The Magnetic Memory Method Podcast

How I Memorized German Phrases Every Day For A Year Guest post by Richard Gilzean Note: What follows is a deconstruction of the steps I took (and continue to take) to improve my German. But rest assured, these same steps will work for memorizing phrases in any language. Sound good? Regardless of whether you've been learning a second or third language for a while, or just starting out, this approach to memorizing foreign languages will help you. In the beginning was the Word SENTENCE. You might be wondering: Why learn German phrases and not just individual words? Good question. The answer is that we all read, write, listen and speak in sentences, or fragments thereof. The sentence is at the core of any language and learning to master the sentence should be considered. Even the most basic language guide book for travelers teach simple German phrases that follow syntax. Don't get me wrong. Words are beautiful in their own right. We all should invest in the time to learn what a word means and how to best use it. And this is achieved by working those words into sentences as you work on your bilingualism. How I Built My "Internal GPS" (And You Can Too) Before launching into memorizing my first German phrase, I designed the Memory Palace system that would store them. I've been interested in the art and craft of memory training and self-improvement for a couple of years. But I only really started to study it closely after coming across Anthony's book How to Learn and Memorize German Vocabulary which, in turn, led me to the Magnetic Memory Method website. Recommended resource: The Magnetic Memory Method Masterplan. Anthony's approach to teaching anyone how to learn, memorize and recall vocabulary, names, mathematical formulas and pretty much anything that can be memorized is both well-structured and comprehensive. So I'll just highlight the essential components as they relate to learning languages and all of you who have been following Anthony's site will be familiar. Have a store of real locations to house your sentences. Imagine real concrete / tangible objects or people that are creative, vivid, colorful and zany. Therefore, not just an elephant, but a pink pygmy elephant with Dumbo-like ears and with a runny trunk. Schedule time for practice so the sentence can work its way into your long-term memory. You'll need to draw from your own personal memory bank a real location in which to store your sentences. It can be a place you know well, like the house you live in, or the place where you grew up that holds its own strong memories. It can be a route you follow regularly, such as a park or your daily commute from home to work. With a little practice you can come up with more than enough Memory Palaces. While there are some general guidelines about how to make your Memory Palace effective, there is a lot of divergent opinion on how to make best use of your own Memory Palaces because no two thought processes are alike. Because I knew I would need a large location to hold my expanding sentences, I chose a route that ran from the front door of my house, along the street, through a local park and over to my son's local primary school – some 400 meters in total. From AA to ZZ: Where I Keep My Memorized German Phrases But before you set off on your journey, you'll need to figure out your memory anchors. Think of the process like mental orienteering where you go for a jog in your mind along a set trail and arrive at control points along the way. To help, I created an excel spreadsheet with an index of initials for names of famous people, friends and cartoon characters, running all the way from AA to ZZ. This process took a little time to work through and I made some compromises along the way. In particular, I left out the letters Q – X – Y (just too hard to come up with names). I ended up with a list of 600 names running from Andre Agassi to the bearded rockers from the band ZZ Top. Six hundred names means, in theory, I am able to memorize at least 600 foreign language sentences. Running alongside my list of names I also have a separate list of 100 what I refer to as my memory tag words. These words use the well-established mnemonic Major Method which is a technique used to aid in memorizing numbers and has been used in memorize shopping lists, the sequence of a shuffled pack of card and memory competitions. The Major Method works by converting numbers into consonant sounds, then into words by adding vowels. How To Choose Which Phrases To Memorize Armed with my list of 600 names and 100 Major System tag words, I now have the memory anchors in place to hold my German sentences. I also have the memory route from my house to my son's primary school. There is a smorgasbord of foreign language sites out there to choose from, but the question is, which phrases should I memorize in order to get the best results for building fluency in German. I subscribe to the German Flashcards section of a website run by Learn With Oliver for collecting many German phrases. It contains an easy to navigate database of material to assist you in learning several of the most common languages. The site produces a daily e-letter with a word and phrase of the day, an audio recording of the text plus a whole bunch of other useful resource material. From this site I have taken almost all of my German phrases. Once I have material to work with, my approach is to review the phrases I want to memorize and make sure that I am comfortable with the grammar and etymology. I then copy the sentences and the English translation into a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is made up of the following columns: Initials running from AA to ZZ The English sentence The German sentence My mnemonic interpretation (this is explained below) The full names of my AA – ZZ group My 100 tag words Here's an example: Here's how I've adapted my practice from memorizing single words to whole German phrases. As you can see, I've front-loaded three of the components into the sentence. They include the initials of a well-known/memorable name (Michelle Obama), the English translation (no problem) and the tag word (hail). By splicing these three components into the sentence I've built an imaginative cross reference for whenever I need to recall the German phrase "Keine Ursache!" the rest of this mnemonic interpretation follows some established mnemonic guidelines. German sayings like this are powerful to have in memory – just make sure to also include funny German phrases as you learn the language. Personally, however, I suggest avoid learning German insults – you might wind up blurting them out at inopportune moments! If you're stuck on finding any material to learn and memorize at all, one tip for finding good German phrases is to search Google for "German phrases PDF." Carrying on: For the word "keine" I thought of Keyser Soze, who some of you may recall as the evil dude Kevin Spacey played in the film "The Usual Suspects". For the word "Ursache" I broke it down into two images, one for "UR" and one for "SACHE" and came up with Keith URban (well-known country singer) + SACK. I then imagined Keyser (rhyming with kaiser and which just happens to be a German vocabulary word) shoving URban into a SACK. Don't forget to take the time to imagine this scenario with crazy, vivid, memorable images. Gimpy-legged Keyser shoving guitar-wielding URban into a big smelly potato SACK works for me. If You Can Imagine A Castle, You Can Use Memory Techniques To Boost Your German Fluency Let's take these ideas and incorporate them into a more challenging sentence. Is it worth visiting this castle? = Lohnt es sich diese Burg zu besuchen? Jacques Tati is king of a CASTLE in a MoVie starring Lindsay LOHAN playing the role of ESther who is throwing up SICK over DIESEL (a musician I know) after eating a BURGer served by ZUlu armed with a BAZOOKa. In this case I'm using some mnemonic shorthand. Again, I've loaded three of the components at the front of the sentence Jacque Tati / Castle / Movie. Jacque Tati (famous French film actor and director) is my famous name and CASTLE is a single image I want to use represent the entire sentence. It's a concrete image that is easy to visualize. (Is there anyone who can't imagine a castle?) The third component is the word "MOVIE" which is number 38 in my 100 memory tags. For the rest of the exercise you should be able to make the connection between my sentence and the similar sounding words in the German phrase. How To Make The Most From Mnemonic Shorthand Regardless of whatever foreign language you want to master, you'll soon figure out the high frequency words and syllables and will want settle on some shorthand images to help you form your mnemonic sentences. For example, I've settled on the following shorthand for these common German words: es = it. For this word I use an image of a family member whose name is Esther. ich = I. Here I just imagine "ItCHy", the mouse from The Simpson's cartoons. der = multiple meanings including: the (masculine definite article) (definite article for genitive and dative singular feminine and genitive plural) who which that one, this one I found some mnemonic shorthand harder to imagine than others. In what is probably an understatement, the German language has many words with the prefix 'ge'. After much trial and error, I settled on an image of GoethE as my go-to guy for the 'ge' words. But if GoethE doesn't make sense to your imagination and you encounter an issue Anthony talked about in his Remember Names At Events podcast, you might think that Agent Maxwell Smart from the GEt Smart television series works better for you. Or perhaps someone more contemporary comes to mind. The important thing is that you learn to link figures with information so that you can recall it at will. This skill comes in handy in many ways, particularly when trying to memorize German genders. For example, in all instances of "der" I use an 80's television character DERrick from the popular German detective series. How To Get Ikea To Optimize Your Memory Palace Now, you may be thinking: Do I really need to be able to recall all of my mnemonic sentences? Answer: No. I've found that once a schedule of recall practice is established you'll be able to rely on the processing power of your mind to summon the sentence. The next problem I had to solve concerned mental real estate. I now had in place my daily practice of learning and memorizing new German phrases and placing them along my chosen route. But I eventually realized I was running out of stations along my route and I wanted to get more benefit out of the site of this Memory Palace. My solution was to use a system of alphabetical modular shelving – think Ikea wall units – in which to place my mnemonic imagery. So when it came time to assign German phrases to my prepared list of EA to EZ letters, instead of using up 23 separate places (remember letters Q, X and Y are out) along the route, I imagined a rather large E-shaped white Ikea wall unit with 23 compartments at the next station along the path. And in each compartment I would place my mnemonic interpretation of whatever German sentence I was learning that day. Kind of like the dioramas I used to help my son make for his school projects. Forging The Memory Chain Using Recall And Difference The main advantage I've found with using what I call my double-bind memory link strategy (i.e. initials plus memory tag words) is that if I happen to forget one when practicing my recall I can usually rely on the other one to help me out. Take up this practice and you'll see quick results too. Memory Palaces do not have to be photographic / perfect representations – they just need to be consistent with how you recall them in your mind. Once I've memorized a batch of 23 sentences to the point where I can mentally recall the sentences forwards, backwards and in some random order, I use a simple spaced repetition system that involves setting a date in my Google calendar with a title like – "LA – LZ 1 week". I then mentally run through my recall, check my responses on the spreadsheet and, if I get them correct, will reset the next recall for two weeks, followed by 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months. If I'm not happy with my recall practice I'll review the mnemonic sentence I've constructed and practice again a few days later. I recommend you rehearse your phrases out loud because you need to hear the sounds your voice makes. Make a practice of writing them out by hand as a way of reinforcing the learning. For extra bonus points you might like to record the sentences and listen to them when you're out and about. That pretty well sums up what I've achieved in a short period of time. This method takes the key features found on Magnetic Memory Method site and tweaks them to get the best value out of your Memory Palace. Try creating warehouses in your own Memory Palaces using the alphabetical system outlined. My German phrases continues to swell and grow. So far I've gone from Andre Agassi to Van Halen. That's about 500 sentences. Sprechen, Lesen, Schreiben und Hōren (Speak, Read, Write & Listen) As I mentioned at the start of this post we all write, listen, read and speak in sentences and German phrases. Learning to speak and understand any foreign language with fluency requires application to all four components in equal measure. The method of memorizing sentences I've described ticks all four boxes. Of course, you'll need to get out there and road test your German phrases (or those in the language you're studying) in real world situations to become comfortable with your newly acquired knowledge. All good language learners say so, including polyglot Luca Lampariello when he describes language as a kind of net. If you've found this training on memorizing German phrases helpful, or you'd like some clarification on the points, please contact me at richard@richardgilzean.com. Viel Gluck! Richard Gilzean is a writer and blogger specialising in creating content for small business owners, entrepreneurs and corporate clients. He has thirty years of writing, research and training experience in corporate and government sectors. Whether you want to create great content to boost traffic to your website or you're looking for a professional writer who can tell your story in your voice, Richard can help. Check out his freelance writing website here. The post German Phrases: The Ultimate How To Memorize German Sentences Guide appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Wish you could remember names? I know I've often wished that memorizing names was easier (it is). After all … Forgetting names sucks, especially at events where you're meeting important new contacts. Business cards are fine and dandy, but you want to be looking that new person in the eyes and connecting, not constantly peeking at the sweaty lump of cardboard stuck to your palm. Instead, you want to hold each person's name with the certainty that can only come from mastering your memory. Or You Can Keep Living The Nightmare You know the one. You hear a name and then just a few seconds later … it's gone. The good news is, it's not your fault. There's a reason your brain doesn't grasp onto names and hold onto them like treasure. (Yes, treasure. Every name is as valuable as a rare coin.) The better news is that, even if it isn't your fault that you can't remember names, you can eliminate the problem. With practice, you can remember the names of as many people as you want. Even if you make a mistake from time to time, even slip-ups can become powerful assets. 