promotion folder if you haven't received it. Tone Control The Ultimate Language Learning Secret Also, be sure to have requested access to the Secret Facebook group for access to the 30-day Chinese Vault MMM Challenge. Can't wait to share my mnemonic images with you! The post An Easy Way To Learn Chinese That Works For People Bored By Mindless Repetition appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

In the modern world of omnipresent information access, memorization is almost a thing of the past. And this shift has occurred very quickly. Little more than a decade ago, it wasn't uncommon that a person had to memorize a sizable list of phone numbers belonging to partners, siblings, parents and close friends. Now Many Of Us Forget Our Own Cell Phone Numbers! Despite this, there are situations in the modern day that still require memorization. Perhaps phone numbers and historical facts are better left to Google, but not everything can and should be searched via a computer. A notable example which is becoming conversant is "language" – which requires that you memorize a huge amount of vocabulary and grammar. Until now, there isn't a technology effective enough to replace human ability to learn and master a language. In the past, having to memorize information was not optional because information wasn't easily accessible. Up until the 19th century, paper was expensive, especially for quantities required to make a book. To add to it was that not many people could read and write so the ability and need to memorize and recall information was critical. Why The Greeks Adored Memory Palace Science That's why a powerful memorization method was adored by the ancient Greeks. This technique is used even as at today by memory experts to commit huge amounts of information to mind. And thanks to have an abundance of Ancient Greek facts that have been handed down, anyone can learn to use a Memory Palace at any time. One such memory expert, used it to memorize Pi to over 100,000 digits. This memorization technique is called the Method of Loci, or more commonly the "Memory Palace". It is a memorization method that not only has held the test of time, but has been shown to be effective through modern-day studies. You may even have heard of the Memory Palace technique without realizing it because it has been featured in multiple books and media. The Silence Of The Memory Palace In Fiction And Movies For example, the technique was employed by the fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the novel series "Hannibal" written by an American author Thomas Harris. In several passages of the novel, Lecter was described as mentally walking through an elaborate Memory Palace to remember facts. That's the basics of the Memory Palace technique. Although relatively unknown, this method can be a game-changing technique for people who want to improve their ability to retain large amounts of information. You might be a student trying to master information for an exam, or an aspiring polyglot trying to learn Italian. You might be aging and finding it more difficult to recall routine information. Whatever memorization challenge you face, the Memory Palace technique is a proficient way to finally help you achieve your goals. How the Memory Palace Technique Evolved The origin of the Memory Palace technique was traced to ancient Greece. As mentioned earlier, in the olden days, people had higher incentives to create effective methods of retaining information. Writing and writing materials were difficult to access. The Memory Palace technique was introduced to the ancient Romans and the world via Greek rhetorical treatises. The Roman Cicero described the Memory Palace technique in his writings on rhetoric, called De Oratore. In De Oratore, Circero claims that his Memory Palace method originated from the Greek poet Simonides. Simonides was commissioned to recite a poem praising a group of nobles at a banquet. After the recitation, Simonides left the hall and shortly after the edifice collapsed and killed all the people in the banquet. The bodies were so badly mangled that not even close relatives could identify the corpses of their own people. However, Simonides was able to identify each of the corpses by name based on their location. Based on this experience, Simonides devised the Memory Palace technique (Bower 1970). Whether this story is reality or myth, it illustrates the basic idea behind the Memory Palace technique. Luckily, you don't have to attend a tragic banquet to master the technique and start using it to improve your information retention. For a true story that will rivet you from beginning to end, check out The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci. How to Create a Memory Palace The basic idea behind the Memory Palace Technique is to associate pieces of information with a location that you are very familiar with. A prime example would be of your home. If you'd like some free Memory Palace worksheets and a concise memory improvement video course, do this now: If you close your eyes right now, you can probably picture your home with a high degree of detail. You know where the furniture is found, what colors the walls are, and even where small objects are placed. The Memory Palace technique has to do with associating information with specific areas of that familiar location. As you walk through that location, you place pieces of information that you wish to memorize in specific areas. When you want to recall the information, you go through that mental