Anthony Metivier's Blog, page 2

Memory, Mentats & Mental Mastery with John Michael Greer

If you’re looking to unlock the ancient memory techniques used by philosophers, mystics, and mental elites throughout history, this is the conversation for you.

In this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, John Michael Greer returns to reveal how memory systems from thinkers like Giordano Bruno and Ramon Llull can help us reclaim our cognitive power in the AI age.

Why do these long-dead figures matter more than ever in today’s world?

For one thing, a lot of people are scrambling to work out how to survive in a world in which remembering how to think is quickly becoming as scarce as human memory.

But Greer offers hope.

As a renowned author, translator of Giordano Bruno’s On the Shadows of the Ideas, and long-time student of multiple esoteric traditions, Greer joined me again to discuss the growing importance of memory training.

But what makes this episode special is that we’re not talking about just any old kind of training.

And we’re definitely not talking about your everday, average memory tricks.

You’re about to hear about real mental training, the kind that once produced polymaths, philosophers and masters of the mind who inspired the Mentat you’ve read about in Dune.

But don’t let the fictional reference distract from the value at hand. Everything we discuss accords perfectly with memory science, particularly the science of mental imagery.

As part of this discussion, Greer and I also explore his upcoming book project on medieval and Renaissance mental disciplines, a work I’m looking forward to reading very much.

We also cover the overlap between historical mnemonic systems and why reviving these ancient practices is absolutely essential in an age increasingly dominated by machine thinking.

https://youtu.be/hTv4R3e-WWs

From the combinatorial wheels of Llull and Giordano Bruno to the forgotten discipline of syllogistic logic, we discuss:

How memory palaces can function as practical tools and metaphysical metaphors

Bruno’s integration of memory with logic and ontologyWhy the “art of combination” might be the ultimate question-asking systemThe lost connection between Freemasonry and mnemonic trainingWhat a modern Mentat curriculum might look like (and why we need it sooner than later)Practical tips from historical and contemporary memory mastersThe real philosophical difference between tools we use and tools that use usReasons for reading older memory improvement books like Rhetorica ad HerenniumWhy you should explore the Trivium and Quadrivium as tools for modern mental clarity

Greer also shares insights into his current Latin translation work, John Dee research, and what the Twilight of Pluto means for our cultural moment.

No matter what happens, Greer believes memory techniques can thrive again.

But likely not in Silicon Valley.

They will rise again in the ruins of the cultures that resist.

Why not start resisting now?

Whether you’re a memory athlete, aspiring Mentat, or simply tired of outsourcing your intelligence to devices, this episode will give you both intellectual fuel and practical direction.

Bonus: John Michael Greer on Bruno’s
On The Shadows of the Ideas

During my first discussion with Greer, we focus on Bruno’s memory systems and the nature of knowledge from what Greer calls “the rubbish heap of history.”

We also dig into Greer’s translation of On the Shadows of the Ideas by Giordano Bruno.

Finally, we discuss an old and mysterious book called The Picatrix. Like the Ars Notoria, it kind of freaks me out a bit, but Greer puts my mind at ease.

Press play and listen in as we discuss:

The value of “intellectual dumpster diving” to preserve ancient ideasWhy adding more to a text than a literal translation allows can be self-serving, yet somehow can’t be avoidedThe limits of historical clarity in the age of photocopies (which are often of other photocopies)Why Bruno’s memory theory remains of great importance to the art of memoryThe reason subject/abject memorization is the most sophisticated method to memorize textThe deep mystery behind why alphabet-based mnemonics fell out of favor in modern timesAnd why overwhelm can occur, even when using a sequence as simple as the alphabetWhy memory, secrecy and initiation were inseparable in Bruno’s worldThe reason Frances Yates’ ideas about Bruno should be viewed with discernmentThe delusion of treating history as a straight line, and why this idea is wildly inaccurate, given the way the universe operates

Giordano Bruno

 

Further Resources on the web, the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast and blog:

John Michael Greer’s Ecosophia Blog (Toward an Ecological Spirituality)

John’s Dreamwidth Blog

John Michael Greer’s Amazon author page

John Michael Greer Presents: Masonry and the Secret Societies

Frances Yates’s Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition

The Illustrated Picatrix: The Complete Occult Classic of Astrological Magic

My How to Think and Remember Like the Mentat video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ijm66YXxWfQ

Cognitive Training Myths Busted: 5 Authentic Brain Boosters To Try

Are you wondering if brain training actually works?

You’re not alone. Many people try memory apps or puzzle games only to wind up disappointed.

The truth is that real cognitive training doesn’t come from playing games on flashy apps.

As the founder of the Magnetic Memory Method, author of The Victorious Mind, and a memory coach with over a decade of hands-on experience, I’ve helped thousands of people get real results.

The results come from proven mental techniques used by memory champions, language learners, and even brain injury survivors.

In this post, you’ll discover what cognitive training really is.

I’ll also expose why most apps fail.

And you’ll discover 5 research-backed ways that actually improve your memory, focus, and learning speed.

The best part?

The improvements you seek can start to emerge faster than you might think.

Ready to dive in?

Great, but before we get to any specific routines you should follow, let’s address the elephant in the room.

Can Cognitive Training Really Improve Memory?

The answer is absolutely yes.

But you actually have to train.

You can’t be passive about it.

And you also have to actually need cognitive training.

See, sometimes people who struggle with brain fog actually have dietary issues.

Brain training alone won’t help them. Instead, they need to take a permanent break from foods that harm the brain.

Or it could be that they’re dealing with a variety of stresses or anxieties that lead to thought blocking.

If you have any concerns about these issues, please see a doctor. Although my blog contains information about recovering memory after a stroke, it’s far better for you to avoid having such medical issues in the first place.

And that’s not to mention an entire range of problems only a trained medical professional can help you sort out.

But if you’ve been told by a doctor that you need to look up some examples of cognitive training to give your brain a boost, then cool. Let’s carry on.

Cognitive Training Explained:
How It Works & Why It Matters

As I explained in my post on spaced repetition, cognitive skill training was first studied by scientists in the late 19th century.

In brief, Hermann Ebbinghaus trained himself to memorize over 2000 nonsense syllables. Then, in his quest to understand the nature of memory as a cognitive ability, he tracked how long he was able to remember them.

Learning to use spaced repetition to defeat the Forgetting Curve started in earnest with the research of Hermann Ebbinghaus.

His experiments led to great interest in what scientists call learning potential. There are entire books on how to assess it and even attractive university scholarships for people interested in studying it.

In a phrase, the definition of cognitive training boils down to brain plasticity. It’s the idea that certain activities can make your brain better.

These activities can involve everything from neurobics to brain games and memory games. One of my favorite neurobic activities is juggling while reciting the alphabet backwards:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGEuP...

Or you can perform concentration meditations or even just read more to improve your mind and memory.

The key thing is to avoid brain training apps. Scientists now agree that the evidence just isn’t there to support using them.

If Apps Don’t Help, What Does?

For the “training” part to be meaningful, it’s important that you’re consistent. Sadly, consistency to their chosen source of mental stimulation is a step many people miss.

As Dr. Christine Till discovered while researching the cognitive training software called Cogmed, people only received substantial results when they paired the software experience with personal coaching sessions.

Please consider this point before spending even a minute with any of the brain training games out there.

Online games might be entertaining, but without the proper features cognitive activities need to have in order to serve you, they’re also potentially empty.

I also covered this issue in detail during my Reddit AMA on memory and learning, where you’ll find dozens of questions about getting real brain boosts in the context of various people’s lives.

Cognitive Training Benefits

Now, provided that the activities you choose actually provide cognitive improvement, you stand to enjoy all kinds of benefits. These include:

Improved memory, both short-term and long-termImproved attention and focusBetter brainstorming and critical thinking abilitiesImproved ability to memorize vocabulary using a variety of memory techniquesFaster results when learning new skillsA shot at developing what Harry Kahne called multiple mentalityCognitive Training Downsides

Technically, there are no downsides. Using your mind is a wonderful thing to do.