3 Key Reasons We All Forget Names (Including Memory Champions) You can help yourself stop forgetting names by understanding why it happens. First, names are abstract. Unless you're a philologist, most names will hold zero meaning for you. Though there are some ways that the meaning of names can be manufactured to help your memory. Despite the fact that names are often abstract, however, get this: As Lynne Kelly demonstrates in The Memory Code, memorizing even the most abstract names is a skill that has helped the human species survive for thousands of years. We wouldn't be here without memory skills. Second, when we meet people, we might hear names, but we're not paying attention. We're either dazzled by their good looks or horrified by the food dangling off their faces. Worse, we're thinking about what we're going to say next. Our concentration is directed inward instead of outward. Finally, we're bombarded by stimuli. The room is filled with noises, we may be drinking alcohol, suffering jet-lag. or moving around the meeting space. All of these elements distract us. You know how you sometimes go into the kitchen from the living room and then forget why you're in the kitchen? This problem happens because the instant you leave the living room, the movement and change of locations floods all of your senses. Your intention isn't so much forgotten as it is suddenly pushed out to sea like a message in a bottle. The same thing happens when you're introduced to a person. You hear the name, but then you ask where they're from and what they do. In combination with all the activity in the room, it's the same effect. Waves of information push that bottle out to the margins of your mind and the new name you just learned falls out your ear. The Super-Simple Mechanics Of Memorizing Names Let me tell you a story. A few weeks ago, my friend Max Breckbill of Starting From Zero held one of his great entrepreneur dinners in Berlin. A bunch of people get together to network and just chill out in a relaxed restaurant. His dinners are amazing. Max always begins the evening with a round of introductions. As each person said their name, I created a crazy image to help me recall their names. For example, there was a guy named Lars, so I saw Lars from Metallica playing drums on his head. For Lukas, I saw Luke Skywalker using his Light Sabre to carve an S onto Lukas's chest so I would remember it was Lukas with an S instead of Luke as in Skywalker. A bit later, I saw a guy named Jeremy in a fistfight with Eddie Vedder with the Pearl Jam song of the same name playing on the soundtrack. There were 20 other names and in a very short period, I created a wildly explosive image for each. I did not connect the names in any particular way with a story, however. For me, the linking method would not be helpful because Max rotates the tables. Plus, at many events, you won't see people in the same place twice. The constant shifting means that each individual needs their own vignette, a mini-story that requires no connection with any other name. This doesn't mean that you can't use the building as a Memory Palace and store that image with the location of the person when you first encountered them. You most certainly should. What you don't want to do is be looking at a person and trying to see where their imagery fits in with Mickey Mouse time bombs as Taylor Swift razors through Wolverine's dandelion claws in a showdown. You just want one clear and distinct vignette per person that can travel with them wherever they go. And this is important: These vignettes must be INSANE. The good news is, it's easy make images that really pop in your memory. Just … Make Them Brighter Than The SunAnd More Colorful Than The Joker When I saw Lars, it wasn't just a humdrum image I thought about. The Metallica drummer was exploding with light and color, almost like a neon sign wrapped around a disco ball. Keep in mind that I "thought" about this, which is quite different than seeing. It's not like memory wizards have HD television in their minds. You can develop visually so that you do see things better in your imagination, but you don't strictly need to be a visual person. You can get started with nothing more than verbal associations. And then ask yourself, "what would this look like if I COULD see it?" Often a simple question like that will move you toward the ability to see in your mind. Next … Use Explosive Sounds, Epic Sizes And Ripsnortin' Physical Force When I saw Luke Skywalker carving an S into Lukas's chest, I felt the burn and imagined how it must smell so vividly that I almost felt like puking. I even imagined that I could see the smoking embers on his shirt from the searing motion of the Light Sabre. When I saw Jeremy fist-fighting Eddy Vedder, it wasn't music-video sized Vedder the way I've seen him on YouTube. Vedder was massive and his fists pounded down with enormous force. Plus, the song Jeremy was blasting at top volume, as if screamed by Vedder with volcanic energy. Again, this happens both in words and visuals with as many other sensations involved as possible. The images feed the verbal descriptions and the words going through my mind amp up the sensations so that everything is tangible, memorable and downright Magnetic. How long should this creative process take? With practice, mere seconds. You'll be surprised by how quickly you can pick up this skill and do it at a very high level. I've seen teenagers learn the skill in under an hour and win competitions on the same afternoon. How To Practice Memorizing Names Since the stakes are high when it comes to memorizing names at events, try practicing at home before taking your new skill out in the field. It's easy: use Wikipedia to get a list of names and use the tools you've just learned. You'll also want to use the Memory Palace technique that you can pick up from my Free Memory Improvement Kit. But this is important: Don't make it a list of just any old names. Instead, choose names that you would like to have memorized. These names for memory exercise might include: Composers Scientists Poets Other names that will make a difference to your quality of life either professionally or in connection with a hobby or personal interest. One of the biggest failings with learning memory techniques is that people practice with uninteresting material like shopping lists – information that they'll never really use. (Sheesh, who can't remember what they like to eat?) No matter what kind of names you choose to practice with … Start Small! Although you will soon be capable of memorizing dozens of names at rapid speeds, don't overwhelm yourself at the learning stage. Start with 5-10 names. Developing the ability to learn, memorize and recall names isn't a competition. Your goal is to learn the technique so you can master it, not frustrate yourself into giving up a skill that amounts to real magic. Memorizing names is, arguably, the most important skill in the world because of how important it makes other people feel. Once you've associated crazy images to each name, go through the list a couple of times and make sure you've really exaggerated each. Next, remove yourself from the list. Take a notebook and head off to a cafe or at least to another room. A lot of people make the mistake of recalling a word and then checking right away to see how they've done. Unfortunately, this bad habit amounts to rote learning and will not serve you in the long run. You need delayed gratification so that you're really exercising your imagination and memory. As you sit in that cafe, write down each and every name you associated an image with. If you come up blank, place a question mark and move on. Give yourself space and really hunt for the images. Then, as you head home, go over the list and fill in any blanks you manage to excavate. Test Test Test, Rinse And Repeat … And Then Test Some More You don't have to give yourself a score when you get home, but do take careful note of where you made mistakes. Analyze what went wrong and work on making the associative-images that didn't help you recall a name stronger. Repeat this practice until you're confident that you can memorize names at an event. Once you're out in the world, don't feel like you have to give demonstrations or show off. This skill can be private, though you will find people noticing your talent and you should teach them how to do it. They'll thank you forever. More Hot Tips For Memorizing Names At Events Without Stress, Strain Or Embarrassment If you're at an event featuring a round of introductions, try to be the one who goes last so you don't spend the entire time worrying that your introduction could have been better. Plus, if you go last, people will remember you better thanks to the recency effect. If there isn't a circle introduction at the event, you can be the one who suggests it. This strategy is an excellent way to engineer your position. Regardless of when you go, have an elevator speech prepared so that your mind isn't clogged up. If you're dreaming up your introduction on the fly, you won't be focused enough on memorizing the names. Always Be Cool Relaxation is essential when memorizing any kind if information, especially in real time. Daily habits like meditation and fitness help a great deal. You can also deliberately manufacture comfort using invisible techniques at the event such as Pendulum Breathing and Progressive Muscle Relaxation. No one will know you're doing anything and you'll be as relaxed as a sleeping YouTube kitten. Nothing will rattle your cage. Don't Drink Or Smoke If you want to have a strong memory that works on command, cut out alcohol and stop smoking. I used to get away with it when doing memory demonstrations, but alcohol seriously messes with your working memory and nicotine withdrawal makes concentration difficult if not impossible. Better never to have smoked at all. Let Go Of The Outcome Wanting to succeed trips a lot of beginners up. But when you put all thoughts of success out of your mind, your memory is free to percolate the images you feed it. Plus, you can play with the names in high spirits. Since you'll want to go through the names a few times throughout the evening to massage them from working memory into long-term memory, you want the entire process to be fun. But if you're racing through the list motivated by the fear of making a mistake, you'll only damage the results. Speaking of mistakes … Don't Get Stressed When You Flub I struggled with a few names at Max's event and it's all Brian Dean's fault. Seriously, I needed to go through the list of names at least once to ensure I could remember them all, but he kept asking me all these questions about memory. Brian Dean is the guy behind backlinko, which is a site you need to check out if you run a website or blog. But it really isn't his fault that I wound up reaching hard for a couple of names. As I explained to Brian while we were talking, there's a reason I struggled: Because I had my fat lips motoring away instead of going over the names a few times, I was not working against the forgetting curve. I predicted that I would lose 40-60% of my potential for total recall every ten minutes that passed without making a quick pass over the names. It turns out my numbers were off, though. That's thanks to these 4 easy ways to learn faster and remember more. I only struggled with 2 of the names later, but didn't entirely forget them as I'd predicted I might. With a bit of a push, the images popped up and I was able to retrieve them. Annoying, but passable. However, there was one name I got completely wrong, but in that's only because I misheard it. (Remind me to one day tell you the story of Jonathan Levi and his experience mistakenly understanding that someone's name was "Laura." That mishap made for quite an evening here in Berlin!) Anyhow, the point is that despite my dark prediction of failure while speaking with Brian, I had consciously released the outcome. Yes, everyone in the room knew that I was a memory guy, and that created some high expectations (if only in my head), but mistakes are an opportunity to talk about how memory works. And in many ways, mistakes make for better illustrations of how and why the techniques work or fail to work. Avoid Mystifying Abstractions For example, "Pascal" was one of the names I struggled with. Because things were going fast, I picked an ineffective image for him. The philosopher Pascal had famously turned from atheism to religion, so I saw an image of God halfway putting a noose over his head and halfway slitting his throat. Although I did get this name back eventually, it took a fight for a few reasons. First, I don't know how Pascal the philosopher looked and I've never seen God. In retrospect, I could have used Michaelangelo's God from the Sistine Chapel, but that still doesn't exactly help get back to "Pascal" at speed. Second, I tried to see two actions instead of just one. And neither hanging nor throat-slitting have any direct relationship to atheism. I created so many vague elements that I could barely remember the hurdles I'd placed between myself and the target information. But I didn't let myself get stressed out about it. I simply noticed the outcome and knew I would use it as a talking point and teaching tool if called upon to give a memory demonstration. I have given demonstrations, I have made errors and