route, and the information will be easily accessible. The technique is made more effective when you add surprising or out-of-the normal features to the information. For example, assuming you would like to memorize this sequence of words: hero drill spacecraft music You could imagine yourself at your front door, with a hero standing next to you. Here you've made an association between your door and a hero. You can increase your ability to memorize and retain this by making the memory more distinctive or unusual. For example, you could imagine the hero opening the door for you, or banging on it before you enter. You then walk down your hall, and before your feet is a drill. To increase the power of this imagery, imagine that it is turned on and you have to leap to avoid being hurt. You then turn the corner and see a spacecraft flying out of the window leaving behind itself a trail of glitter. Finally, you sat down on the couch, and as your bottom touches the cushion, your favorite song starts playing. You might even imagine the word "music" written on the cushion before you sit. The Memory Palace Technique Is Not Necessarily Visual As you can see, the technique seems to require a vivid visual imagination. However, when done correctly using all of the Magnetic Modes, you can memorize a very large amount of information relatively quickly without necessarily seeing the Memory Palace in your mind. Here's an infographic to teach you all about the different ways that your brain perceives information: Keeping the full range of your Magnetic Modes in mind, you can use any home or location with which you are familiar. You can even use small areas, such as the inside of a broom closet. You can even use your own body, attaching information to different limbs. Just keep in mind that you don't necessarily have to see the Memory Palace. You can feel it, hear it, taste it, smell it and even just think about it. If any of this seems odd, continue reading to be convinced of how seriously well the Memory Palace technique works. You might want to see just how well the Memory Palace can work in combination with Mind Mapping too. The Science behind the Memory Palace Technique Many studies have been conducted to analyze the effectiveness of the Memory Palace technique. It's all based on the scientific fact that your brain and spatial memory perceive space as a kind of image. Check out this lecture for more information about how that works: Cool, right? The answer is a resounding "yes!" Even better: In a study conducted by J. Ross and K. A. Lawrence in 1968, the Memory Palace technique was tested on a group of 40 students. The students were asked to memorize a list of 40 items. They were given only a few minutes to do so, yet were able to recall an average of 38 out of 40 items upon immediate recall. The next day, the average recall rate dropped to 34 out of 40 items – still very impressive! Nature Magazine did an investigation of so-called superior memorizers (SM) in a 2002 paper (Maguire et al). They studied a group of 10 champions who had competed in the World Memory Championships. The researchers first wanted to know if these SMs had some special natural advantages that other people do not have, such as a higher IQ. They first found out that SMs did not have exceptional cognitive abilities. In fact, they did not even show superior performance on visual memory tasks (for example, the recall of faces). The paper further investigated the brain structure of these SMs, and found out that their brains were not significantly different from average brains (Maguire et al 2002). The scientists also performed functional MRI scans to see if the SMs brains were activated differently when actively memorizing. Here the SMs brains differed from normal brains – SM's brains activated particularly when memorizing (Maguire et al 2002). Significantly, scientists found out that SMs all used mnemonic techniques to aid in their memorization. Nine out of ten of these subjects were specifically using the Memory Palace technique (Maguire et al 2002). Note: Some of people call it the Mind Palace method, but the basics are the same. Plus, the different activation patterns observed were associated to the fact that SMs used mnemonic techniques, namely the Memory Palace technique, to memorize information (Maguire et al 2002). No Need For A Huge IQ To Use A Memory Palace! It's not that SMs are smarter or have bigger brains than the rest of us. It's that they use mnemonics, and specifically the Memory Palace technique to memorize information. That is the secret behind their impressive abilities. And because these SMs had been practicing the technique for a little over 11 years on average, they were really good (Maguire et al 2002). This suggests that anyone with average abilities can use this technique to improve his/her memory. And once you know the drill, it's really just a matter of spending some time with a few solid Memory Palace training exercises. Like these: Even if you are not seeking to learn large amounts of information, the Memory Palace technique still has something to offer. There is evidence that the Memory Palace technique can help maintain a healthy brain during old age. Benefits of the Memory Palace Technique for the Aging Brain As we age, our memories become weaker. In elderly people, this might lead to a frustrating situation where they are struggling to recall routine information. There has been much study on age-related memory loss, but so far not many effective solutions to this problem. Happily, the