However, self-deception is a problem. People wind up spending a lot of time on activities that don’t actually do much for them.

For example, a lot of the brain training apps create what is called context dependent or state dependent benefits. These terms mean that although you might become more skilled in the environment of an online brain training game, the skills won’t transfer to real life.

Unlike using memory techniques discovered by people like myself and memory expert Lynne Kelly who wrote Memory Craft, most cognitive training apps do little or nothing to combat Alzheimer’s or dementia.

That said, there are some legit activities you can pursue. Let’s take a look.

5 Science-Based Mental Exercises That Boost Brain Power

As we go through this list, start thinking about how you can incorporate one or two of these activities into your daily life.

Remember: It’s consistency that matters. It just simply isn’t “training” without at least 3-4 sessions per week.

One: Play Challenging Games

No, I’m not talking about crossword puzzles.

Why?

Because they let you cheat. It’s way too easy to look up the answers.

You need games that push you a little, such as these memory exercises you can play with on your own.

Other challenging games include live-action role-playing games. Sometimes I host Memory Detective, for example.

To make sure this game involves lots of memory exercise, I wrote a novel tie-in called Flyboy. Knowing the story not only allows you to “play along” as a detective uses memory techniques to help him save the day and solve a crime.

You also get a lot of passive memory exercise because you’re tapping into a story you’ve read.

Also consider playing games where you need to make decisions, games with dice, card games or even some of the games memory competitors play.

Memorizing a deck of cards and trying to beat your own record is a powerful cognitive training exercise, for example, and studies have shown it improves your brain.

Two: Take Courses

Getting out and meeting people is a benefit unto itself. But taking courses and meeting people is even better.

My wife and I took a painting course a few years ago and it was fantastic.

Not only did we exercise different aspects of our minds, but we got exercise and met interesting people we never would have encountered otherwise.

You can also take courses online, especially memory improvement courses.

Just make sure that they are offered by authentic teachers who know that your brain needs a challenge, not just a bunch of meaningless activities.

You can also make your own courses, such as diving deep into neurobics. I did that myself and here are some of my favorite routines:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MlDe...

Although creating your own courses might seem challenging, that’s just the point.

Setting learning goals is itself a cognitive activity that sharpens multiple aspects of your brain.

Three: Study A New Language

Did you know that bilingualism can protect your brain? It’s a particularly well-proven means of keeping your brain sharp as you age.

Even better, learning new languages involves multiple levels of challenge because you need to read, write, speak and listen while exercising your working memory.

If you can’t pick a language, go for either Latin or something like Sanskrit phrases.

The reason is that you can memorize a lot of useful wisdom in those languages. You get both the benefit of some language learning and powerful ideas that can guide you in life at the same time.

Talk about an incredible mental fitness routine!

Four: Learn Music

Did you know that you don’t have to play an instrument to benefit from learning music?

Even just studying some music theory can give you cognitive training benefits.

Or you can sing. As one study found, people who sing have the same or even better benefits than people who know about other ways to train their brains.

Singing also reduces stress, which is great because reduced stress helps you pay attention better. And that means you can learn and remember more.

Personally, I’ve toured as a musician and although I’m retired from gigging, still keep expanding my musical knowledge.

The benefits are clear. Each new song or theoretical principle I learn stretches my mind.

The key is to lean into new challenges, but never to the point of frustration.

Whenever you get frustrated by a challenge, scale back to where you feel challenged just a touch outside your comfort zone.

That way, you’ll have a healthy relationship to how musical cognitive training can improve your brain.

Five: Become A Memory Master

Memory techniques have been around for a very long time. And for good reason.

For example, techniques like the Memory Palace can be used to help you learn a language faster.

They can also help you remember numbers, and even long passages of scripture.

How?

To get started developing your memory tools, complete this simple exercise:

List a number of locations from A-Z on paperThen list a number of people you know, also from A-Z

Later, you can use these as Memory Places and mnemonic associations.

But it’s this initial exercise that oils your brain. No matter how rusty you might feel, this one simple exercise will get you started with the ancient art of memory.

Don’t think you can do it?

I’ve had everyone from ten year olds to retirees master these techniques after going through the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass. I’m confident you can too.

And to help you lean into the challenge, I’ve created this powerful free training. Give it a try to start building a brain that remembers everything you learn.

Once you start using these techniques to combat your cognitive decline, you’ll discover what I believe is the ultimate cognitive skills training.

Not only does mastering memory techniques give your mind a powerful workout and great brain exercise.

It helps you reflect on the nature of what it means to have a mind.

And that leads to metacognitive cognition: the ability to think about how you think.

It just doesn’t get any better than that, especially since better memory makes it easy to learn and remember cool terms like “metacognition.”

FAQ: Cognitive Training & Mental Exercise

Over the past decade, I’ve worked with thousands of people using memory techniques to improve their cognitive abilities.

These people include students, professionals, even stroke survivors.

As the creator of the Magnetic Memory Method and author of The Victorious Mind, I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t when it comes to brain training.

These are the most common questions I hear about cognitive training—along with answers rooted in both science and experience.

Q: Do cognitive training apps really work?

Most apps provide short-term gains in the specific tasks they train.

But research shows these benefits from pattern recognition or matching games often don’t transfer to how you use memory and focus for learning in everyday life.

For lasting results, hands-on methods like memory techniques, language learning, or problem-solving games are far more effective.

Q: What are examples of real cognitive training?

True cognitive training includes memory techniques like the Memory Palace, learning new languages, playing musical instruments, solving logic puzzles, and engaging in complex reading or writing tasks.

These activities challenge multiple areas of the brain and build transferable cognitive strength.

Q: How often should I do cognitive training exercises?

Aim for at least 3–4 sessions per week, around 15–30 minutes each.

As with physical fitness, consistency matters more than duration.

Real improvements come from steady, repeated engagement with mentally demanding tasks.

Q: Can cognitive training help with memory loss or brain fog?

It can, but only when paired with lifestyle changes.

Poor memory is often linked to sleep deprivation, stress, diet, or underlying health issues.

If you’re experiencing brain fog, talk to a doctor.

And ask them about cognitive training as a powerful supplement to a healthier lifestyle.

Q: Is there a best cognitive training method?

No single method fits everyone.

But memory techniques (like the Memory Palace) consistently deliver strong, research-backed results.

The key is to choose something challenging that you will enjoy learning and stick with it.

Language learning is one of the best activities for helping your brain develop cognitive reserve, as evidenced by this research paper, among many others.

Q: What about using AI-based tools for cognitive training?

This question is tricky because search engines like Google were the most powerful AI humanity had ever seen until Chat-GPT.

But the Flynn Effect and how it shows IQ scores declining should give us pause.

Using AI is amazing and I do it frequently. But I still get offline as much as possible for learning and other aspects of life.

AI is an assistant and a supplement to human cognition, not necessarily a trainer or a solution to our thinking problems.

Your brain still needs deliberate, challenging training, just like it did in Ebbinhaus’ time. So if you’re going to ask it questions about how to train, make sure to include offline suggestions.

In fact, I’ve been doing that myself when it comes to dealing with some career burnout I’ve been experiencing. It has been helpful and I’ve been happy to see that it supports the suggestions you’ve encountered today.

In sum, cognitive training does really improve your brain, your memory and your ability to focus.

You just need to make sure you rule out other issues, pick the activities that suit your desired goals and engage in those activities consistently.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to start enjoying true cognitive training?

Make it happen!