I have won respect simply by keeping my cool and sharing what went wrong. You can too, so I recommend you follow the Always Be Cool principle while taking time to analyze your mistakes and thinking about how you can do better next time. And share the process so that others can learn too. You Don't Have To Remember Names In Order Every Time Let's say that you're called upon to give a demonstration and you can't recall a couple of names. Instead of giving up or getting frustrated, just move on, the same way you would in practice. As you're finishing the other names, you'll often be pleasantly surprised at how the ones you forgot suddenly spring back. And if not, you wind up with an opportunity to explain what went wrong and demonstrate troubleshooting on the fly. Whatever you do, don't let yourself get frustrated. You don't want to blow your momentum over what amounts to nothing in the long run. Always be cool and your memory will serve you well. Prepare To Be Admired People will be super-impressed, especially if you're humble and can handle any mistakes gracefully. By the same token … Prepare To Be Forgotten I can't tell you how many times I've run into someone and called them by name. They're always shocked and amazed that I remember them. But more often than not, they can't do the same. This lapse in their memory can create an awkward moment, but don't let it. Just make a joke or otherwise blow it off and offer to teach them the skill. You'll be able to use their name as an example and personalized teaching is often the best. And assuming you get yourself a list of names and get practicing, you now have a skill that will serve you for a life. You never have to be at an event in a sea of strangers again. When you can remember names, you will always be surrounded by friends. The post Remember Names At Events: Quick Start Guide To Memorizing Names appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Do you hate that slump you get after flying? How about that dumpy feeling that comes when winter takes hold? Not the greatest of friends, is it? But just stop and ask yourself … What If Suffering Like This Could Be Reduced Or Eliminated? In my brief experience with an amazing new invention, I believe that it can. It's called Human Charger and this is my story using it. As a Canadian currently living in Germany, I've spent more than a few days in the miserable dark. Winter temperatures rarely stand a chance, but gray days take a lot out of me, especially since I have Bipolar Disorder. But no matter where a person lives or what conditions they might face, there are solutions to the winter blahs. And if you're a frequent flyer, the very same solution applies to jet lag too. All you need is light. As always, the science is divided. In general, light is essential to the creation of Vitamin D, though it's not entirely clear that Vitamin D plays the role we think it does. Nonetheless, light definitely affects mood and energy. And since it takes a feeling of well-being to tolerate long, dark winters, arguably, more exposure to light will ease that burden. The 3 Best Ways To Get More Healing Light I've tried a number of ways to get more sun during the winter in Berlin. Travel is the simplest: Pick a sunny place and go. Travel is great because you not only get more light, but you can challenge your mind by learning a language and enjoying the culture. In addition to getting more "happy rays," here are another 15 Reasons Why Learning A Foreign Language Is Good For Your Brain. Definitely chase the sun if you can. I've enjoyed warmer temperatures, boosts in fluency and warm sun in places like Greece, Spain and most recently in China where I shot a video course and did some research on the great mnemonist Matteo Ricci. While at home, my trainer Lars Rosenbaum at Ignite Fit recommended one 15-minute session per week in what he called the "assi-toaster." That's a Denglish (German/English) word that combines asocial with toaster to joke about the anti-social activity of laying in a tanning bed. I've found that he's right. That small blast of light once a week helps keep the blues away. It's not enough to create much of a tan, but a sufficient amount for creating the desired effect. Just Like Storing The Sun In Your Pocket? Even before the package arrived, I was skeptical. After all, the idea of shooting light into your ears sounds a bit fantastical. I also worried about burning holes in my eardrum or developing tinnitus. Not only that, but I had no upcoming trips with flights long enough to merit trying the Human Charger. So I let one of the most miraculous technologies I would ever use just sit there. Then Jari got in touch to ask if I'd given the Human Charger a try. I told him that I had no reason to do so but might the following year. He suggested giving it a try, citing its use for dealing with Seasonal Effective Disorder (SAD). My interest peaked and so I finally opened the package and gave it a try. It's simple to use. About the size of an iPod, it comes with two earbuds that you pop into your ears before switching it on. It makes a beep and soon after you feel warmth inside your head. Eureka … It Works! After the session, I immediately felt different. I felt better. And of course I figured it was probably a placebo. Nonetheless, I stuck with the device and still use it every day during my meditation sessions. The device is set at 100% power when you get it for a 12 minute session. That felt too much for me so I reduced it to 75% for 9 minutes. The 9 minutes matches almost exactly how long I like to meditate and gives my meditations a frame without having to set an alarm. It's also pleasant to meditate with the warmth in my head, something definitely worth experiencing. I also enjoy using Humancharger when completing The Freedom Journal, which is another great Memory Improvement Tool. Imagine Flying Halfway Around The World Without A Shred Of Jet Lag For me, the real test would be an international flight. So when I finally went to China, I followed the instructions precisely and flew with anticipation of a jet lag free experience. To my pleasant surprise, I got it. More precisely, I felt like my body wanted to go into jet lag, but it couldn't. There was just a whisper of that holiday-destroying condition that didn't disrupt a thing. I wasn't the only one surprised either. People kept asking me why I was so chipper, which gave me the opportunity to share the good news about the Human Charger. Like others, I too felt skeptical. Nonetheless, both during and after my visit to China, the post-flight experiences created amazement in myself and others as I strutted around with my usual impenetrable energy. The Best Meditation Hardware On The Market With respect to overall well-being, the best part of using the Human Charger apart from solving jet lag is the experience of using it during meditation. Many people use apps to help keep them focused as they practice and I've certainly tested my share. At the same time, I've always felt that using sound-based apps weakens the mental effects one is trying to create. After all, shouldn't we work to meditate unassisted by anything? Isn't that where the real power of creating concentration at will lies? I still think so, but the Human Charger is different because it's not software. It enables light to reach a place inside your body light normally doesn't get to go. There are no sounds, no fantastic strobe effects, nothing more than a steady blast of exposure as if your ears had opened up and let the sun in. The reason the Human Charger adds so much to meditation is not only that the device adds a time frame to the experience. It also creates a physical sensation that you can focus on. I find kinesthetics more beneficial than sound during a meditation because touch is always happening anyway. Your body touches the floor and itself. You can create physical effects with your breath and the temperature can be noted and focused upon. Warmth in the ears then becomes another tool of physical immersion that further cements you in the moment. Computer-generated sounds, on the other hand, usually have a transportive effect, immersing you in the technology rather than the world as it is unfolding around you. Yes, you can argue that the technology is part if the unfolding world around you – but you know what I mean! … But … Does It Help With Memory? That's obviously the most important question, right? We're here for astonishing memory tricks, after all. The answer is simple: Any time you can remove suffering from the equation, you help your memory. Simply having the ability to pay attention better already gives you an advantage. And when using mnemonics, having a clear head and energy makes the entire process much easier. Along with meditation, the Human Charger is a Light Saber that cuts through the darkness and gives your imagination a boost so that you can better learn, memorize and recall anything. Check out the Human Charger for yourself today. About This Episode Of The Podcast When you download this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, you'll hear an interview with one of the Human Charger's founders, Timo Ahopelto of Lifeline Ventures. Timo has worked in several industries, ranging from biotech to apps, digital media and process technology. He earned his entrepreneur MBA from CRF Health, a software and services company that he co-founded, developed into a global market leader and successfully exited in 2015. Timo spends his free time with family, ice hockey, iron and in Lapland skiing-hikes. Timo is also an author. He published his first book in 2013 (in Finnish). The books is called "Sand Hill Road" and is an action-packed report based loosely on the true story of two Finnish entrepreneurs who moved to Silicon Valley to make their mark. My favorite parts of the interview involve our discussion about Zen Robotics, the fact that jet lag is not classified as a disease in the US and the ways that startups now have the ability to give medical technology to regular people instead of locking it up in medical buildings. Be sure to look up Timo on Twitter and let him know what you think about his work in technology and medicine! Further Resources Human Brain Reacts to Transcranial Extraocular Light (Scientific Paper) The post How To Beat Jet Lag And The Winter Blahs appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

You know all about the dangers of smoking, right? Bronchitis, emphysema, vascular disease … Heck, the Demon Nicotine has even been linked to cancer. But did you know that smoking also poses risks to your intelligence and memory? Some experts disagree, but common sense in combination with evidence tells us that … Smoking Murders Your Memory! Never fear. If this post doesn't spook smokers out of lighting up ever again (it probably won't), it'll at least educate them. Plus, I'll give you some ideas for how to quit with minimum suffering in record time. If you're not a smoker yourself, you can at least pass the tactics on. But if you're one of those who prefer cocktails of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrogen cyanide, abandon this post right away because it's basically a rant from a guy who cares for both you as a person AND for your mental abilities. So buckle up if you're going to stick around, because here comes some tough love from your friendly neighborhood Warrior of the Mind. A Brief History Of The World's Stupidest And Stinkiest Habit There may be earlier accounts, but history tells us that Columbus witnessed Native Americans huffing and puffing on rolled dried leaves starting in 1492. They "drank the smoke" as he put it. Later, ships brought some of those Natives with them to Europe, leading to tobacco seeds being left at each and every port of call. The Dutch brought tobacco home from the Hottentots, the Portuguese introduced it to the Polynesians and people soon planted nicotine anywhere and everywhere it would grow. Even Kings Failed To Stop The Spread Of Smoking Across Their Kingdoms We often think of royalty from the 1600s as slovenly pigs stuffing their faces with mutton and mead, but not King James. When he wasn't busy developing the Bible, he was writing hate mail to smokers. Check out this rant in which he says smoking is … "… A custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and the black stinking fume thereof nearest resembling the horrible stygian of the pit that is bottomless." King James wrote those words in 1604, but his rage was nothing compared to the Russian czar who banned smoking and said that "offenders will be sentenced to slitting of nostrils." Ouch! Nonetheless, demand exceeded supply all over Europe, and tobacco prices soared. As a result, some people got mighty wealthy. How Smoking Formed A Global Superpower … Almost Overnight! By the 17th Century, smokers had become aware of nicotine's addictive powers. But it was already too late, and, much worse, tobacco had become central to the development of an emerging economic and political powerhouse. For example, the tobacco industry bolstered the success of the Virginia Settlement. Farming the plant became the backbone of slavery and the southern plantation practices overall. The weed stood behind the Louisiana Purchase and is still considered America's oldest industry (not to be mistaken with prostitution, which belongs to the entire world). By the 1930s, smoking had entered the world of advertising. Printed images of sexy women and dapper men enticed people around the world, not to mention Hollywood movies, which were entering the era of sound. Now you could even hear the sounds of beloved celebrities puffing their way into early graves. If You Think Trump Is An Idiot, Get A Load Of This Some people admire Theodore Roosevelt and perhaps for good reason. But he's the same dude who classified tobacco as an essential crop and had the stuff shipped overseas to America's servicemen. Thanks to him, they could get their limbs blown off and memory-destroying pulmonary diseases too. Not only that, but in 1945 alone over 267 BILLION cigarettes were sold domestically in the US. The military draft legislation was changed so that enough people could stay home to work on the tobacco farms to supply the domestic and overseas markets. Science Fails To Come To The Rescue Although people had long been aware of tobacco's addictive properties, medical research didn't pick up the issue in earnest until the 1940s. But it wouldn't be until 1957 that a Public Health Service report