Memory Palace technique holds promise in aiding the enhancement of memory in the aging brain. One study conducted in Norway in 2010 employed expert instructors, who taught the Memory Palace technique to 23 volunteers. The average age of these volunteers was 61 (Engvig et al 2010). After training, these volunteers were able to memorize a list of 30 words in sequential order in under 10 minutes – impressive! A control group, a set of volunteers of the same average age, sex and education was included in the study. They were not trained in the Memory Palace technique, and were instructed to memorize the list as well (Engvig et al 2010). Afterwards, both groups were released into the world to live normally for eight weeks. When they returned to the study, researchers challenged both groups to a recall task. They first flashed a list of 15 unrelated words, each for only a second. The volunteers were then instructed to recall the words in order. Researchers then showed them a list of 30 words. Half of these words had been displayed in the initial 15 word list while the other half was completely new. The volunteers were asked to pick out words that had previously appeared and also identify their correct position in the first list (Engvig et al 2010). Volunteers trained in the Memory Palace technique outperformed the non-trained volunteers for recognizing the position of the words (Engvig et al 2010). The study also measured the amount of brain thinning that occurred in the trained versus untrained groups of volunteers. Normal age causes the brain to shrink. The brain of the individuals showed thickening in areas of the brain which were key for visual abstract memory (Engvig et al 2010). Why The Memory Palace Technique Is Not Snake Oil This research and others like it have shown that the Memory Palace technique is not snake oil. Sadly, most adults in the modern world are not encouraged to use their imagination. It might therefore be slightly challenging for someone newly using the technique to really get into it, especially if they don't have the kind of Memory Palace example you can get when you take my free memory improvement course. However, after practice, many find out that this memory technique is not only effective in memorization, but is also very engaging. Certainly more engaging than the traditional rote memorization technique. With some practice, you'll be impressing all of your friends and family with how good your memorization has gotten in no time. References & Further Resources Bower, G. H., "Analysis of a Mnemonic Device: Modern psychology uncovers the powerful components of an ancient system for improving memory" American Scientist, Vol. 58, No. 5, pp. 496-510, September–October 1970 Web. 21 Jan. 2016.. Engvig, Andreas, Anders M. Fjell, Lars T. Westlye, Torgeir Moberget, Øyvind Sundseth, Vivi Agnete Larsen, and Kristine B. Walhovd. "Effects of Memory Training on Cortical Thickness in the Elderly." NeuroImage 52.4 (2010): 1667-676. 1 Oct. 2010. Web. 22 Jan. 2016. Fan, Shelley. "Can a Mnemonic Slow Memory Loss with Age?" Scientific American Blog Network. 20 Mar. 2014. Web. 22 Jan. 2016. Maguire, Eleanor A., Elizabeth R. Valentine, John M. Wilding, and Narinder Kapur. "Routes to Remembering: The Brains behind Superior Memory." Nature Neuroscience Nat Neurosci 6.1 (2002): 90-95. Web. 22 Jan. 2016. The post Memory Palace Science: Proof That This Memory Technique Works appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

You've heard about Mind Mapping and Memory Palaces, right? Well, if you're anything like the hundreds of people who have emailed me about it, you've probably wondered … "Can I bring Mind Mapping and the Memory Palace together?" To help me answer the question, I asked the reigning World Mind Mapping champion Phil Chambers to talk about Mind Mapping and how to bring this creativity, memory and learning tool together with a Memory Palace. Turns out that we had a lot more than just that to talk about. Tune in to this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast and learn all about. How To Combine Mind Mapping And Memory Palaces With Phil Chambers ⊕ The techniques Phil uses in his personal daily memory practice. ⊕ How to capture and store ideas using memory techniques – even when you're driving. ⊕ The number-rhyme technique to take action on to-do list items. (Not to be mistaken for the Major Method/Major System.) ⊕ The perfect Mind Mapping definition and where to learn more about mind mapping techniques ⊕ Why there are always new things to explore in the world of memory techniques. Once you start using them, you will never cap out on new angles to explore and increase your skills. ⊕ The difference between semantic memory and episode memory and how using the journey method capitalizes on the power of both. This is the most "natural" way to use your memory. Hanging out with Phil Chambers and Tony Buzan ⊕ The reasons why memory competition skills translate directly into every day memory needs we all face. ⊕ Why the principles behind Mind Mapping never changes, but Mind Mapping software continues bring new enhancements to the art and craft of this thinking, learning and planning tool. ⊕ Details on how to bring Mind Mapping together with the Memory Palace technique. ⊕ Why and how Mind Mapping uses all of the classic memory techniques. ⊕ The major criticism about memory techniques as regurgitation of knowledge and not learning – and why it's misguided. ⊕ Why Phil's title as a World Mind Mapping champion is up for grabs and