Learn a New Language Fast: 5 Steps & 14 Best Practices

The best way to learn any new language is to establish a five‑part loop:

Set a micro‑goal (e.g. “hold a 3‑minute café chat in 30 days”).Develop familiarity with the sounds & script before any of the other stepsBuild a core vocabulary by memorizing your first 50 mission‑critical words using the Memory Palace technique.Practice the “Big 5” skills of language learning daily:Memorize new words and phrasesSpeakReadWriteListenGet feedback and reiterate weekly to test your progress and get corrections from at least one native speaker.

Stick to this loop for 15 minutes × 3 sessions a day and you can hit A2 in approximately 90 days.

That’s exactly what I did to pass A2 when I lived in Germany.

I did it again to pass level III in Mandarin in an even shorter period of time.

Of course, there’s a bit  more nuance to each of these steps.

And that’s what I’m going to share with you on this page

We’ll go through each step in detail and you’ll learn fourteen additional best practices used by the world’s most accomplished language learners.

Ready?

Let’s dive in!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgUsv...

How To Learn A Language in 5 Steps Step One: Set a Micro Goal

Having taught people how to improve their memory so they can learn languages faster, I’ve noted one major trend.

Many people make language learning hard on themselves by having an “all or nothing” attitude.

In reality, languages are learned with much greater ease by using what scientists call chunking.

This term means that you break a learning task down into the smallest possible unit.

Many people start by learning how to say hello, please and thank you in their target language.

Once you complete that simple goal, you set another goal. Or as I sometimes prefer to think of them, “missions.”

How to Set Language Learning Goals You’ll Love Completing

When I first started learning German seriously, my classes at the Hartnackschule in Berlin provided these small missions.

Later, I had to provide my own language learning missions.

To do this, I asked one simple question:

“What do I want to be able to speak about next?”

My choices will differ from yours.

But to give you some examples, I played in a band at the time. So I chose music-related topics to help fashion my goals.

I also taught Film Studies at the University of Saarland, so regularly memorized words and phrases related to this industry.

Finally, I love asking philosophical questions, so I learned how to ask them in German.

A2 was passed quite easily. That’s because the courses I took told me what I needed to learn.

But it was crafting my own missions that got me fluent. Because I spent time working out what I wanted to talk about.

And now you know how to create your own goals and missions too.

Step Two: Develop Familiarity with the Sounds and Script of the Language

Before diving into memorizing words or grammar rules, it’s helpful to get comfortable with how the language looks and sounds.

For example, I took a phonology course for that when I first started learning German. Likewise with Mandarin further down the road.

It’s also useful to learn the International Phonetic Alphabet. This set of symbols will help you with pronunciation, which is essential to being understood.

It’s also important to immerse yourself in the rhythms of the language. You can easily do this by:

Watching YouTube videosEnjoying popular movies in the languageListening to audiobooks

Even if you don’t understand much yet, this passive exposure will help your brain attune to the phonic features of the language.

Learning Writing Systems

Depending on the language, you may need to learn an entirely new writing system.

I had to do that with Mandarin by learning the hanzi.

For Japanese, I also had to spend time using memory techniques for the hiragana, amongst other character sets.

Each alphabet will propose different levels of challenge depending on your experience.

If you have any concerns, especially if you have limited time, it’s worth considering my article on the easiest languages to learn.

You don’t want to rush, and some languages simply require more from your brain’s ability to associate sight and sound.

The point is that you will want to develop this kind of sensory familiarity between sound and sight to reduce mental friction later.

Your brain will stop having to ask, “What is the sound of this symbol?”

As a result, you’ll be free to focus on memorizing more vocabulary and phrases without interruption while studying.

Step Three: Build a Core Vocabulary

Once you’re familiar with the sounds and script of your language, it’s time to start building your vocabulary.

You’ll want to start small based on the goal-setting process and chunking we discussed above.

There’s lots of advice people give about organizing vocabulary by category and using word frequency lists, but I stick personally to the missions to work out what words I need to focus on.

That’s because taking classes and learning with native speakers does a lot of the organizing.

Using Memory Techniques for Language Learning

Given that you know how to create goals, let’s talk about getting your first round of vocabulary into your long-term memory.

Learning to use memory techniques for language learning well is one of the best ways to rapidly accelerate your practice. Mnemonics help because:

The Memory Palace technique allows you to rapidly scale the number of words and phrases you can rememberEffective association through multi-sensory visualization makes words and meanings incredibly “sticky”Using the method of loci mentally replicates spaced repetition software without sacrificing the benefits of active recall

In fact, the memory techniques optimize how you practice recalling information in a way that strengthens your memory overall. 

Step Four: Practice the Big Five of Language Learning

In order to create momentum and progress, it’s important to balance multiple levels of processing everything involved in learning and using your chosen language.

To do that, you’ll want to learn the major “meta learning” skills that make achieving fluency possible.

These activities can be broken down into what I like to call The Big 5 Of Language Learning. I’ve illustrated them for you with this diagram:

These five elements are based on a scientific principle called the “levels of processing”

How do I know they are valid?

Because researchers continually confirm their value in research papers like this one about Stephen Krashen’s input theory.

How the “Big Five” of Language Learning Works

And as the illustration above shows, giving yourself enough exposure to achieve the levels of processing effect requires you to combine:

MemoryReadingWritingListeningSpeaking

It’s not a question of which one of these learning activities is most important.

It’s the holistic combination of all them that matters in the end. When I start a new language, I put each and every one of these activities into a learning cycle and interleave between them.

So far, only Hebrew, Sanskrit and Chinese have put speed bumps in my path. That’s because I had to learn their character systems first. But thanks to memory techniques, that didn’t take long. 

Once you can read the language of the alphabet you’re dealing with, there are effective ways to combine listening and reading. You can do that by combining certain tools, like setting up subtitles on Netflix or the story narration program.

I feature both of these options on my best language learning software post.

You can also get great writing practice at the same time you speak, by repeating what you put on the page verbally either before or after putting it down on paper. These days, you can also explore language learning with chatGPT, which I’ve found helpful in small doses.

Both writing and speaking are very important for learning a language. By reading aloud what you’ve written, you double-down on the benefits and learn faster.

Any decent language learning class will make you go through these steps, but if you don’t also get yourself to do it on your own, you’ll struggle to learn your language. 

Step Five: Get Feedback by Learning with Native Speakers

Learning in isolation is possible.

For example, I’ve achieved a lot in Latin purely by studying on my own.

But for most of us, it only gets us so far.

Why?

Because language learners need feedback.

And when you meet regularly with native speakers, you get instant feedback.

Please don’t wait to get started. Speaking before you’re “ready” is a key strategy and provides you with one of the fastest ways to improve.

You can watch me put this into practice in this video with me and my Ukrainian teacher during our very first lesson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_dNt...

What’s the best way to find native speakers?

Join a language exchange forum or websiteSchedule a call with a professional teacher and use Zoom (like you see in my Ukrainian learning documentary video above)Find a local tutor through a school or by placing an ad

Even just 10-15 minutes of interaction a few times a week can reveal gaps you’re not aware you have.

I suggest recording every session and then applying memory techniques later.

When you combine speaking with each of the other Big Five language learning activities, you’ll lock vocabulary, phrases and grammar principles into long-term memory effectively.

And you’ll build confidence as you go, which leads to competence in the language.

The Best Practices That Get Languages Learned Faster

Now that you have my five best steps under your belt, let’s talk about some best practices.

These suggestions are based on my years of experience interviewing and being friends with some of the world’s leading polyglots.

Their advice has helped me so much and I’m confident these considerations will help you achieve fluency too.

Best Practice One: Develop A Positive Mindset

So many people ask, How hard is it to learn a new language? 

But what if this is the wrong question?

What if a better question is: what are the mental strength resources I need to keep consistent over the long term? 