called for sales restrictions, health warnings and advertising regulations. Those not afraid to speak out against smoking gained some traction, but the tobacco industry retaliated by introducing filtered cigarettes to allay the fears of current and future smokers. Congress continued to favor the industry and to this day, celebrities romanticize the disgusting habit by either smoking themselves or pretending too. (Some actors even pick up the habit after playing the role of smokers!) Smoking Destroys Your Body And Mind At The Same Time Despite different conclusions, most studies link smoking to diseases that involve the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Tamper with these and your ability to concentrate and remember plummets. Why? It's because smoking: Causes peripheral blood vessels to restrict Reduces capillary flow Deposits toxic fat in blood vessels Prevents oxygen from reaching the heart and brain Decreases lung capacity and elasticity Lessens the amount of carbon dioxide your body needs to expel Lowers the ability of your macrophage cells to kill invading microbes … and much, much more! And if all that wasn't bad enough enough, these effects of smoking … Utterly Smash Verbal Intelligence And Intellectual Functioning! Okay, I'm probably exaggerating, but a lot of evidence supports this claim. Sure, smoking tricks your adrenal medulla into blasting out a bit of dopamine and epinephrine, but for the average smoker who sucks in nearly half a cup of tar a year … Smoking Is Suffocating Your Cognitive Functioning To Death! At this point, you might be asking … So what? What's so great about being intelligent and mentally capable anyway? I'm glad you asked because intelligence and memory work together to form your entire personality. In short, you need memory and intelligence to: Act with purpose Think rationally Deal effectively with your circumstances and environment I think you have to agree that ruining your memory with smoking is complete madness. The Biggest Lie Smokers Tell Themselves About Concentration And Memory Of course, smokers love to claim that smoking helps them in each of these areas. But in reality, even just a few hours without nicotine has been shown to severely damage verbal and visuospatial memory. This state is called withdrawal and many nicotine addicts may need nine weeks or more without smoking to sail beyond the torrid waters of depleted intelligence. Of course, the extent to which any individual experiences these pains depends on a lot of factors, including baseline indicators of intelligence, including: How much they educate themselves formally or informally The amount of social and cultural experiences they pursue Diet and other lifestyle choices The amount smoked The style of smoking (quick puffing, deep inhaling or not drawing smoke into the lungs at all) Other factors such as genetics, gender and even how much a person engages in random acts of generosity All this means that … It Only Seems Like Smoking Helps Improve Your Memory In reality, smoking stops withdrawal from messing with your concentration and memory, specifically working memory. By working memory, I'm referring to Alan Baddeley and Graham Hitch's model. They described memory as a Central Executive System with three structures: 1. Phonological loop 2. Visuospatial sketchpad 3. Episodic buffer When nicotine withdrawal gets rolling, it interferes, it messes with each of these bigtime. So even though some evidence shows that using mnemonics may combat the effects of withdrawal, you're better off not smoking at all. 7 Super-Difficult Ways To Quit Smoking I'm not going to sugar coat this or make elaborate promises. Getting off the Demon Nicotine ain't easy. But as a former working hypnotists, I think these tips can help you if you want to quit. 1. Hypnosis Hypnosis, as Kreskin once defined it, is nothing more than the acceptance of a suggestion. If you take this definition to heart, then you instantly realize that we are all hypnotizing ourselves and others all the time. The real question is … How do you get yourself to accept the suggestion not to smoke. The answer is: You Don't! Instead, the hypnotist or self-hypnotist helps raise the ego to overcome the effects of withdrawal and resist the temptations of addiction. Hypnotists harness the power of the imagination to achieve this feat by eliciting the language of their clients, adopting their body language to create rapport and using relaxation inductions to increase trust and the acceptance of suggestions. A hypnotist might hear that you hate spending money on cigarettes above all and then have you imagine setting stacks of cash on fire after feeling the weight of your hard-earned wealth in your hands. Or if you mention disliking wheezing and coughing, the hypnotist might help you exaggerate that suffering in your mind and then replace that experience with the bliss of physical reaction. The hypnotists then compliments these states with ego boosting statements that help the client keep feeling empowered over the next 72 hours, which tend to be the hardest when a person quits. 2. Drink Tons Of Water And Devour Acres Of Fruit It helps to detoxify during those first 72 hours, so many hypnotists will send you home with the instructions to keep hydrated and get your sugars from natural sources instead of candy and pastries. You might gain a bit of weight from the fructose, but not as much as you would from refined sugars. And chocolate bars and other sweets will only make you antsy, impulsive and thereby more likely to pop a cigarette in your mouth and light up. 3. Rest It might be hard sitting still, let alone getting to sleep, but with The Ultimate Sleep Remedy, you at least have a fighting chance. I can't reproduce the entire book here, but one technique you can try is Shavasana. In its simplest form, this practice involves nothing more than laying on your back and practicing total stillness for as long as you can. 4. Fitness Go for a walk. Do pushups. Even just working at a standing desk provides beneficial exercise. You can also hang out with non-smokers and visit smoke-free places like art galleries and museums. These activities follow the powerful "don't go where it's slippery" principle. If you make it impossible to spark a cherry, you won't wind up inhaling junk that ruins your body and mind. It's that simple. 5. Breathing Exercises Lately, I've been using the Wim Hof Method and a few other techniques. These exercises fall under physical fitness, but belong to their own category because they strengthen your lungs, improve oxygen circulation and develop your concentration while hopefully distracting your mind from nicotine cravings. 6. Meditation Sit just to sit and also combine meditation with breathing exercises and even do both while walking. 7. Practice memory techniques Although you might feel too fidgety to memorize playing cards or foreign language vocabulary (LINK 15 reasons), this technique pays off. Why? Because the more you experience success with mnemonics while distracted, the more successful you'll be when using them post-addiction. That's just a hypothesis of mine, but I think it'll prove true. When I've practiced card memorization in noisy places, for example, I wind up getting crazy better results later when I do the same drills at home. Are You Ready To Serve Your Memory By Quitting Smoking? In sum, you can stop smoking. When you do, you'll not only improve your physical health, but also the strength of your mind. Even better, you can use the art of memory and mnemonics to help you get through it in combination with self-hypnosis or with the guidance of a good hypnotist who doesn't BS you about what's really going on. No matter how you quit, I know this general information and these tips will serve you and I look forward to hearing about your success. In the meantime, stomp this habit out of your life and get busy using memory techniques to help keep the cravings at bay using my FREE Memory Improvement Kit starting right now. Further Resources The Surprising Truth About Hypnosis And Memory Improvement Foods That Improve Memory You Can Pig Out On The post Stop Smoking And Boost Memory With These Step-By-Step Addiction Breakers appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Remember when you were in middle school? How boring it was? Wouldn't it have been great if you had not only the ability to make it the most exciting time of your life, but also memorize everything you learned? Here's The VERY Good News About Helping Middle School Students Remember More Even if it's too late for you, it doesn't have to be for your kids or any young person for whom you buy books in your family or social circles. US Memory Bronze Medal Champion Brad Zupp has an exciting training book just for youth. The book is called Unlock Your Amazing Memory: The Fun Guide That Shows Grades 5 To 8 How To Remember Better And Make School Easier. Unlock Your Amazing Memory is a great book and in this post, I'm going to try and sell you on buying and reading it. Heck, even if school is far behind you and your hair has gone gray, you're going to learn a lot from Zupp's book. Not Being Able To Remember Does Not Make You Dumb Unfortunately, schools tend to set things up so that we think intelligence is linked to performance on tests and exams. But this couldn't be further from the truth and Zupp shows how any student can break the pattern of institutionally-forced failure. Zupp's book is easy to read for the advertised grade level, as well as anyone. This aspect of Unlock Your Amazing Memory really makes it shine because all too often, books on technical skills like mnemonics can also make you feel stupid. Zupp's clear writing style and progressive organization of the basics makes it impossible to misunderstand the techniques. The More You Practice Your Memory, The Better It will Be Learning memory techniques can take time, but the payoff later is incredible speed that MORE than pays off the initial investment. The best part is that it pays off for life. To motivate readers, Zupp recommends visualizing yourself impressing friends. This is okay, but I would add visualizing just taking the first steps. For example, research has shown that people who visualize themselves putting on their running shoes get more fit in a six-month period than those who see themselves with an excellent physique. When it comes to memory techniques, you can start by visualizing yourself creating a Memory Palace. To make that even simpler, picture yourself getting a memory journal and picking out a special pen or pencil that you will use exclusively for that journal. Taking this small step is more likely to lead to actually creating a Memory Palace than visualizing yourself as a memory hero in front of your friends. Heck, just picturing yourself reading the book from beginning to end and then actually reading it will already make you a modern Hercules amongst your Internet-addled friends. Remembering Involves 3 Steps So Simple You'll Wonder Why Schools Don't Save The Alphabet For Later Zupp breaks his approach to memory techniques into three distinct movements. The first seems obvious, but how many people actually do it? For Zupp, it's called remembering to "get" the info, or what Harry Lorayne often calls "paying attention to it in the first place." You Can't Remember What You Haven't Learned So if "paying attention" to the target information is the first key to "getting" it into memory, how do you accomplish this feat? First up, Zupp says you've got to sit up straight. I remember this principle well from learning music. Slumping not only breaks the flow of oxygen. It also reduces concentration. You're going to need focus if you want to learn well over the long haul. Speaking of air, breathing is an incredible stimulant for memory. An oxygenated brain has more resources for creating the physical connections needed to form memories. Guessing Games Make Memories Fast Another of Zupp's suggestions involves thinking ahead. For example, when you're listening to a lecture, try figuring out where the lecturer is headed in advance of his current line of thought. By doing this, you increase the attention you're paying to the speaker. The intensified focus makes the material more memorable almost by default, even if your assumptions are wrong. In fact, the information becomes more memorable when you are wrong because your mind loops back to the part of the thread where you took your wayward turn. The game of guessing "what's next" reminds me of a meditation approach suggest by Eckhart Tolle in The Power of Now. When meditating, Tolle suggests pretending you are a cat perched in front of a mouse hole. But instead of waiting for a mouse, you wonder instead, "What thought will I think of next?" This activity keeps you focused both on the present moment and ready to capture new thoughts when they appear. In the case of meditation, the thoughts don't distract you. Instead, they create even more focus because you've attuned yourself to their appearance. The same applies to keeping your mind on what the professor might say next. You'll be wide awake to the present moment and carefully attuned to whatever comes next. Counting Uhms, Ahems And Other Human Hesitations To increase focus, Zupp suggestions counting the uhms made by your teacher. But is this particular strategy reasonable? You might wind up juggling the wrong info in your mind. Answering "uhm" and "ah" won't get you far on many exams – unless they involve demonstrating radical knowledge about contemporary sound poetry. When I'm in need of concentration, I prefer repeating what people are saying in my mind, deleting the uhms. This practice creates laser-like focus and helps form memories. That said, Zupp's method is worth trying. When You Know How You're Going To Memorize It, All Information Gets Stickier Another means of focusing and paying attention involves asking yourself how you're going to remember the info. This activity offers a great deal of value because you can practice mnemonics directly in response to the question. For example, in a class on literature when you're asked to learn the definition of a simile, you can ask yourself how you're going to remember it and start formulating an answer. You could ask this simple question and say, "Eureka! I'll see a simian ape tearing Lee jeans in half as he shouts 'like!'" Make Multitasking An Endangered Species We'll All Be Glad Left The Planet Finally, Zupp urges us to avoid the multitasking