exactly how to take his title. ⊕ The exact criteria by which world class Mind Mapping is judged. ⊕ Why you should never worry about your artistic ability when creating Mind Maps. ⊕ Phil's Mind Mapping examples of how to schedule your week and get more done. ⊕ How Mind Mapping your daily schedule gives you many more details than a to-do list. Not only that, but you'll often be able to double your efforts in ways you wouldn't have otherwise seen on a page with linear notes. Further Resources 101 Top Tips For Better Mind Maps By Phil Chambers for Kindle Phil Chamber's website (where you can subscribe to his newsletter!) Phil Chambers on Twitter Phil Chambers on YouTube Phil Chambers Talks About The Outer Limits Of Memory Skills The post How To Combine Mind Mapping And Memory Palaces With Phil Chambers appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Remember Joanna Jast and all those tips she gave you on how to improve focus and concentration while you work on memory improvement? Good news. Joanna's back with a new book called Hack Your Habits and in this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, we've got her here to talk about it. As always, I've got the interview transcript for you below and would love to hear your comments and questions in the discussion area below. Enjoy! Why You Don't Have To Have It All Mapped Out To Get A Handle On Your Habits Anthony: You go into your personal story in the introduction. Why do you think you faced so many challenges and what was the turning point? Joanna Jast: It's interesting you're asking me this question. I actually thought about it the other day on my way to work. And – I don't really have the answer. I suppose it's the combination of many factors: my temperament – which is like emotional and behavioural building blocks for personality and to large extend is hardwired, inborn, so my temperament, my upbringing, the environment I grew up in, the challenges I faced in life and the solutions to those challenges I chose to follow etc. I haven't got it all 'mapped out', but I think the key reasons why I've faced so many difficulties is my low threshold for boredom, poor ability to delay gratification, my self-compassion, which drives many of my willpower failures with: 'But you deserve it, Joanna… you've had such a bad day'. The turning points? There have been quite a few. But if I was to choose the key turning points that led me to create my own system for building better habits, it would be the following three: The first one the day when my study routine was born. It was actually accidental – I wrote about it in my book Laser-Sharp Focus. It was the moment when I decided to stop trying to study in the evening, sitting on the sofa or on the bed and start doing it in the morning, at my desk. To cut a long story short, I suddenly realised not only how much more productive and effective my study sessions became, but also how much happier I became – with better grades, more energy and time to do other things in life. Now, 20 years later, looking back at what happened, I realise that back then I created a study routine, which over the years became my productivity and now writing routine that has transformed my life. My study routine happened to be one on those keystone habits – habits that create a ripple effect throughout our life, creating space and energy for more healthy habits to emerge and grow stronger, ultimately transforming our lives. How The Secrets Of Behavioral Economics Can Improve Your Life The second turning point was the day when I heard about Behavioural Economics for the first time. It was during a lecture on marketing. I went home, did more research, read books, articles, did a course and… fall in love with the approach. I thought this could be something that would work for me. So I started experimenting with various behavioural economics strategies. Initially, I applied them to sort out my finances – so paid off my debts and started saving money. Then, I started experimenting with my exercise routine and eating habits. And the third pivotal point was, when I refined my exercise routine, my running routine to incorporate all the lessons I'd learnt about human nature and my own difficulties in forming habits, and particularly – my previous failures in establishing a reliable exercise routine. I used many of the behavioural economics strategies I'd learn about when doing it. And now I've got a running routine, where I run 3 times per week, whether I feel motivated or not (and at least once a week I don't feel motivated at all), whether is raining, or 100% humidity, or my foot is sore. I just do it. The Truth About Your Age And Your Habits Anthony: Is the problem of habits age specific? Does it apply to all ages equally? Joanna Jast: I don't know, really. I think this is a problem of our times though – so this modern age. We become more aware of the role and the impact of habits, good and bad, on our health, happiness, success, on our lives, and also we realise that motivation and willpower have limits. And that's why we think about our habits more, we become interested in strategies for improving them. You can say that 'habits are in fashion these days'. And it's nothing negative – on the contrary. I'm very happy to see that many people are turning away from relying on unreliable motivational strategies towards using more practical approaches to transforming their lives. So it's not only scientists, or health and fitness fanatics who are exploring habits. Many people, of all ages, are seeking