When it comes to language learning, you’ll want to develop skills with: 

Setting realistic goalsFor example, if your language has a character set or new alphabet you need to learn, this might be your first goal.If you already know the alphabet, then your first goal might be how to introduce yourself, plus fifty new words related to some of your interests.Creating a practical schedule.Showing up consistently.Managing your expectations.Understanding the different types of motivation when learning languages.Accept that mistakes will be made and be willing to learn from them.Exploring and acquiring the best language learning materials.Developing the courage to speak the language.Use a journal to set your goals. It will help you gain clarity on what really matters because you can see your intentions more objectively.

Some people will need to spend more time learning these skills than others. But they can all be learned and improved as you go.

Best Practice Two: Choose The Best Possible Language Learning Materials

This step is tricky, but also very doable. 

First, just accept that some risk is involved. You might end up buying a book or course that just doesn’t suit you.

This circles back to mindset, particularly managing your expectations.

Personally, I treat it all as research and don’t get emotionally involved.

In fact, I allow myself to be open to revisiting any resource I’ve purchased again in the future, because we as humans can be tremendously fickle. It might not be that the book or course is bad. It’s entirely possible that we were either not ready for it yet, or just having a bad day, week, month or year. 

A subset of choosing the best materials for learning a language is to limit the amount of sources. When learning a language, we do want tons of input – but that doesn’t mean you want it from dozens of sources. 

There is an overwhelming amount of language learning material to choose from. Set limits and focus on completing just one book at a time.

Instead, I suggest you take a tip I’ve benefited from. It comes from my friend and language learning expert Olly Richards, who advises that we pick at maximum: 

One bookOne video or audio program One teacher

By sticking to limits like these, we give ourselves ample opportunity to experience the levels of processing effect while not overwhelming ourselves with materials. Embracing limits helps us maximize our investment in the materials and enjoy the benefits of thoroughness.

Plus, if you’re going to use rote learning instead of memory techniques, the limits will help ensure the rote is concentrated and not spread across too many different sources.

When it comes to avoiding rote, Olly shares some fantastic advice in this podcast:

Again, whether you use rote or mnemonics, you might find you acquire materials that simply don’t work. It happens, but at least you’ll have learned something about language learning materials that don’t suit your needs.

But overall, you can limit this problem in the first place my limiting how many language learning guides you bring into your learning life in the first place. And making sure that you always maximize your thoroughness with the ones you do choose.

Anthony Metivier with his Mandarin teacher.

That way, time will erase any mistakes and the materials you learn from will pay off soon.

My personal rule of thumb is to stick with a book, course or audio program for at least 90 days.

When I was learning Chinese, for example, I followed my own advice. By working with just one audio program, one book and one teacher, this limited focus helped me achieve much faster progress.

But had I been by constantly throwing new “shiny new textbooks” in my path, I would have been constantly distracted.

Need a source for good language learning teachers online? These days I suggest you give Languatalk a try. 

Best Practice Three: Immerse Yourself With Sensible Input And Strategic Challenges

In the beginning, you might not understand anything. But as you learn, your pattern recognition will go up. 

There are a number of ways to keep increasing your sensible input. These include:

Meet regularly with a native speakerBe sure to bring a picture-based magazine. Learn to ask, “What is that?” and keep pointing at pictures. Record the sessions with your smart phone and listen back, trying to guess what you were looking at in the magazine. Watch movies with subtitlesWhen you find vocabulary and phrases you want to learn, write them down and memorize them. I recommend you create your own flashcards by hand using drawings and colors, like this:It’s fun and easy to create your own mnemonic devices on flash cards. It’s also generally much more effective than using language learning apps.Complete courses and textbooks thoroughlyThese will help increase the amount of patterns you’ll recognize as you continue your exposure to the language you’re learning.Read short stories and news articlesYou can do this by just reading or by creating your own translations as you go. My friend Luca Lampariello shares a number of tips on how to use translation to increase your fluency.Take a courseStrictly speaking, taking a course isn’t necessary. I’ve done it both as a beginner and as a more established student and find saving it for later much more useful. If you take a course, make sure the teacher uses the target language primarily. You’re not there to improve your mother tongue or teach it to them.Speak with natives onlineThere are many great websites for finding people to speak with during dedicated sessions or in small doses by sending and receiving audio texts.As a rule of thumb, I like to give new speaking partners 2-3 sessions before deciding if they are a fit or not. Follow Instagram and other social media accounts in your target language.Learn songs in your target language.

I know that it can seem strange that learning songs will help, but it helps get more vocabulary and grammar in memory than you might think.

It’s fun too, as you can see as I practice singing a song in Mandarin I later performed at my wedding:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCyPV...

With all of these learning activities, you need to use your judgment. If you go for something too advanced, you’ll just get frustrated.

By the same token, if you don’t challenge yourself, you’ll quickly get bored. Get out of your comfort zone. It’s where you’ll find the progress you seek.

Best Practice Four: Invest Enough Time For Daily Practice (But Not Too Much)

People think you have to spend five to six hours a day while learning a language. This just isn’t true.

By the same token, you’re not going to get very far with just 5 minutes a day. 

That said, if you’re strategic about it, you can learn a lot in 15-30 minutes a day. The trick is in breaking up the activities and making sure you’re getting in enough practice of all The Big 5.

A schedule like the one I’ve drawn up for you in the following example can work wonders:

Mornings: 15 minutes memorizing vocabularyAfternoons: 15 minutes of reading and listening using narrated short stories or news articlesEvenings: 15 minutes watching a movie (or the whole movie with about 15 minutes spent capturing words and phrases you find interesting)

Then, the next morning, you can memorize the new vocabulary you’ve gathered from the day before.

The exact amount of time you spend is not nearly as important as the consistency and focus you bring to each learning session. 

Also, vary the routine. If the routine I suggested is something you use on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, do this on Tuesdays and Thursdays:

30 minutes in discussion with a native speaker30 minutes reviewing the discussion recording

It’s also important to schedule breaks. Taking a week off once in a while actually does your brain good when you’re learning. 

Scheduling breaks is important, as is learning how to get back on the horse when you fall from your plan.

The trick is making sure you don’t take off too long and then struggle to get back on the horse.

Here’s a simple tip:

Make sure your language learning sessions with speaking partners are booked in advance. That way, you’re taking some highly beneficial time off, but not with a dangerous open end.

If you still struggle with developing a personal schedule for language learning, give mind mapping for project planning and scheduling a try. I’ve found it useful during times when I was struggling to organize my time.

Best Practice Five: Build Your Own Vocabulary And Phrase Lists

Many people ask, “How long does it take to learn a new language?” I believe the answer should be that the journey never ends. 

But for those who are in a hurry, they often come across the idea of “frequency lists.”

These are compilations of words that are used the most often in any given language. If you’re learning Spanish, these lists can be especially seductive.

And they definitely can be useful. In some cases, they will accelerate how quickly you can get started learning the language.

However, they’re also incredibly limited.

Why?

Because no maker of such lists can know what contexts you’ll find yourself in or what you’re going to want to talk about.

That’s why when you’re reading news stories and translating them, it’s important to focus on information that’s interesting and relevant to you. 

Making your own lists of words and phrases to learn is incredibly important. Be prepared with paper or a journal to capture what you want and need to learn.

You’ll move along so much faster if you let yourself be informed by word lists, but also always take care to build your own. There are no “right” words to focus on and true fluency comes from being able to accomplish missions. 

When learning German, my favorite way to produce my own custom lists was to read interviews with musicians. They use so many interesting words and turns-of-phrase. It really helped me add interest and flair to how I use the language.

Likewise in Mandarin, I’ve learned a lot from the hip hop scene. They use a lot of interesting phrases that are not only useful, but also add character to my use of the language.

The point being that the more you build your own list of words and phrases you want to know, the more make your connection to the language unique and feel a lot more special.