myth. If you want to focus, limit yourself to one task at a time. When it comes to memory skills, for example, this is why I have created a deliberate three-day memory routine to maximize your results. So long as you can devote all of your attention to just the three recommended tasks on the three recommended days, you'll get results beyond the extraordinary. Don't Forget To Press Save! Another key takeaway from Zupp's book is that you need to focus on storing the information. Imagery, especially exaggerated imagery, is the most powerful mnemonic tool we have for making information stick. In combination with a Memory Palace, it's the closest thing in the brain to a "save" button. One great feature of Zupp's work is explaining how to deal with abstract information. In the Magnetic Memory Method, we call the process word division, which involves taking information with no concrete correlative and breaking it down into smaller units that can be paired with tangible imagery. The only problem, as Zupp points out, is that too few people know how to make the needed imagery vibrant and exciting. The imagination literally needs a smack across the face to get your memory working and anything less makes the information boring. And and as we all know from many boring hours in school, that which makes you drool gets lost fast. If You're Looking For Mnemonic Examples, Here Be Dragons Hardly a day goes by when someone doesn't ask me to tailor them a series if images to help them memorize information. I never do it. My books and video courses are light on mnemonic examples because I focus on the nuts, the bolts and the detailed mechanics. It's what I do and I'm proud to be the only one in the field who concentrates this deeply on mastering the Memory Palace. That said, some people benefit from seeing a lot of examples from the mind of a mnemonist. For that reason, Zupp's book is becoming one of my go-to recommendations. I'm leery about sending people off to example-land, however. I always have been and we've talked a lot about the dangers of mnemonic examples on previous episodes of the Magnetic Memory Podcast. A recent experience makes me even more certain that making your own mnemonic examples based on our own understanding of the core mnemonic principles enforces my conviction. Why You Must Learn To "Pack Your Own Parachute" As A Student Out in the dunes of Gran Canaria, I found myself spending a delightful afternoon with Peter Sage. We were there shooting a variety of videos for some courses with Jimmy Naraine and Peter told an incredible story about getting an upper-level parachuting certification. In order to earn it, the parachuter has to personally pack his or her parachute. Not only is the task detailed and requires great care. The stakes are also high. Why? Because you have to dive wearing the parachute you packed yourself. And as Peter told the story, he said that the smoothest opening he ever experienced as a parachute popped out above him was from the bag he packed himself. It's Exactly The Same With Mnemonics! Sure, a few examples help and no doubt we all need them. But if you want a smooth experience using memory techniques, you need to leave the mnemonic examples of others behind as quickly as possible. The other problems with mnemonic models is that authors of memory improvement books often use information that readers could care less about. Sure, some people might like to have all the US presidents and state capitals in mind. But it's the 21st century and globalization requires less Americancentric examples to appeal to the needs of much wider audiences. In no way do I mean this brief soapbox lecture with its politically correct tone as a criticism of Zupp's book. He explains his example images in solid language and includes a lot of fun illustrations. Nonetheless, over half the book contains these examples and I would have liked to see more detail on Memory Palace creation and the art of recall. All the same, I highly recommend this book to anyone of any age. Complete the exercises, supplement Zupp's work with other memory training books and programs and you will be delighted with the progress you make. And listen, if you enjoy the book, leave a quick review for Brad on Amazon. Even the shortest sentence of support helps memory trainers continue helping you. Pitch in with some star ratings with your candid feedback and help make the world a better place. You can help spread the good news about memory techniques and Zupp's audience of students in grades 5 to 8 are amongst those who can use his help the most. Further Resources Brad Zupp Interview on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast 3 Memory Games You Can Play With Your Childhood Brad's World Memory Championships Records https://youtu.be/l7W92IMhCJg The post How To Help Middle School Students Remember More appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

You've read about browser control software, right? You know. The kind that blocks ads or logs you out after you've procrastinated too long. All fine and dandy, but not the solution. Here are some low-tech things to try instead: Get The Important Stuff Done Before You Switch The DumbPhone On "Yeah right," I hear you say. "My computer IS the important stuff!" Really? What about learning a language, or even just developing motivation for learning one? Believe it or not, people have learned languages for a long time without the aid of machines. But even if you still need software, you can model what I'm doing for Mandarin Chinese. Technically, it still involves using a machine, but I use it like an ugly old Walkman. Which leads us to: Stop Carrying The Internet With You Everywhere Sometimes I worry about becoming a Luddite. I do not have a single device that accesses the Internet unless I find wireless in a cafe. And even then, I've designed my life in a way that I rarely need it. Friends and strangers alike ask me how I survive without it, a question that perplexes me. From ages four to twenty-four, I managed to meet people all over the world without having an email address or a cellphone. Heck, I even used to arrange meetings by post. The point being is that if you can't figure out why you're not achieving your goals, look to the roaming Internet first. And then consider the following life-changing activities: * Use an app like Plain Text to write a book, blog post or article (like I'm doing right now) instead of scrolling through Facebook and clicking the Like button. That's a fast path to nowhere. But all wealth comes from writing, including social, intellectual and financial wealth. I guess the occasional "LOL" might add to the pool, but I'm certainly not counting on it. * Create a mind map with (gasp!) pen and paper while using your spayed or neutered DumbPhone to listen to a podcast or lecture. You'll remember more and come up with incredible ideas as you work. * Meet a human being and have a conversation with no devices on or near the table. Switch it off so it doesn't buzz, beep or otherwise bang its way into your attention from within a bag or pocket. And above all, learn and love this phrase: "I'll look it up later." Then use your to-do list to create a Memory Palace that helps you do so. Speaking of which: If You Create Them, Use Them Many people tell me they've created one or more Memory Palaces. They even send me excellent drawings that demonstrate substantial knowledge of the Magnetic Memory Method. The only problem is … They never use them. Regarding today's topic, failing to use your inner mental technology opens you to more information pollution because you're not spending time massaging the right stuff into your memory. Stuff like: * Facts that build general knowledge. * Names and dates of historical figures and events that develop your understanding of how and why we got here. * Critical Information from a textbook so that you can ace exams. * Poems, quotes, plots and jokes so that you always have something interesting to say. Heck, if you've got good poems, stories or philosophical ideas memorized, you'll always have something fascinating to think about even when you're on your own. * Passwords and credit card numbers so that you're not pouring time down the drain looking stuff up. Memorizing These Things Could Make The Difference Between Being A Mouse Or A Millionaire But if you're tootling your time away consuming and creating blasts of info pollution, good luck making it to the top. But … How? How do we avoid all this nonsense and the digital amnesia it brings? Frame Your Day With Time Boundaries It's not just about doing the important stuff before you switch on the computer. It's about spacing out time across the day. Luckily, this is easy to do. It's called "setting a timer." How it works is this: 1. Decide how long you want to work on a high margin task. When it comes to your memory work, that might mean the design, memorization or recall parts, as described in this video: 2. Set the timer. 3. Work until it rings. 4. Take a computer-free break to avoid noise pollution. Do push ups, take a walk or, dip into a Memory Palace. If you can't develop the discipline needed to do this on your own, find a co-working team. My friend Max Breckbill hosts the most amazing group sessions and serves as the MC. He starts and ends each session and manages a spreadsheet that lists the activities of each attendee to help create accountability. Set Activity Boundaries And Hold To Them At the beginning of 2016, I performed a life assessment with the help of my friend Jonathan Levi. One of the huge gaps I found involved the withering of my music life. Somehow I just wasn't playing bass often enough anymore. Same thing with my language learning and memory experiments. So then I did a severe time analysis and found that I'd unconsciously slid away from my tried and true time-tracking technique. Once I got that back on track, I quickly spotted the culprit. Here's What Happens When You Look In The Mirror You thought I was going to say Facebook, right? Almost. The actual answer is "me on Facebook." Why? Because blaming software, hardware and online platforms for siphoning our time amounts to technological determinism. The truth is that the machines don't make us spend our time on them. We determine our own way onto them and into their forests of noise pollution all on our own. And it's tremendously exhausting both psychologically and physically. Those dopamine boosts feel good, but that's just because there's sugar on the blade. We're oozing precious lifeblood each and every second we spend in states of media-induced excitement. The solution? Use The Simple Power Of Arithmetic Rules To Set Yourself Free At the ThinkBuzan memory training I attended, Tony Buzan said something very important that applies to many things in life: "Rules set you free." When it comes to eliminating information pollution to your life, try setting these into action: Starting tomorrow, count the number of times you find yourself on Facebook. If you use browsers exclusively, you could use the history function at the end of the day, but if the FB app doesn't track it, you'll have to do it manually. Yes, yes, I know that there are apps that show you graphs of where you spend your time. But I don't think graphical readouts spit out by the same machine you're trying to avoid will create quite the same shock ad awe as the graph you create on your own. Once you know your numbers, set a rule. For example, you can cut the number in half and use a Memory Palace and the Major Method to track the number of times you've popped in. Everybody Knows That The Dice Are Loaded Or roll dice and subtract that number. Better yet, go for broke and determine to visit your favorite noise pollution sites once a day. Maximum. That's ultimately how I got mounds of time back into my life. At first, I didn't know what to do with it all, even after reinserting bass practice and language learning. But I soon found ways, such as reviving my passion for reading novels and even created my own coloring book so I could dive into a form of guided creativity so many of us have lost since childhood. To seal the deal … Journal Your Progress And Tell Others About Your Accomplishments "Hell," Sartre wrote, "is other people." And when it comes to getting tied up in information pollution, this might be true. Especially when the excuse for multiple exposures comes down to not wanting to lose touch with friends. Frankly, if you can't keep up with friends by visiting Facebook just once a day and scanning their feeds, then you need to find a way to get paid for the labor of liking their posts. Instead, use the power of mathematical rules to set yourself free and then report on the experience. Encourage others to do the same. Fight The Noise Pollution Get your power back. Learn, memorize and recall more. Trust me, if you implement what you've read in this post, you'll not only reduce the info pollution in your life. You'll win back the time you spent reading it back in droves and become one of the smartest human beings on the planet. Now go forth and Magnetize. The post How To Stop Information Pollution From Poisoning Your Memory appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Did you know that your ability to be a moral person directly connects to the quality of your memory? At least, that's according to Albertus Magnus and I think he's right. Why? A few reasons. First off, forgetfulness is an unnecessary evil. Let it run your life and you're automatically living on the Dark Side. Second, you learn, memorize and recall less than you're capable of. That's not only an act of self-cruelty. It's a crime against humanity. Finally, if you're not on top of your ability to memorize the information you need to achieve maximum success in life, you're not able to pass the skills on. It doesn't get any more immoral than that. Memory Is The Sensitive Part Of The Soul Born sometime around 1200 in the Duchy of Bavaria, Albertus Magnus spent a fair shake of time writing about memory skills before dying in the year 1280. He was influenced by Aristotle, who also wrote about memory, and left his mark on Thomas Aquinas, who also filled a few pages on the art of memory. For his part, Magnus was fixated on ethics and what exactly makes good things good. For example, he nailed down four cardinal virtues: Fortitude Temperance Justice Prudence Memory, or memoria, belongs to prudence for Magnus, along with intelligence and providence. Magnus breaks prudence down even further by saying it has a rational part and an emotional part. We should be using memory to live useful lives based on both of these aspects. As he writes: "Memory can be a moral habit when it is used to remember past things with a view to prudent conduct in the present looking forward to the future." Calling up positive things from the past to guide your behavior in the future is fine and dandy. But what about mnemonics? Guess what? Using Memory Techniques Is Also A Virtuous Habit Magnus called mnemonics "artificial memory" after the conventions of the time. We know better now, however. Using the power of your imagination to make Memory Palaces is the most natural activity on earth, especially compared with spaced-repetition software. That's the hammer of memory that deserves the term "artificial" more than anything else. The 5 Magnus Rules For Creating Top-Notch Memory Palaces Plus, Magnus was a lot like me. He wasn't into using virtual Memory Palaces. He advises using only real locations and especially recommends churches because of how they can move the soul. It's an interesting suggestion because often the more meaningful the building, the more powerful the Memory Palace will be. Keep that in mind when creating your next Memory Palace and avoid basing any on buildings that may suck your enthusiasm. With this point established, Magnus offers five rules. 