better understanding of habits, and their own habits in particular, to improve their health, happiness, wealth, relationships and many other aspects of their personal and professional lives. Anthony: Talk about putting systems on autopilot. It sounds too good to be true. What does "autopilot" mean and how can a person get started? Joanna Jast: Putting a system on autopilot is about creating a system that makes you perform certain behaviour, or a sequence of behaviours without thinking much about it, without putting much energy into it. It's like getting up in the morning and washing your face or brushing your teeth. Most of us do it automatically, without thinking: Oh, geeesh, first, I need to wash my face, then, I need to brush my teeth, and then – I comb my hair. These are things that most healthy adults would do automatically every morning. These are habitual behaviours – well engrained in our brains, within the neural pathways. For me putting a system, say an exercise routine, on autopilot is about creating a system that kicks in as if with a push of a button, and makes you go out and run three times per week, rain or shine, whatever your motivation level, or the mood of the day. How To Harvest The Power Of Your Desired Outcome Anthony: How can you get started? Joanna Jast: I suggest you start with the end result in mind. Start with what you want to achieve. You need to understand what problem you are trying to solve, but more importantly, what you are trying to achieve. I like the concept of Desired Outcome, which I've borrowed from user experience design field. Desired Outcome is what we really want. Not what we think we want. Not what other people are telling us we should want. But what we're really really want. In my new book, Hack Your Habits, I write about my own struggle to cut down on my carbohydrate intake. I've got a sweet tooth and sadly, also use sweets as a reward and a way to boost my 'motivation' or willpower to carry on with tasks I don't really want to do, tasks that are too difficult, too complex, etc. There was a time I was eating a lot of sweets. I was going through a stressful time personally and professionally, and this was my way of dealing with stress. So I wanted to cut down on my carbs. So initially, I thought about this task as a cutting on my carbs task, a diet-changing task. I was all motivated to do that, and all. But it didn't work. So I looked at the whole issue again and really wanted to zoom in on what I cared about. And don't get me wrong, I do care about my health, but the instant gratification monkey that lives in my brain always tells me that I can start again tomorrow, and now – I can have that biscuit. So I had to start with the Desired Outcome. Yes, I wanted to eat less carbs, but what I really wanted out of it was to be able to resist sweets and toast with jam. So I reframed my goal, taking into consideration my personality, my temperament, my weaknesses and strengths. I've got a competitive streak, I'm an achievement junkie, and I get excited with new ideas and testing them. So this ended up as an exercise in self-control and I did really well. 2 Of The Most Powerful Questions You'll Ever Ask Yourself So the Desired Outcome is where you need to start. What do you want out of it? Do you really care about it? And it has to be something you really care about, you care about. If you don't care about it truly and deeply, it won't really happen. Anthony: You talk about getting the diagnosis right when tackling a problem. What does this mean and how does one get started? Joanna Jast: I really like this quote from Albert Einstein: 'If I were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute solving it'. And I would do the same. If you're trying and trying and trying to solve a problem, say of your unhealthy diet, or an unproductive study routine, and you're constantly failing, it may be that you're using an ineffective strategy, but it may also be that you're trying to solve the wrong problem. In medicine, getting the diagnosis right is crucial to an effective treatment plan. And getting it wrong can really result in people dying. This is not as serious as that with habits, but in the end, if you don't understand, if you don't define your problem correctly, you can waste a lot of time, energy, and even money on trying to fix something that is not the reason for your struggles. Let me reiterate it: the better you understand what's wrong, what's not working, the more targeted your solutions, your treatment will be. How to go about diagnosing your problem? Unfortunately, it's not as simple as doing an X-ray or a blood test, but it is doable. Start with self-reflection, and be honest with yourself. For me there are two major components to understand any problem you have: you – how you operate, your personality, motivation, strengths and weaknesses and your context. The context is the external environment, your internal environment and your social environment. And they all come with their own limitations – what's possible and constraints – what's appropriate. Why It's Never Mind Over Matter And it's important to include that context -your physical environment, and your social environment as well. The power of those external systems that force us into behaving in certain ways is really undermined by many people. We think it's all mind over matter – but if your physical environment or social context, is not conducing to exercising, or a healthier diet – it makes the change much, much more difficult. So don't underestimate