Best Practice Six: Focus On Systems As Much As, If Not More Than Goals

Goals are important. But even more important are the systems that help ensure that you actually accomplish your language learning goals. 

Let’s say your goal is to learn 50 new words by the end of the week. Great! That’s perfectly realistic.

But it’s also meaningless if you haven’t sat down and charted out a systematic means to ensure you memorize those words. 

I suggest developing an if-this-then-that language learning habit stack. 

For example, let’s say you’ve developed a Memory Palace strategy and you’ve spent some time gathering the words you want to memorize. Your habit stack might look like this:

If I wake up, I go immediately to my learning place.If I go to my learning place, I open my Memory Journal to the list of words I’ve prepared. If I have my list, I start with the first word and memorize it using Station One of the Memory Palace.If I have memorized one word, I move on to the next. If I have memorized 10 words, I put my Memory Journal away and start mentally reviewing the words. If I have reviewed my words 3-5 times during the day, I test by writing them out by hand and speak them out loud. 

This is a little system that drives you towards completing the goal. And if you do something like this every day, by the end of the week, you will have memorized 50 words.

You might think even something as tight as this set of steps will take a long time. But nothing could be further from the truth. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without such a simple and elegant system. 

Best Practice Seven: Use The Language Every Day

Have you learned only one word so far?

No problem. Use it. 

Or do you have only a few hundred words?

The principle is the same. Use what you’ve got. 

Talk to yourself as you’re walking down the street.

Tell other people about the phrases you’ve learned and repeat them.

Sing songs in the language you’re learning.

Make your shopping lists in the language you’re learning instead of your mother tongue. 

Learning songs in a foreign language is a great way to learn vocabulary and phrases.

You need to get the words into the muscle memory of your mouth and your mind.

If you dedicate yourself, everything from brushing your teeth to tying your shoes and kissing your loved ones to sleep at night are excellent opportunities to practice.

Best Practice Eight: Use History And Culture As Your “Secret Weapons”

As I’ve been learning German, Chinese and Sanskrit, I’ve made sure to not stop at the language itself. 

Reading novels, books of history and philosophy from the cultures not only gives you more exposure to the language. It helps you understand the historical and cultural forces that shaped it throughout history and continue to exert an influence.

I would also include serious study of geography and topics like social science.

Knowing about the region can help you understand a lot about how the language developed, and understanding issues related to psychographics can help you fall in love with certain matters of grammar.

This latter point is important because a lot of people waste time trying to understand the “why” of grammar instead of simply accepting it for what it is. 

That said, John McWhorter has shared some compelling reasons to believe that our language differences don’t distinguish us psychologically as much as we might believe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQRjo...

 

These are interesting points to consider, and all arrive at the same benefits for you:

When you immerse yourself in the culture and its history, you’ll have more things to talk about with native speakers.

This point is especially important if you’re introverted or generally shy. But read widely and you’ll never be at a loss for conversation topics. 

Best Practice Nine: Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously

A lot of people get hung up on little things when learning languages. They become perfectionists, without realizing that you need to make mistakes in order to learn. 

Develop the ability to laugh at yourself. If you struggle with self criticism, learn these Two Easily Remembered Questions That Silence Negative Thoughts. I’ve learned them in both English and Sanskrit, and that has been tremendously useful.

And rest assured, the kind of mindfulness that I’m suggesting you adopt has been formally studied for foreign language learners. As this researcher found, people who meditate get better results when learning languages.

Being able to give and receive criticism is a powerful skill when learning languages.

Another part of mindfulness involves how you manage your teachers and speaking partners. For example, if a teacher is frustrating you by correcting you too often, ask them to scale it down.

When I submit writing to language teachers, I ask them to please point out just three errors. That way I can keep things light and fun and focus on the biggest aspects to improve without overwhelm. 

But if you meet people who can’t help you or make the journey too serious and destroy all the fun, find someone else. There are plenty of fish in the sea. 

Best Practice Ten: Use “Chorusing” Let me be honest with you:

Pronunciation has always been my biggest struggle when learning languages. It could be genetics. I’ve been tone deaf my entire life.

Yet, I have managed to learn to play multiple musical instruments and a few languages. 

Time and time again, I always wish I focused more on pronunciation. 

Enter a concept called “chorusing” that I learned from my friends at Outlier Linguistics.

“Chorusing” is a great way to improve your pronunciation.

In brief, this technique is the audio version of using flash cards.

Using recording software like Audacity, you record a native speaker speaking a word or phrase. Then you copy and paste it multiple times so you can hear it repeated and really dig into the nuances. 

Next, you record yourself speaking it on a separate track.

Since a good audio recorder will let you see the sound waves, you can try to make your voice match certain characteristics visually.

But the more important aspect with this technique is you are training your ear to hear yourself and correct your pronunciation through direct comparison. 

The time investment on this technique is admittedly intense. But it’s well worth the effort, especially if this is a weak point for you as it is for me. 

Another way to memorize pronunciation is to learn the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet). To do that quickly, I drew my own flashcards with striking images that remind me of the sound I’m supposed to make when looking at the symbols.

Check out the card above, for example.

The “i” is a symbol that indicates a long “e” vowel sound. That is also indicated by the two empty triangles I’ve drawn on the coffee cup.

Why a coffee cup? Because an example of the long “e” is in the word “bean.” Coffee reminds me of beans and that’s how I learned to read this symbol when looking at the IPA pronunciation guide.

The other way to remember pronunciation is to simply speak and listen as much as possible. You might feel like you have to go beyond the call of duty in this department, but if you really want to learn a language, the needed amount of exposure should be a non-issue.

It’s best to focus on one language at a time, however. Certainly you can learn two languages at once, but for most of us this is only going to be practical if we have time for enough speaking and listening practice in each language we focus on.

Best Practice Eleven: Use Cognates But Beware Of “False Friends”

Many languages have words that are the same or very similar.

In Spanish, for example, you’ll find thousands of words that are very close in sound and meaning to their English equivalents. You might also see these words referred to as “loan words.” 

However, there are also a number of false cognates that mean very different things.

Always check so that you don’t wind up creating foundational errors that may be difficult to correct later. 

Best Practice Twelve: Add Another Language After You’ve Earned The First One

It’s normal to want to be a polyglot, or someone who speaks 3-5 languages well. But as far as I can tell, all the successful polyglots got there by being willing to establish mastery in just one language at a time. 

Once you’ve done that, you will be very well-versed in the meta learning skills that will help you proceed in leaps and bounds towards substantial speaking and understanding abilities. 

And then you can do cool things like what my friend Benny Lewis calls “laddering.” This technique is when you pick a textbook or course in a language you’ve already learned to start covering the next one.

For example, most of my sources of material for learning Chinese have been from books written in German. 

I love laddering, but am very glad I stuck with German long enough to enjoy great confidence speaking it before moving on. 

One exception to this suggestion that some people find useful is to spend some time learning Esperanto.

The reasoning here suggests that Esperanto is especially suited to helping learners understand more about how different languages work.

Frankly, I’m not convinced you have to become a grammarian or linguist in order to become fluent in a language. If anything, the world is packed with people who are experts in those topics who can’t even speak one other language. 

But if you’re still stuck, it might be worth looking into Esperanto for these reasons.

Or, you could look at a root language to see if it helps wake up your brain.

For example, a small amount of time learning Latin can open up Spanish or Italian for you to an incredible degree.

However, at the end of the day, the old saying that the hunter who chases two rabbits rarely catches either stands up here. Split your attention between more than one language only at great risk. 

Best Practice Thirteen: Travel If You Can, But Don’t Make It A Must

I’ve been lucky and was able to spend years of my life in Germany. During that time, I made sure to live with people who spoke little or no English to make “total immersion” something from which I could not escape.

But I didn’t have the luxury of living in China when I first started learning the language. And it was absolutely not necessary.