1. Use Quiet Locations Makes sense, right? Maybe. I can understand wanting to base your Memory Palaces on locations prone to silence. It kind of makes sense for them to mimic the intense concentration needed for creating powerful associative-imagery inside the Memory Palace. However, if you're using a bustling cafe, you don't need to do the memory work in the cafe. And when you are using the Memory Palace, you can be in a quiet space. In fact, no matter where in the world the building you've sourced for your MP happens to be, it's always a good idea to learn, memorize and practice Recall Rehearsal in quiet places. But if you want to use the stage and stadium of a memorable Kiss concert, do it. If for any reason your memories of the excitement do get in the way, simply move on to another place. 2. Your Memory Palaces Should Neither Be Too Large Nor Too Small Many beginners get excited by the possibilities of making massive Memory Palaces. They draw diagrams of shopping malls, airports and try to use each and every floor of New York skyscrapers. There's no doubt that with practice you can use enormous Memory Palace structures. But Mangnus is right. You want to find a comfortable size the works for you. In my case, I max out at 50-60 stations per Memory Palace. In many cases, I stick with a mere 10, using proper Magnetic Memory Method form to get the into long term memory so any given Memory Palace can be put out of rotation for a while and then reused. That said, it's good to stretch once in awhile, so keep working progressively to extend your abilities. The trick is to make sure that you're getting your desired outcome. Sure, creating a Memory Palace with 5000 stations would be cool – but can you get measurable results from it? Probably not. 3. Avoid Using Overly Similar Memory Palaces Here's another rule where it really depends. But in principle, you sure can confuse the heck out of yourself if you can't distinguish one Memory Palace from another. In my experience, this isn't such a big deal. Here's why: It's the difference in information that matters. For example, I like to use the Ross Building on the campus of York University. I start on the seventh floor where the Grad Pub used to be and work my way down. The levels are nearly identical, as are the journeys through them. The key difference is how the information itself "tags" each floor. For example, the seventh floor has been reserved for words that start with "se" spellings or sounds. Likewise, the sixth floor for "si" sounds. The rest of the similarities in the Memory Palace divisions don't matter because the information itself marks the territory. As ever, your personal experimentation will make the difference. If it's too much for you, scale back. When you're ready to expand, add gradual challenges that will help you grow your memory and memorization management skills. 4. Not Too Bright And Not Too Dark I don't know what was up with medieval dudes like Magnus. Even up to Giordano Bruno, mnemonists were bonkers about the level of light in their Memory Palaces. The issue may stem from the lack of electric lighting. Just as they wanted to use quiet places to maximize concentration, they figured it might be useful to see the Memory Palaces. Of course, we know now that you don't really need to "see" anything in your mind. You need only a conceptual approximation. I think another reason the light issue crops up throughout the history of mnemonics is that so many people built upon the Ad Herrenium. In Magnus's case, Francis Yates figures he probably had a corrupt copy. All the same, the dogma about light strikes me as just that. You really need to explore this issue for yourself and see what happens. I predict you'll do just fine, even if you're a bat. In fact, probably especially if you're a bat, since echolocation is a powerful metaphor for how you can navigate a Memory Palace efficiently without seeing a single thing in your mind. 5. Leave 30 Feet Between Stations Now here's a contradiction in terms if ever there was one. If your Memory Palaces aren't supposed to be too big, how does one leave this much space between stops along the path? Hansel and Gretal would have been in big trouble if they'd done that with their crumbs, and so, I reckon, would you. I know this has created issues for me. For example, in one of my Aristotle Memory Palaces for my dissertation on friendship, I had some waaaaaaay too far distances between stations. The reason long distances creates problems is because your mind spends time and energy scanning the territory. Whether you see the Memory Palace or merely conceive it like stars in a constellation, you're still using spatial memory. To reduce drag, try keeping your stations as close together as possible without creating issues for yourself. Cramming is the inverse problem and without breathing room, your associative-imagery might not correctly consolidate. As ever, it all comes down to your personal experimentation. In this case, you'll need to work on a case to case basis since, with the rare exception of places like the Ross Building I just mentioned, there are no uniform Memory Palaces. Memory Palaces Are As Physical As A Brick Wall One of the coolest ideas Magnus brings to the table involves the notion that both the memorizer and the Memory Palaces are physical bodies. In fact, the entire world is physical and so anything you imprint on your mind essentially resembles tattooing. Magnus's concept here is complex, and I'm still pondering it, but he seems to be pre-envisioning the world we live in today. For example, you can think of information as ethereal stuff that has no physical form. But that would be incorrect. Not only does all information require physical storage in order to be receivable, your brain either uses or creates new chemicals and structures to perceive it. When you read a book, for example, the information has been physically stored using ink on paper. Read the same book on a computer and the information is stored both in the physical chips and wires, but also in the electricity itself. This info then enters the physical bodies of your eyes before entering the gazillion roller coaster rails of your brain. Anyhow, Magnus's point appears to be that by focusing our concentration on the physical reality of both the locations and the information, we can create much more powerful sense impressions. And if all of these points from Magnus don't make your memory more poignant, perhaps a previous or future episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast will. Until that time, by moral by using your memory and always, always keep Magnetic. Further Resources The Memory Palace Of Matteo Ricci The post 5 Simple Ways Albertus Magnus Can Improve Your Memory Palaces appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

You probably think you can get all the memory training you need from books, right? Maybe. Ben Pridmore certainly did (reportedly just one) and worked miracles at the World Memory Championships. But Those Kind Of Results Don't Happen To Everyone The truth is that most of us (including me) need more than one memory training resource. In fact, as I mentioned in The Story Of How To Learn And Memorize German Vocabulary, I studied dozens of memory improvement books, audio programs and video courses. The Magnetic Memory Method simply wouldn't exist without years of relentless research, experimentation, documentation, reconfiguration and teaching. The Art Of Memory Is A Way Of Life Defined By Multiple (Super-Exciting!) Duties To this day, I still study. To develop as a mnemonist, a journalist of memory and a lifelong devotee to teaching the art of memory, I consume all the wisdom about memory improvement I can. That's why I recently attended the ThinkBuzan Memory Training at the Henley Business School in Henley-On-Thames taught by Phil Chambers and Tony Buzan himself. To keep getting better and contributing to the solution. Because there is a solution to forgetfulness and if you apply yourself … You Never Have To Forget Information That Matters Ever Again! Seriously. If you've read more than one book or taken more than one course and still aren't getting results, there are probably only two reasons: 1) You're not studying the right stuff. 2) You're not taking the right actions. And even if you're already equipped and running memory circles around your friends, here are 13 reasons you still really ought to get trained at the Summit of Memory. 1. You Learn More About The History Of Memory I've encountered the story of Simonides of Ceos countless times. However, never have I encountered it so thoroughly and elegantly expressed as when Phil Chambers took us through it. The best part of the story is that it contains all the elements of good mnemonics: strange events and colorful characters. Massive, visual action. A Memory Palace in ruins that, albeit utterly destroyed, still stands in the minds of millions nearly two thousand years later. 2. You Learn About The Science Of Memory There's history behind memory research too, so getting both the past, present and future of memory science makes ThinkBuzan memory training a tremendous asset. MIG, also known as The Most Important Graph In The World, shows you the most cutting edge elements of memory science. It is a Masterplan for engineering any information into your memory forever. You learn The Most Important Graph in the world effectively too. It's presented in stages so that you understand each part. The ThinkBuzan teaching approach also uses the science underlying the graph to get it into your long term memory. Speaking of which … 3. You Learn How To Teach Memory Skills Right Away You've heard me talk about the importance of educating others about memory skills before. I always talk about how and why you must do it immediately in order to get the best results from what you've learned and memorized. For example, in Language Learning For Introverts, I suggest that you explain to anyone who will listen the Memory Palace and mnemonic imagery you use to memorize new words and phrases. It's partly self-serving for how it drills the information into your memory, but more importantly … Teaching Others Creates Enthusiasm For The REAL Magic Of Memory Not only that, but by demonstrating what's possible with your memory through teaching the core skills, you're also getting better at using your memory. You're practicing what you preach and getting better every time you do. 4. You Create A Group Memory Palace On The Spot Nothing enthused me more about the ThinkBuzan memory than creating a Memory Palace together as a group. Phil Chambers had us memorize all the member countries of the European Union in alphabetical order. But even better, Phil tricked us into doing it outside of our awareness. I won't tell you exactly how, but it's similar to how I teach people to memorize the alphabet backwards. To really let you have your cake and eat it too, Phil then shows you how to compound the countries with the capitals of each. This quick exercise means memorizing 40 pieces of information inside of 20 minutes. Using The Most Important Graph In The World (and with a bit of stretching, maybe even without), this is information you can get into long-term memory for the rest of your life. Again, you get all this amazing memorization in less than 20 minutes, plus sufficient review over a week or two. At most, that will total another 20 minutes, likely much less. Plus, while you're completing the live memory exercise … 5. You Create Lifelong Friendships With Other Memorizers ThinkBuzan makes sure that you get to know your classmates from the moment their memory training starts. But the real time group Memory Palace exercise deepens the relationships beyond belief. This bonding occurs not only because you share the amazement of instantly recalling the information learned throughout the exercise. It's also because you travel together throughout the Memory Palace as you create it. As the dating gurus often point out, if you want to create the feeling that someone knows you better, have them share time with you in multiple locations as quickly as possible. Do this while deliberately creating a Memory Palace together, and those locations become infinitely stronger. And who knows? You might just develop a romance out of it or deepen a current one. A married couple took the training I was in and I saw them strengthen their bond before my very eyes. And although my girlfriend wasn't there, one part of that couple convinced me to finally propose, so the magic of taking a memory training really does go beyond the skills of recall. It touches and makes all areas of your life more exciting. 