that. And once you've got a good understanding how you and your problem or your habits goals sit within you and your context, you are in a good position to start tackling it. So self-reflection if used with a healthy dose of honesty, is a great tool for discovering, diagnosing your problem. You can ask other people for their opinion what they think is not working for you. But then, they will be biased and what's more important – they may not have access to some of your hidden motivations, or aspects of your personality or life you don't share with others. How To Get Started Fixing Persistent Problems To get a really good grip on what's wrong when fixing persisting problems, I ask myself two questions: The first question is: What is this for? What is this doing for me? What purpose does it serve? What need does it meet? And this works really well with habits, because every habit serves a purpose. And most bad habits, such as overeating, procrastination, or shouting at your kids usually either helps either deal with boredom or with stress. And the other questions I ask myself is: why have I failed at addressing it so far? And once you've got it figured out, it will fall into those categories I've just talked about – you and your context. It should give you a better understanding of what it is and why you're struggling to address it. And from this point, finding the best solution is quite straightforward really. Exactly When You Should Run From S.M.A.R.T. Goals Kicking And Screaming Anthony: Talk about SMART goals. What's your major concern with this popular approach to goal setting? Joanna Jast: The SMART goal setting framework is very popular, and it does work for most things, but in my opinion it does not work for habit goals, and for a number of reasons. First of all, let's look at the last letter of this acronym: T – time-bound. Setting a habit-based goal with a deadline for achieving it is not a good strategy. Why? Because habits take as much time as they take to develop. Some of it is in your control, but let's not forget we're talking about creating or rearranging neural pathways in your brain. That takes time to shift. Studies shows that habit formation depends on many factors, and most importantly on the person working on it – their motivation, personality, their context, as well as on the complexity of the habit itself. A simple habit can take a few days to develop, a more complex one, such as exercise – up to several months. So if you give yourself a deadline for your habit goal, you may be bitterly disappointed if you don't achieve it before it. That's just setting yourself up to fail. So when setting habit based goals, don't give yourself a deadline, but rather create a schedule for your new routine. Then, there is the matter of measurability , so the letter M- how do you measure your success in a achieving your habit. In my opinion, it's important to look at it carefully and measure what you want to achieve. And my advice is to link it with your desired outcome. So if you, like me, testing your ability to resist marshmallows, you measure your ability to resist marshmallows, not the side effect, the healthy eating side effect of it, or weight loss. When I'm building a new habit, I'm not interested in performance measures – I don't care how far or how fast I run (I try not to at least), but I'm focused on getting it done every time I'm supposed to do it. So practice is more important than performance when working on developing a new habit, and we should measure accordingly. Why You Need To Be Realistic With Your Habits And there are two more aspects of the SMART framework I have an issue with it's the A and R – achievable and realistic. Call me cynical, call me a party pooper but I am not a big fan of being aspirational when setting your habit goals. It's great to feel inspired and motivated to achieve greater things in life, but in the end the reality of my life is what It is, and no matter how hard I try to refrain from eating sweets by the sheer power of my willpower and my desire to be slim and beautiful, it's going to collapse on day 3 or 4. That's what the 30 years of my experience in doing it tells me. So being realistic and setting habit goals that are achievable again refer to you and your context – your personality, your motivation, your inner world, your physical environment, your social environment and all these things that affect us with all their limitations and constraints. Anthony: You mentioned two kinds of environment, internal and external. What are these and why is understanding the difference important? Joanna Jast: The difference isn't really that important. I just like having things organised in my head. I also like to make that distinction because it makes it easier to you look for solutions later on. And that's how I look at difficulties in addressing habit problems. It's again the same thing: the better you understand where your challenges come from, the easier it will be to find a solution to your problem. So we're back to the importance of correctly diagnosing the problem. Your external environment is what surrounds you – your physical environment, your house, workplace, the gym you go to, the supermarket where you shop; your financial situation, even the weather. Your internal environment is the environment you create for yourself – your thoughts, your emotions, your motivation, your values, what happens with your body. How To Use Cues To Hack Your Habits Anthony: What are some of the "cues" you talk about? Which