In fact, after less than 3 months of studying the language, my time in the country was so distracting, I didn’t have time to study it at all. And that is typically what happens when you try to combine tourism with immersion. 

Instead, use the tips on this page to create proper goals and the effective systems that will place you in the company of your target language each and every day.

Then, when you do get to travel, you can relax and focus on speaking and understanding much more around you. You’ll have earned it.

Best Practice Fourteen: Give Grammar its Proper Place

You can definitely use memory techniques to help you learn grammar.

However, grammar does not need to be mastered before you start reading, writing, speaking and listening.

In fact, it never needs to be mastered at all.

Instead, it’s best to keep reviewing it and learning it in context as you go.

We have to do this in our mother tongue as well and grammar guides are sometimes updated as languages change over time.

So focus on how the language is used in your target language rather than focusing too much on isolated rules.

Often those rules are useful in language learning classes. But in real life, you’ll find that there are many exceptions to the rules.

Learn to absorb how a variety of people use the language so you can use the grammar naturally and intuitively.

Quick Language Learning FAQ

I’ve been blessed to help many language learners over the years.

These are the questions that I’ve seen the most since I started teaching memory techniques for language learning in 2012 following the publication of my first book, How to Learn and Memorize German Vocabulary.

How long does it take to learn a new language to A2?

Many people reach A2 in about 90 days. The amount of time you need might vary, but start by studying 45 minutes a day across three sessions (fifteen minutes each).

Focus on core vocabulary, daily practice with the Big Five skills, and consistent feedback from native speakers.

Should I learn grammar first or vocabulary?

Start with vocabulary.

You’ll absorb grammar more naturally through reading, listening, and speaking.

Use memory techniques to learn sentence patterns in context instead of memorizing isolated rules upfront.

Can I learn two languages at the same time?

It’s possible, but not ideal for most learners.

Split focus usually slows progress. Master one language first—then use it as a base (laddering) to learn your next language more efficiently.

Do I need to travel to learn a language?

Not at all. While immersion helps, you can create your own immersion at home using Memory Palaces, native speaker sessions, media in the target language, and goal-driven study systems.

In fact, sometimes traveling to learn a language can be a distraction. It made sense for me to study German in Germany only because I was already living there.

What’s the fastest way to remember new words?

Use the Memory Palace technique. The process is worth learning because it creates stronger neural associations and dramatically improves retention.

And don’t worry about not having enough Memory Palaces or that you won’t be able to learn enough words.

As you gain experience with the technique, you’ll soon realize that your memory has plenty of space.

And you’ll see how the Big Five of Language learning works as a spaced repetition process that allows you to focus on getting a lot of learning done as you memorize fewer new words over time.

The Best Ways To Learn A Language Begin And End With You And Your Strategy

A lot of people think that kids have some special advantage when it comes to learning a language. This couldn’t be further from the truth. 

In reality, kids take years to speak proper sentences, and many more to read and write at a sophisticated level.

But because adults have all kinds of skills in their mother language, impulse control and the levels of discipline needed to make it on the job market, you have a distinct advantage. 

You really just need to bring everything you know about being a mature and responsible adult to the process of learning a language. But that doesn’t mean you don’t bring childlike curiosity and fun to the game. 

The benefits of speaking a language are immense, ranging from higher salary to the brain health benefits of bilingualism.

And if you’d like more help with the Memory Palace technique we discussed above, you’re welcome to grab my free course:

 

It gives you four video tutorials and three worksheets that will get you up and running.

So what do you say?

What language do you want to learn and are you feeling empowered now that you have all of these steps and powerful best practices for learning it?

Best Note-Taking Methods for Memory & Focus at Work or School

Struggling to retain what you read, hear in a lecture or study as a skill? No matter how many note-taking techniques you try?

I get it.

As a lifelong learner with a neurodiverse background, I found most note-taking methods either too rigid or outright ineffective.

I encountered this problem during university.

And many of the most highly-recommended note-taking tactics became even more unhelpful when I started teaching as a professor at Rutgers.

As technologies have evolved, I have found that the landscape for learners has gotten even more confusing.

Sure, many people love using apps to aid their learning. And they even get results from them.

But over the years that I’ve been working as a researcher, writer and host of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast and my YouTube channel, I’ve tested and developed multiple strategies.

I’ve also refined the note-taking strategies I used to use in grad school.

And in this guide, I’ll walk you through my favorite unconventional note-taking methods that consistently help me improve my focus, boost memory, and best of all, actually enjoy the learning process.

Whether you’re trying to keep up with a fast-paced lecture, sitting in a meeting or reading dense books, these flexible strategies will help you take better notes.

Even better, you’ll get more out of the notes you take when using these processes.

Let’s dive in.

https://youtu.be/bG-v3Yo1btA

My Best Note-Taking Recommendations To Make Information
More Engaging and Memorable

A quick note before we dive into the techniques I recommend:

There’s no “perfect” method that works for everyone, every time.

The approaches I’m about to share apply to different kinds of information.

And that’s a huge point about having methods overall:

You need multiple techniques that you can switch between depending on the situation.

That’s why I recommend practicing all of them. This approach will leave you with a flexible framework for taking notes in multiple contexts.

One: Visual Note-Taking

Visual note-taking is exactly what it sounds like, and it has been essential to my goal of learning faster and remembering more.

Instead of scribbling out long, lifeless sentences during lectures, I realized that quick visual representation could be used to represent many concepts and skills I needed to learn.

For example, when studying the International Phonetic Alphabet to improve my language learning skills and understand my linguistics textbooks better, I drew a simple coffee cup next to the “i” symbol.

Here’s the drawing:

Here’s what this quick sketch achieved:

I was rapidly able to remind myself that this “i” makes the vowel sound in beans. Just one image anchored the concept instantly in my memory.

You Don’t Need to Be an Artist

As you can see from my example above, visual notes don’t need to be artistic or detailed.

In fact, the simpler, the better. Usually, I limit the visual notes I take to some simple rules:

Arrows and flow lines show cause and effect or represent connectionsSymbols represent core conceptsSimple stick figures or icons to bring ideas to lifeSpatial arrangements (like clusters or grids) group related topicsQuestion marks prompt reflective thinking

This visual note-taking method works across the board, but especially well for:

Fast recall of symbols, terms, or processesCondensing complex material into visual shorthandKeeping your brain engaged during dry or fast-paced sessions

You don’t need to take your visual notes on cards like you see in my examples.

You can integrate visuals into the margins of your books or reserve one or more pages in your notebook for collecting visual summaries of key ideas.

Copying Charts and Graphs By Hand for Better Understanding

Some people can look at a chart and instantly understand what it’s meant to convey.

Not me.

I often find even simple graphs visually overwhelming.

But as I learned from Tony Buzan, you can simply copy them from your textbooks in your own hand to process their meaning.

I followed his advice and did that to understand how memory works.

By using multiple colors and engaging more parts of my brain, I’ve never forgotten the forgetting curve and the serial positioning effect I drew out visually by copying it from a textbook:

The History of Visual Note Taking for Instant Engagement

Ultimately, I never would have believed visual note-taking would help me so much. But it has, and later I found out that this style of note-taking is actually ancient.

As Jamie Kreiner reveals in The Wandering Mind: What Medieval Monks Tell Us About Distraction, copyists would leave doodles for their readers to remind them to keep engaged.

These included funny faces or pictures of monks with alert expressions.

So if you use visual note taking, you’re in good company.

For more reading recommendations like Kreiner’s to help broaden your knowledge about study techniques, check out my full list of books on learning.

Two: Outline Note-Taking for Streamlining Ideas

Outline note-taking is widely used. You could almost call it a classic approach, though you’re about to discover a few ways I’ve found to make it even better.

I use it frequently when attending lectures or listening to instructional videos by just making a dash beside each point based on keywords.