6. You Get To Challenge Yourself And Confront Your Memory Fears I did not go to this ThinkBuzan memory training as an initiate. I've been a mnemonist now for more than fourteen years. However, there's a massive divide between what I can do privately and publicly. Sure, I took a hard loss when I competed against Dave Farrow half on a whim and only then in support of my favored charity. By the same token, I'm proud of my results given the circumstances (jet-lagged, suffering arthritic joint pain, unkempt, unrested and moronically hungover from the last time I ever touched alcohol). I'm also proud of my results given that I'd never memorized and recalled information with cameras in my face and a countdown clock running. On top of that, as a renowned memory trainer – heck, there's even a Wikipedia page about my work in memory and other arts of the mind – I had a reputation to uphold, and I think I did so given the circumstances. But … Not so during the tests at the ThinkBuzan training. But here's the thing: 7. Sometimes Falling Flat On Your Face Is The Best Thing In The World Why? A few reasons. First, I got a taste of embarrassment that I did so poorly. I should have scored 100%. Second, I learned SO much about what happens to me when someone turns on the clock. I start thinking about what strategy I'm going to use and then switch them up mid-stride. By the time I've finally settled on my approach, the clock has run out. Third, but far from least, I learned that … 8. Transparency About Your Memory Produces Pearls Of Wisdom! I could have avoided the issue and said nothing, or kept my internal reflections private. Instead, I swallowed my pride and the throat-constricting desire to bury my head in the suffocating sands of Phil's official World Memory Championships digital hourglass. That's right, I sat in front of the entire group and Tony Buzan himself and fessed up. Here's what I learned in return for my honest revelation: 9. Discover The Surprising Reason Why "Time Management" Is The Deadliest Circus Stunt In The World We exhaust ourselves silly trying to control time. But this essence, this substance, this engine that has driven the world since, well … the beginning of time, needs no management and cannot be managed. No, the clock isn't a venomous snake. It's not going to bark, bite or explode. The world's not going to end when it rings. Regardless, when there's a deadline, the muscles in your mind cramp. The pace or your breathing collapses in on itself and your palms bleed sweat. The problem? You're trying to manage time. Can't be done. Casting Yoda a bit differently on the issue of time, there really is no try. 10. We Can Only Manage Ourselves And Our Memory Abilities In Time By Understanding And Using The Clock As Tony describes time, our perception of its speed changes based on our psychological states. It can feel like it's burning like a lit wick races to a bomb. Or it can move like a slow, placid wave when you've got nothing going on. I've been practicing this approach to thinking about time ever since. I plan on going back for more training and fully expect I'll get 100% next time if I can just settle on a strategy first and get my thinking about time unwarped and humming. After I've served at least once as an arbiter, I may even compete at the WMC myself. That said, I also learned that … 11. Not Wanting To Compete In The World Memory Championships Is Totally Okay Maybe you've had this feeling too. You learn about mnemonics and soon discover memory competitions exist around the world. That makes you feel like no matter what you use the tools of recall for in your private life, it won't amount to much if you cannot win a prize. The truth, I learned, is that most competitors aren't after the medals. They attend the World Memory Championships to compete against themselves. They're stretching their abilities. Plus, they're making friends with other mnemonists and talking shop about the art of memory. They're doing what we discussed before in an international setting: learning AND teaching in one fell swoop. But if none of this interests you, no problemo. You can be a perfectly amazing memorizer and teacher without ever throwing down the gloves. And if your results are nothing to brag about, that's no problem either. We all know the coaching phenomena. People have led sports teams to glory without ever touching the ball themselves. As a story consultant, like others in the movie plot improvement industry, I've improved screenplays and seen them made into films. To this day, I've never completed one myself, let alone had a movie from my imagination made. Maybe I never will. When it comes to memory, I've memorized thousands of words and bits of ultra-valuable information. But more importantly I've helped thousands of people memorize many thousands more. Just check out this email I for the other day: "Here I am seated below my arbiters after memorizing 29 and then 34 shuffled cards at five minutes each. The first try beat the existing provincial record; the second try bested that. Would not have done it without your impetus. I am registered to compete in the Canadian Championships in Montreal, July 2. Thanks, Anthony!" And get this: Tony Buzan, co-founder of the Wold Memory Championships has never himself competed in them. But he's still helped millions of people get more from their memories and their minds overall. And when you attend one of his trainings … 12. You Might Even Get To Meet The Man Himself To tell you the truth, I didn't even know Tony Buzan was going to be at the training. The ticket named Phil Chambers as the instructor and I went more than content with that. But sometimes Tony does attend these memory trainings and I was so delighted that he did. And I don't know how to tell you this without stepping outside my usual Canadian-bred modesty, but I'm going to lay it out because it may inspire you and it doesn't feel right to keep something so monumental a secret amongst only a few. You Might Be Knighted A Warrior Of The Mind Tony and I had shared some Tweets a few years ago. There was instant resonance, maybe because we're both named Anthony, perhaps because we've both spent loads of time under the stars of Vancouver, British Columbia. For whatever reason, the resonance continued, and when the event was over, I offered to help breakdown the classroom. I was asked to carry some paintings to the main building for safekeeping as Tony prepared to leave. These were by Lorraine Gill, the woman who inspired to include images in Mind Maps in the first place. Once we had the paintings safely stowed away in a back office, we chatted a bit with the secretarial staff and … Then IT Happened Tony pulled me aside and said, "Anthony, you are a Warrior of the Mind." Next, THE Tony Buzan removed a pin from his lapel. Yes, THE famous pin Joshua Foer mentions in Moonwalking With Einstein. Tony stepped forward and reached for my collar. The next thing I knew, I was wearing the beautifully executed rendering and holding back tears. Tony gives the pin, I learned, for Outstanding Contributions to Global Mental Literacy. It is a tremendous honor to hold the title "Warrior of the Mind." Above all, to own and proudly wear this symbol, given by the hand of a man I first read in high school from books that first truly taught me the boundless power of the human mind and how to release the floodgates on its potential. Frankly, if I didn't talk so much for a living, I'd be utterly speechless. 13. Learn, Memorize And Recall Anything In sum, if you want to continue your education in memory and feel the rapture of memory improvement as can only be offered by the best on the planet, booking your seat at the next training is a must. In addition to all the magic I've been yappin' about, you'll learn how to efficiently and expertly memorize: Names Vocabulary Passwords Numbers Facts Addresses … Anything else you want to remember! Plus, even though the course isn't about mind mapping as such, you'll practice this revolutionary technique and get a massive preview of this powerful art or organizing your mind the way it works on the page. And you know, people often ask me about how Memory Palaces and mind mapping could work in tandem. I'm not yet 100% equipped with an answer, but I'm now well on the way and I'll be attending the ThinkBuzan mind mapping course as soon as possible. How about you? You're convinced by now, right? Of course you are! So … Here's How To Get Royal Treatment When You Take Any ThinkBuzan Training Simply mention my name when registering for your seat at any training and you'll get an incredible percentage of the tuition lopped off. Listen, even if you forget to mention my name and claim this generous discount so you too can become a world class practitioner and teacher of memory techniques, you'll never regret making this choice. Do it now and let me know all about what you learn. Seriously. Teaching others what you've learned – including me – is the best way to learn. And the more you learn, the more you CAN learn. That's my wish and hope and dream for you because we are nothing more than our memories and their quality shapes everything. Make the world a better place a.s.a.p. and you'll see for yourself just how profound learning and memory can be. Buckle up. It's going to be a very Magnetic ThinkBuzan experience for you indeed. The post 13 Reasons You Should Take ThinkBuzan Memory Training appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

It's no secret that students want to succeed. They really do. Even a former dropout like myself dreamed of getting all A's during all those years goofing off took precedent over serious study. I just didn't have the guidance and strategies talented young people need to get the most out of their education. So pay attention, because whether you're in high school, college, university or taking training for certification … Every Student In The World Can Be The BEST Student In The World! But first, you need to overcome a few problems, such as … The Failure To Make A Cozy Little Study Nest Far too often, students all over the map. They try to read The Canterbury Tales in cafeterias, do math at the mall and even work on programming logo-rhythms in the loo. With rare exceptions, none of these places support extended concentration (more on that topic in a bit). But even if you do study well in a variety of noisy places, having a dedicated and protected area can work miracles for your memory. Why? Humans are creatures of habit, and none of us are stronger than our habits. But when we consistently engage in powerful practices, they guide us to amazing places. How To Find Your Comfort Zone In truth, I don't know. You'll need to experiment. And you may need more than one, For me, one of my best study places was Joanne's closet. She was my main squeeze during my BA years, but for a long time, I was her best-kept secret. One day I didn't leave her place in time to miss the people who weren't supposed to see me, however. The only solution in our intellectually intelligent but emotionally immature minds was to hide me in her closet. And that's where I stayed for a very long time after she threw in my backpack, a blanket and a few pillows. Later, she brought me a flashlight so at least I could read. Over the course of the day, Joanne kept me fed and watered and facilitated the odd trip to the washroom. (Very unusual trips these were indeed!) The Most Unusual Productivity Hack In The World Anyhow, the whole ordeal turned out well because not only was I very comfortable, but I wound up reading a challenging book from cover to cover and getting key points down on index cards. I didn't know how to memorize a textbook (infographic) back then, but getting that work done in a focused place was such a boon, I've been reading in and even writing in closets ever since. Heck, when I was in Gran Canaria, I even recorded two episodes of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast in the closet of my hotel! The point is, you can find a perfect place to snuggle in and get stuff done. If that means hiding from the family of your lover in a dark place, by all means do it. You'll be pleased by the results that your regular homework, writing and study space brings. Next, don't fail to … Rack Your Study Schedule Shotgun I know. That's a slightly violent image. But the reality is that we as students and lifelong learners often fail to follow a planned schedule. And went that happens, it's impossible to set 'em up and knock 'em down. I'm talking about writing essays with enough time left over to edit them. I'm talking about giving yourself enough time to take a warm up exam before sitting for the one that counts. I'm talking about planning time for fun, relaxation and rest so your brain consolidates all you're learning. The problem is, so few know … How To Create A Bulletproof Action Plan And Consistently Implement The best tip I know to help you with this one involves two simple sentences. Conquer the Morning. Win the day. Remember when I told you about my Mandarin Chinese Mnemonics And Morning Memory Secrets? Well, I didn't invent that strategy just for studying Chinese. I've been using morning routines for years to get the most important tasks out of the way first. But You've Got To Know What Your Most Important Tasks Are! To do that means identifying and setting priorities. If your teacher is any good, you'll have these loud and clear. For example, with the Magnetic Memory Method, it's simple: organize the target info, create Memory Palaces or select existing Memory Palaces, encode the info and then use Recall Rehearsal to place it in long term memory. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. But not all teachers know how to help you understand your priorities, so you must make sure you … Stop Failing To Communicate With Your Instructors I know, I know. They're the teachers and it's their responsibility to guide you. But in reality, that's only 50% correct. Every top-notch student needs to meet their instructors halfway. You need to observe where they are failing you and get what you need. Avoid This Student Plague … Like The Plague! Have you ever sat in class with a burning question and yet … you didn't raise your hand? If so, you're in the majority. Don't feel bad. It's part of the human condition not to want to stand out, or feel stupid or be the first to say something. You might also be wrongly assuming that the teacher will get to what you want to know later anyway. Or maybe you fear that the teacher might be annoyed. Maybe the teacher will show some agitation, but who cares? Their position obligates them to serve you and if you're worried about the opinions of other students, stop. They're worried about your opinion of them too. It's a vicious circle and will get you nowhere. If nothing else, talk to the teacher after class or by email. This low-profile tactic was my favorite and always served me well. It made sure that I never suffered … The Failure To Ask For Special Treatment It's a little-known fact that you can influence the course of your education and tailor much of it to your needs. For example, one of the most exciting third-year courses I ever took was also … dreadfully dull! It was called Shakespeare's Contemporaries and the professor taught with such passion, that I couldn't wait to hear him speak about weirdo playwrights like John Webster and Thomas Kyd. I admired him so much that I asked him to serve on my doctoral defence committee many years later. To my honor, he did. The only problem during that seminar course was … the other students. I'm sorry to say this, but many were duds. They showed up unprepared and didn't interact with this most excellent professor. As a seminar course, there were no lectures as such and the purpose was to have student-driven discussion. Anyhow, as much as I loved listening to the professor, it also pained me to see him wrestle with my unprepared peers. One day after class, I approached him with trembling hands and asked him one of the most important and powerful questions of my academic life: May I Have Alternative Assignments? Instead of showing up for class to get my participation grade, I wanted to write extra essays to make up for the missing marks. Otherwise, I would need either to skip class or drop the course altogether. Well, the professor seemed to understand exactly my needs and I wound up completing most of that course on my own. I even passed with an A+. I went on to ask that question of professors again and again, ultimately customizing my entire undergraduate and graduate programs entirely to suit my needs – such as spending hours of study time in dark closets. Speaking of talking with your instructors, you also need to avoid … The Failure To Speak With Other Students About Your Studies Yes, I know. Most of the time, the last thing you want is more of the same after a long session in class. But if you do it right, you can learn more by revisiting your topic with others in some pleasant and exciting ways. For example, after I dropped out of high school and returned, I had my first study partner. We took the advanced literature course instead of normal English 12 and it had so much reading, we split it between us. Leslie would read, for example, John Donne and unpack it for me. I would read the extract from Paradise Lost and lay out all the cool things Satan says when he first lands in the pit. That way, when I finally got around to reading her half of the load and she to mine, we knew exactly what we were looking for. It was kind of like seeing a movie again for the first time after many years. Plus, we had notes from class to round out our studies and guide our discussions. When it came time to take the tests and write the in-class essays, we were both in top form. We knew the material inside and out. In the years since, I have done this with study groups large and small and we teach each other the key points from books we read. Heck, it even happens in a certain way through the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, such as when people tell me about the best parts of books they've read and I zip out my own study notes. You have heard The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci episode, right? Without Study Groups, Students Fail To Encourage And Motivate Each Other Look, you don't need to exaggerate it. But if you're not meeting with other students outside of class, it's impossible for you to notice when they've explained something really well in a relaxed environment. Of course, you can pat each other on the back for things said in class, but it's not the same thing. Plus, there's power in generating ideas together. You also get to frame time by meeting on a predetermined schedule and using something like Roberts Rules to control the flow. Study groups can also help you avoid … The Failure To Be Clear And Realistic Yes, it sucks cold beans, but when you're a student, you're being measured. And whether you pass or fail, the metrics make a mark and condition your confidence. In this world, you need all the confidence you can get! But by studying together, you'll also be talking about deadlines and the conditions of the game. This process will keep your eye on the ball and guide you to the target. You just need to avoid … The Failure Of Letting Worry And Stress Rule Your Mind If you've been following along, you're already way ahead on this one. You've got a cozy study place, the shotgun of your schedule racked, your teachers in the palm of your hand and a powerful study group. These conditions themselves will reduce stress to a bare minimum. You probably won't even feel it. But why not take preemptive measures to make sure stress can't rise up unnoticed? It's easy if you'll just meditate, sleep and eat a memory friendly diet. Speaking of diets, to help you sleep, eat better and have way more time, don't fall prey to the … Failure To Hit The Kill Switch Do you want to choose how to live your life? Or would you prefer to have it chosen for you? Keep watching TV and farting around on social media and you're giving up your right to be free. I know that sounds harsh, but all appearances suggest that TV, social media and other digital delights like video games and instant messaging create dopamine spikes in the brain. Unfortunately, we get addicted to these, which can reduce concentration and create impulsivity that makes it difficult to get things done. The best way around this? Put Borders Around Your Mind Candy Binges Here's a simple trick: Just as you should get all the most important activities finished before you switch on the computer and get tossed by the sea of email messages and social media, vow to stop all of it by a set hour. My preference is 9 pm with 10 pm as the absolute maximum outer limit. Sure, I break this rule once in awhile of something needs to get done, but rarely by more than 30 minutes. The rule itself helps to contain any attempts at breaking it. Plus, I watch programs with limits and check Facebook only once a day. Email gets a bit more attention, but even that I try to limit to three sessions per day. Not only that, but my iPhone doesn't receive calls, receive or send texts or have roaming Internet. It is simply for writing, reading and language study. It truly is a smartphone and I have a tiny old Motorola for handling the rest. You may not want or need to be that extreme, but please, above all, avoid … The Failure To Realize That Focus Is Your Number One Asset As A Student And Lifelong Learner More than that, focus is the future. As more and more things compete for our attention, those who can avoid all the failures discussed in this post will rule the world. Those who sink in the mire of unproductive lives and disorganized confusion will be their slaves. That's why the penultimate failure is so important to avoid. The Failure To Be Mentored Most students chase after tutors – or get forced into having them by well-meaning parents. Sorry to break it to you, bit most tutoring is a waste of time, money and energy. Why? Because most tutors look at your work and explain it to you. Or they babysit you while you complete tasks you should be able to do on your own. A mentor, on the other hand, doesn't bother with any of that. A mentor shows you how not to need a tutor at all by modeling effective study skills, lifestyle habits and teacher management. A mentor lives the way you want to be and will never be caught dead lapping up a pay check to tutor others. A mentor is too busy modeling others higher up the ladder and helping those a few rungs down. How do you find a mentor? Well, that's a topic all on its own, but I recommend taking (Jimmy's course with Martin). That'll put you in good stead, and if you execute, you will succeed beyond your wildest dreams with the help of a carefully identified individual who has the qualities and accomplishments to which you aspire. All these things said, above all you need to avoid the most tragic failure of all: The Failure To Develop Your Memory Abilities The most shocking thing in the world is that the simple memory skills that help students the most are taught in schools the least. One can go on and on about why, and perhaps it really is a capitalist conspiracy. But at the end of the day, what matters is that memory improvement help exists. And you can get it right, right now and right here from this website with my FREE Memory Improvement Kit. So what do you say? Are you ready to take action and stop failing as a student? Of course you are. Start using the tips you've just learned and achieve the success you deserve. I'm rooting for you! Further Resource What If I Wanted To Memorize Entire Chapters From A Textbook The post 17 Student Fails That Destroy Memory (And What To Do Instead) appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Have you ever gone through a phase that forced you into starting over from scratch? Don't worry. It happens to everyone. Luckily, we can learn from those who have gone before us. In this guest post from Jeffrey Pickett, you'll learn how to minimize the suffering that comes from rebooting your life and how to get back on your feet in the best possible manner. Three Reasons Why Starting Over Is So Painful Starting over can be painful. You'd love to blame others, but after close analysis, you realize it all points back to the person looking at you in the mirror. Our careers, like cars, were meant to go forward most if not all of the time. No one likes to go in reverse. It takes more attention, more focus and more detail. Starting over means you need to back up before you can go forward. Finally, starting over sucks because self-doubts creep in the back door, playing with your mind. The sky is no longer blue, the chirping birds are dead, and someone pulled the chain, diminishing the once bright sunlight. Take heart, my friends, because it just so happens I am the self-proclaimed big deal in the world of starting over. Allow me to prove it to you… Why You Should Forgive But Don't Forget In a previous relationship, well perhaps several, the occasion to try and make things work occurred a few times too many. The bottom eventually fell out and I beat myself up for letting things go on as long as I did. That guy on the street with the "The End is Near" sign was right all along. I just wouldn't listen. When you make mistakes, learn from the event, forgive yourself and move on. Looking in the rearview mirror only serves to cause pain. Learn the lesson and move forward. Forgive while you're at it. Holding anger or resentment towards another only sets you up for failure. Let go of the attachment to anger. Wouldn't It Be Cool If You Could Be Superman? I think I'd ditch the cape myself, but having superpowers and flying around would be awesome, right? Well, back in reality-world, that doesn't work. You can only be yourself. That's not totally correct. Humans have this unique ability to recognize who they are and change. We can go back to school, join a gym or even seek therapy if necessary. With effort, we can become a better version of ourselves. An important facet to starting over means you have to be willing to change any aspect of your life that no longer works. Ultimately, you can only change yourself; you have no power to change anyone else. That common definition of insanity (dare I repeat it?) is accurate – to avoid more mistakes, change that which is in you versus what you have no control over. What To Do When The World Turns Upside Down Whenever your world upside down, forcing you to start over, a vital lesson should be at the forefront of your brain. The way we see things may not be the best perspective. You can't mold the world to your point of view, but you can shift your perspective. Recently I went hiking with my wife. Just when the trail appeared to dead-end, I'd take one more step, and my perspective changed. The opening was there all along; I just needed a few more steps. How To Get More Done With Less Effort I love running. I used to train five to six days a week, running up to 15 miles on some days. But I could never improve my race times. One day, a friend of mine introduced me to running sprints instead of running long distances. I did as he suggested and my race times came down even though I ran shorter training distances. Another example involves my garage that needed some fix-up. A friend offered to help, someone with a lot more experience than I. But my pride got the best of me. I thought I'd do it myself. You can guess what happened. I ripped up most of my work, I cut my thumb open, and my kids learned a new curse word from my repeated frustrations. If only I would have invited the help and pushed away my pride… See the difference? I just needed to change my approach. I Lied – You CAN Be Superman! You just have to do one thing before you begin starting over. You have to learn a new skill. Maybe you need a better memorization technique… A potential reason you are in need of starting over is that as hard as it may sound, you may lack the resources to get the job done. Before starting over, research your topic of interest or situation, gain the extra knowledge and get back into the fight. The Real Reason It's Better to Give And Not Deceive The world operates differently these days. You used to be able to ask for favors. But now it's all about, "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" That's not all bad. Instead of looking out for good ol' #1, start over with an effort to provide value. Do things for others. Show the world you want to add versus subtract. Don't provide something with the apparent reason you just want something in return. Give with the intention of helping. If you're lucky (and genuine), then the gifts will come back. Give your work away. Giving is good for the soul. It's good for your health, too. Speaking of giving, I have a self-titled website where I give as much of my experiences as I can write down. I'm focusing on health these days, so if you'd like to improve your health and lose some weight in the process, check out my free guide. Well, now you know of my experiences in starting over. I'd love to hear yours. I'll bet they are the type of stories Jimmy Fallon/Kimmel would feature! Share what happened and what you did to get over it and I'll see you in the comments. Further Reading How To Live An Interesting Life The post Insights to Remember Before Starting Over appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.