is the most important in your opinion? Joanna Jast: Cues are very important. Cues remind us that we need to do something. They prompt us, trigger us to do what we're suppose to do. They whole idea of a habit as a repetitive action in response to a cue, really relies on the cue being enough of a trigger. So if you want to have an effective trigger, effective cue, find one that stands out in your environment. There is little point in putting your cue on a sticky note, and pinning it up on a corkboard full of similar sticky notes. You won't see it. I say: choose something that disrupts the fabric of your reality. Just like the sound of a notification 'time to go for a run' popping up on your screen. And it disrupts what you're doing, right? But that may be not enough. If then instead of going for the run, you just snooze or close the notification, it's just doesn't work, does it? So once again, it's very important that the cue you choose stands out in your environment and is hard to ignore. The best cues are those that have a cost of ignoring involved. The Cost Of Ignoring Your Cues I'll give you an example of what I mean by having the cost of ignoring the cue. So I run three times per week. And my cue is seeing my greasy hair in the mirror in the morning – I run on days when I need to wash my hair. This is how I know it's my running day. And the cost of ignoring this cue is that I'd have to go to work with my hair unwashed. That's unacceptable. Or that I have to jump in the shower and wash my hair. I don't like washing my hair in the morning. So if I wanted to back off and don't go for a run – there is a cost involved. And it's just so much easier to just go for a run. Anthony: Talk about checklists. What's the most important thing people need to know about them when building habits? Joanna Jast: Checklists are fantastic tools. Checklists help saving lives, prevent infections and industrial accidents. Checklists are simple, effective, they lower your cognitive load, they have high reliability. Research shows that if you follow a checklist, you're 75% less likely to miss any of the steps required – and reduce the likelihood of failure to carry out your desired behaviour from 23% to 6% . I use checklists particularly early in the process of establishing new habit, when I'm still learning what to do, when, in what sequence. I can't rely on my memory anymore and I don't want to add any more cognitive load to it. The best way of creating a checklist is to: Focus on critical steps and use as few steps as possible (the more steps you have, the more intimidating the checklist looks and the less likely you are to follow the steps – that's just human nature Ideally, you want it to fit on one page (my checklists need to fit on a standard size post-it note – no room for writing novels!) Make sure the sequence of steps fits the flow of your behaviour (e.g. Don't turn your fitness tracked on before you put your running shoes on) Use simple sentences and basic language Have it visible and ideally where you will be carrying out your new habit. So if you're trying to create a productivity or a focus routine – have your checklist somewhere in your workspace; highly visible to you of course. If you have a checklist for working out – keep it either with your workout gear, on your phone if you use your phone for tracking your workouts, or maybe even in the pocket of your running jacket. How To Make Your Habits Perpetuate Themselves Anthony: What is a habit loop? Habit loop is the secret formula for creating and remodelling habits. It's a three-element self-perpetuating cycle that is behind any automatic behaviour. It consists of three key elements: Cue (also called reminder or trigger) – which we've just talked about Routine (sometimes called Behaviour, Action) Reward Every habit rests on these three pillars: Cue that prompts you to carry out the Behaviour, which is then reinforced by the Reward. The more of those habit cycles you go through, the more often the behaviour gets reinforced, the stronger the habit is ingrained in your brain, and the stronger the neural pathway that is created in your brain. What To Do If You Fall Off The Wagon Anthony: What should someone do if they miss a day on their habits? How about a week? A month? A year? Is there a difference when it comes to getting back on the wagon? Joanna Jast: There are habit building strategies that rely on performing your action every day – for example 'don't break the chain' but actually, research shows that missing on a day in your habit routine does not make a difference to our habit formation process, but psychologically it may. I wouldn't worry too much about missing a day. I do it sometimes, not very often and only for very good reasons. Because life does get in the way of best-laid plans, so I just accept that. Sometimes you will be just too busy or too tired, or maybe sick, or you may have something super-important to do. Don't beat yourself up about not 'turning up' one day. But get back on track as soon as possible. Don't let the not turning up become a pattern, because this is when it becomes a problem. When it becomes a pattern? You may have your own individual 'definition' of pattern, for me it goes like that: once can happenstance, twice is a coincidence, three is a pattern. The more days you miss, the harder it will be to return to your routine. If you notice that you miss your routine are more and more often, you need to look at your system again. Because it means your system is not working as well as it