I also use outline note taking when recording my own thoughts.

For sub-points, I will indent slightly to the right.

It basically winds up looking like this example, which involves simple dashes to outline the larger topic:

The catch with this kind of note taking is you can sometimes puzzle yourself.

Because this kind of note-taking compresses the main point into a single keyword or phrase, you can’t always remember exactly what you meant during the note-taking process.

Fortunately, I have a fix for that.

Combine Outline Note Taking with a Review Process

To avoid being puzzled by notes later when using outline note taking at lectures, I ask the speaker permission to press record on my phone.

Then, listening back, you can expand your basic outline notes later. While getting a complete review of the points you thought were good enough to track during the lecture.

When I was in university, not all professors allowed me to record their talks.

Fortunately, these days it’s very common for just about every lecture to be recorded and even uploaded publicly for the world to view.

But if for any reason, recording is not possible, leave space to one side of the page so you can expand your notes immediately after the session.

Don’t wait. Write your summaries while the ideas are still fresh, even if your working memory is strong.

Also, if you can, go over your notes with classmates or co-workers within an hour or two. This simple activity is one of the most empowering study habits I practiced across my university years.

Should You Type Your Outline Notes?

People ask me by email or in comments if it’s okay for them to type their notes.

According to studies like this one from 2024, you won’t get nearly the same memory benefits from using a computer for note taking.

Why is handwriting better?

We actually have to address two angles: focus and memory.

First, this Scientific American article summarizes studies that show a major difference in brain activity.

You remember and learn more when using your hand due to processing that occurs because real-time note taking by hand is slower.

I know that sounds counterintuitive, but if you think about it, writing requires more focus.

And what we focus on, the brain engages with much more deeply, leading to better memory and comprehension.

Outline Notes for Creative Output

I’ve long noticed that I remember more and understand better when writing my study and research notes by hand.

But this form of note taking has also helped me edit my books better.

For example, it’s totally possible to revise books on the computer.

To get better and faster results, however, I print out my drafts, read them with a red pen and take outline notes on sheets of paper.

It’s so much easier to improve an entire book draft this way. Both to better remember the many moving parts, and to increase focus.

Editing on a computer is not only challenging because your brain activity slumps.

You’re also fighting against multiple open tabs and the knowledge that there are infinite entertainments that await you online.

So whether you’re editing an essay for a school assignment or an article for work, get it printed so you can make notes on the draft in ways that will better serve your goal of creating a masterpiece.

Three: SQ3R Note Taking Driven by a Powerful Questioning Formula

SQ3R was developed by the educational psychologist Francis Robinson in the 1940s to help military personnel read better.

The SQ3R acronym stands for:

SurveyQuestionReadReciteReview

Unlike passive reading or taking notes without thinking, SQ3R gets you engaging deeply with the materials through this easy-to-follow model.

I find it useful for reducing information overwhelm when used in this exact manner:

Survey the book from back to front before reading to get a sense of its structureQuestion what I want to learn and determine how many flashcards I might needUse active reading strategies while going through the bookRecite the ideas while taking notes from the textbook, verbally and in writingReview the ideas from my notes and mentally by continuing to ask questions about what I’ve readWhy Asking Questions Improves Learning and Memory

In my experience, constantly asking questions strengthens memory because you’re processing the ideas in a deeper way.

And scientists have found that you’re engaging in what’s known as elaborative rehearsal. You strengthen your memory and understanding because questions help you look at the information in more than one way.

Sometimes my questions are simple.

If you scroll back up and look at my card with “Really?” on it and the visual arrow to connect two ideas together, I’m expressing both skepticism and surprise.

Here are some other questions I frequently use while reading and note taking:

What does this point connect to?Where else have I encountered an idea like this?What is the author’s objective in raising this point?Why is the content organized in this way?What evidence supports this claim?Is the evidence dated or likely to require an update?What image, analogy or metaphor could represent this concept?What’s the simplest way to explain this to someone who has never heard about it before?What’s the biggest and most important takeaway?Can I explain the key points in my own words?What questions is this book not asking but should be?

There are many more questions you can ask. If you’d like to train your brain and become a question-asking machine, check out my ultimate list of philosophical questions. It’ll help turn you into an SQ3R machine.

Combining SQ3R with Other Learning Methods

As you’ve seen, I combine the question-asking process with my note taking process.

But you can also make quick doodles or sketches that embed questions. Or make sketches of question marks that prompt you to ask the sample questions I’ve shared above.

If you use the method of loci, you can embed questions marks along your mental journeys to trigger your recall.

In fact, one of the earliest memory training books by Peter of Ravenna encouraged its readers to ask lots of questions.

This point was raised again by the Renaissance memory instructor Giordano Bruno. He taught people a means of placing questions on memory wheels.

These “computational” mental tools have a long history, and are worth studying because of how question-focused they were during an era packed with polymaths and autodidacts.

The point is that top learners rarely use any technique in isolation. So to get the most out of SQ3R, pop it into your outline note taking efforts as well.

Four: Flow-Based Note Taking for Capturing Ideas Faster

Flow-based note taking is all about getting your thoughts down without the kinds of filters other methods involve.

Sometimes I think of this approach as “brain dumping.”

For example, here’s a real instance of getting into flow and just letting ideas flow in real time:

In the same section I visually worked out a story idea and even listed the playing cards I had memorized earlier that day.

Although these pages from my private notebook might look chaotic to some, it’s a powerful snapshot of my thinking at that moment.

Handwriting for Speed and Focus

I carry the kind of notebook you see above at all times. The 90x140mm format fits perfectly in the back pocket of my jeans.

The only rule I follow when using this form of note taking is to not interrupt the flow.

There is one precaution, however:

Try to write cleanly enough that you’ll be able to recognize your own handwriting. I recently had to buy a magnifying glass so I could decode some of the notes I took a bit too quickly.

Since then, I’ve started taking more care that I write legibly. Not for perfection, but for the benefit of my future self.

You Don’t Have to Optimize Every Flow-Based Note

Even though I’ve started taking greater care, this approach is not the SQ3R, nor does it involve creating a specific outline.

It’s about momentum and staying in the zone.

In my experience, this method works best for:

Early-stage project planningCreative writingWorking through a series of scattered ideasJournaling for self-improvement outcomesRemembering your dreamsSummarizing ideas from books you’ve read

Can you get the same effect from taking notes in flow on a computer?

Possibly, and sometimes I send myself notes via email, especially when ideas for books I’m writing come up while I’m working on other tasks, like editing videos.

These rapid notes wind up filled with a lot of typos that can be hard to decode later, however.

And we have studies like this showing that cursive handwriting gets much better results for anything involving memory, learning, focus and concentration.

In sum, I stick to handwriting these “brain dump” notes as much as I possibly can.

Five: Doodling While Taking Notes

This might be my most controversial suggestion, but please hear me out.

Doodling while taking notes isn’t about zoning out or expressing frustration with boring topics.

Although some people discourage doodling, my personal experience says otherwise.

As someone with two MAs and a PhD, sketching simple shapes while listening to slow lectures based on dense topics or challenging skills has helped me many times.

For example, when studying music theory and waiting for the teacher to move through ideas I didn’t want to miss, I doodled on the right-hand side of this notebook:

In a way, doodling while paying attention to information is like mind mapping, but without having to create a dedicated mind map.

I find it useful because it helps me focus on the information as it flows in real time without giving in to the need for a dopamine spike.

Doodling also brings powerful memory benefits. As this study found, a group of doodlers who listened to a telephone call remembered 29% more than those who did not.

When it comes to doodles for language learning, the founder of the Fluent Forever app and author of a book with the same title, has talked extensively about making your own index cards. You can hear my conversation about this with Gabriel Wyner on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast.