could or should. And for me, it's going back to the beginning – maybe not necessarily to the desired outcome, but at least going over all those limitations and constraints that come from within me, or from my environment. Because it my system is not delivering as well as it used to, it means that something has changed. And sometimes those changes are temporary. For example you are on holidays and working away and you're struggling to keep your exercise routine up because your environment is different. And sometimes the change may be more permanent. For example if you just had a baby your productivity or sleep routine may be affected in a way you've never experienced before. Things like that will happen, because that's part of life. For me, it's always about being mindful that your habit system will also be affected. So it is crucial that you recognise when it happens and adjust your system to cater for your changed needs, or changed life circumstances. The key thing is to realise when a temporary change has become more permanent, and make appropriate adjustments in your system. Or redesign it completely. Why Your Willpower Resources Are Limited Anthony: You talk about how willpower needs to replenish itself. What's this all about? Joanna Jast: This is about the concept of willpower or ego depletion – the theory that the amount if willpower we have is limited. We have like a willpower tank, where only so much willpower can be stored. And every time you use some of that willpower from your tank, there is less left for later. The amount of willpower will not increase, until you are able to replenish it. And that goes back to the studies done by Roy Baumeister, who is a social psychologist and one of the key researches in the field of self-control and willpower. However, newer research challenges this belief about willpower depletion, suggesting that we have as much willpower as we perceive it. So again, it's all in the mind. Personally, it's not a scientific argument, I know, but personally I experience those willpower outages quite often, and I'm aware of typical situations that are likely to cause it. I'm also very conscious that I don't have much willpower and need to be careful in how I use it. I make sure that I'm able to recover safely before I make any silly decision when my willpower tank is on zero. What helps with the process of replenishing willpower is rest, and sadly, something sugary, or at least of a sweet taste in your mouth. How To Experience A Miracle Every Morning Anthony: What is scribing? Joanna Jast: Scribing is one of life SAVERs, as Hal Elrod calls them. One of the key elements of the morning routine he recommends in his bestselling book the Miracle Morning. (Silence, Affirmations, Visualisation, Scribing, reading, Exercise) In a nutshell scribing is about taking a minute out of your time, in the morning, to write down what you're grateful for, what you're proud of, and the results you're committed to creating for that day. Doing so, you put yourself in an empowered, inspired, and confident state of mind. It's scribing is journaling that encompasses gratitude – one of the key factors in creating the sense of happiness and fulfilment in life, positive affirmations, stock-taking, reminding yourself of your goals. It's an excellent to start your day. One Of The Most Powerful Principles You Can Ever Live By Anthony: You have a bonus section in the book. What habits did you use to get in contact with all those high-profile authors and convince them to contribute to the book? Joanna Jast: It's not really about me or my habits. The people who contributed to my book, Steve SJ Scott, Hal Elrod, Stephen Guise and Martin Meadows – they are amazing people, who are very generous, humble, and have fantastic knowledge and experience to share and they desire to use it to help other people. And that's really what it is about – collaborating in helping people become happier, live more fulfilling lives. But from the practical point of view, what helped me in reaching out to them, it's not a habit, but more a principle I live by – it's about building relationships with people; it takes time and you need to invest upfront. Anthony: What's coming up next for you and where can people get in touch? Joanna Jast: At the moment I'm very excited with the launch of my new book: Hack Your Habits. 9-steps to finally break bad habits and start thriving. I've been also getting a lot of emails and messages form people asking me to help them transform their habits, speed up the learning and adaptation curve. I'm not providing individual support at the moment, but I've been thinking about it. So watch this space. Early next year, my previous book Laser-Sharp Focus will be published as an audiobook and I'm really excited about it, too. I'm also thinking about translating the into other languages, as people have been asking me about it. For now, if you want to stay in touch – visit my website www.shapeshiftersclub.com and subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date and get some insider tips on habit hacking, focus sharpening and faster learning. You can also try to catch me on Twitter and on Quora – which is the only site I allow myself to browse when procrastinating. Further Resources Joanna Jast on Quora Not Another Motivation Book: A Pragmatist's Guide to Nailing Your Motivation, Keeping It, and Effortlessly Achieving Your Goals Joanna Jast on Twitter The post Joanna Jast On How To Hack Your Habits appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.