I took his advice to heart and started drawing frequently to help me learn both German and Mandarin.

For example, this simple doodle in one of my language learning notebooks helped me remember a very important German word in no longer than the time it took to create the simple image:

Mnemonic Example for the German Word Bereich

I highly recommend giving doodling as a form of note taking for a variety of learning goals.

That way, you can stick with what you’re studying without feeling the need to seek a dopamine spike quite so often.

So next time, rather than constantly flipping through your computer tabs or getting irritated with a lecturer, keep your hands busy by doodling.

What You Should Immediately Stop Doing When Taking Notes

I thought you might find a summary of things not to do helpful.

Obviously, if some of these activities are genuinely helpful for you, feel free to keep up with them.

But for a lot of us, they’re the source of so many issues.

One: Stop Mindless Word-for-Word Copying

Sometimes we do need to write out quotes verbatim.

For example, I traveled long distances to visit libraries across Europe when I was completing my Mercator Guest Professor Grant in Germany. Many of the books were rare, did not exist in digital format and there was no way I would ever see them again.

Even then, I tried to limit my verbatim notes to index cards and only the most essential quotes.

Far better is to withdraw the key points and review all your notes for a book or article immediately. Then write a summary in your own words so that they context of the specific verbatim quotes stick more firmly in your mind.

Two: Avoid Reliance on Digital Tools

I get email from people who love to tell me about their digital tools.

Although I’m happy for them, I’m much more aligned with my fellow writers.

Like the journalist Ezra Klein who told Lex Fridman in this interview about how important it is to the quality of his writing to work with print as much as possible.

As he puts it, print helps him show up and do the work much better than some of his competition. He attributes the success of his podcast to reading from print and preparing his notes in this way.

My experience matches his and I’m confident you’ll enjoy a similar experience when you give your brain more exposure to printed media.

Three: Using Only One Note-Taking Method

After launching the video about my note-taking methods at the top of this page, one of my frequent commentators said he’s not sure what method is his favorite yet.

I said that actually it’s the combination of many methods that I prefer.

I would suggest that you keep flexible by developing skills with a variety of information capture techniques.

Four: Don’t Copy Other Learners (At Least Not Too Closely)

Along these lines, it’s useful to take inspiration from how others take notes.

But rather than copy what they’re doing, seek to “reverse-engineer” why they’re using a particular approach.

You’ll not only develop better research skills. You’ll wind up with your own research style, leading to the uniqueness and success Ezra Klein highlights.

Five: Stop Neglecting Integration

For best results, never make your note-taking a “set and forget” process.

Review them. Think about them. Connect them with notes you’ve taken in the past.

And integrate in topic-appropriate ways.

For example, in a recent Conversations with Close podcast, the magician Peter Samelson suggested photocopying important guidebook pages when learning a process.

Then, in the context of learning a new skill, mark that page up with notes describing the specific steps you need to follow.

This kind of step-by-step note-taking will accelerate your progress.

And that photocopying tip?

Golden.

By making a quick copy, you can be as creatively sloppy with your notes as you wish, and still retain the book’s instructions in its original format.

Likewise if you’re learning from an ebook or PDF, by printing the pages and marking them up physically, you’re integrating your notes at a much deeper level. You’ll enjoy more substantial outcomes as a result.

Frequently Asked Questions About Note-Taking and Memory

I’ve been asked many questions about how I take notes over the years.

Here are some of the most frequent, and the most important.

What’s the best note-taking method for retention?

There’s no single “best” approach in my experience.

I suggest rotating through multiple approaches, especially in a way that combines handwriting, visual note-taking and asking questions as you proceed.

The most important point is that you take the initiative to make the note-taking process active.

Combining multiple approaches based on your specific learning goal will give you outstanding results.

Should I take notes by hand or on a computer?

As we’ve seen, studies show that handwriting works best for memory, comprehension and focus.

But that doesn’t mean you have to leave typing completely out of the process.

When I wrote my dissertation for my PhD at York University, I typed up many of my notes into an outline.

At the end of the day, it was important that the notes were taken by hand. But it’s not at all the case that typing was entirely excluded from the process that led me to a successful graduation.

Notes on paper pile up. How am I supposed to organize them all over time?

This can be a problem, but one thing to consider is that you don’t have to keep all of your notes.

When I’ve moved internationally, I photographed the most important and got rid of the physical versions.

Many of my cards also go into mental storage by using the Memory Palace technique too. There are many that I never photographed but still recall with ease as a result.

But generally I’ve found that using index cards is best because they pack easily into shoe boxes.

You can store thousands of cards inside one closet and label the boxes alphabetically or thematically.

Many people in the Zettelkasten community keep notes in this way. Some invest in wooden cases for their cards, which you might look into if you want to store and organize your knowledge.

What if I forget what I meant because I was sloppy?

This is a real risk.

But you reduce it substantially by constantly questioning and using memory techniques during the note-taking process.

And if you review your notes regularly and write summaries of what you’re learning, you’ll have a backup record.

Chances are, you’ll also wind up like me: Rarely having to look back at your notes because you simply remember them.

Of course, that outcome might make you wonder: If such strong recall is possible, why bother taking notes in the first place?

The answer is that taking notes well helps establish stronger memories.

So even if it’s fairly common to scratch your head when looking at some of your own notes, they don’t all have to be legible. The note-taking process will still have been valuable overall.

How do I make sure I review my notes effectively?

For most of us, spaced repetition is the key.

You’ll need to experiment with how long between reviews works best for you.

Myself, when I really want to remember something, I follow a pattern I modified from Dominic O’Brien’s Rule of Five:

Five reviews the first dayOne review daily for the first five daysOne review weekly for the next five weeks

Although I don’t follow that pattern slavishly for everything I learn, it’s a general rule of thumb to follow.

It might seem like a lot, but just take it one note at a time. If you let your mind constantly label how much review you have to do, you’re wasting time that could be spent on reviewing.

What are the biggest note-taking mistakes to avoid?

The list is simple:

Spending too much time on highlighting instead of writing the points out from memoryTaking notes verbatim without breaking them down to keywordsNot having a backup recording every time you have the optionFailing to review your noteNeglecting to write summaries in your own wordsNot taking time for reflective thinkingKeeping it all in your head without speaking about what you’re learningNot using memory techniques to help absorb more of the granular detailsWaiting to understand instead of diving in and letting comprehension emerge as part of the processDo I need to take notes on everything I learn?

Strategically selecting what you’re going to take note of is critically important.

No one can cover everything. In fact, human civilization developed specialization groups precisely so we can “offload” certain aspects of human knowledge to others.

Focus the notes you take on the big insights, patterns, trends and areas you really need to be able to recall.

If you try to cover every single detail, your competition will sail past you.

By the same token, to be a specialist, you want to bring your unique perspective.

That’s why developing your own systematic questioning process is so critical to your success.

How do I know which note-taking style works for me?

I would suggest asking a different question:

How can I make the time to explore as many note-taking approaches as possible so I have a collection of techniques to choose from?

This approach will serve you so much better because there are many different kinds of information to learn. There is no single technique that will cover every single kind.

My Best Tips For Turning Notes Into Long-Term Memories

Taking notes is powerful, but it’s just one part of having a truly holistic learning practice.

To truly remember and apply what you’ve learned, please follow up with the following strategies to strengthen your retention and understanding.

Over the years, as both student, professor and memory expert, I’ve refined each of these powerful processes to help turn the many ways I take notes into memories that last.

Understand the Levels of Processing Effect

Simply rereading notes or using Anki isn’t enough.

To enjoy greater understanding and remember more, you can make ideas stickier by speaking, writing, listening and reading those ideas more often.

Some of my favorite memories during university involved just that, typically covered by attending a variety of discussion groups.

In English 1300, for example, a small cluster of us all walked away with the top grades.

Why?

Because after many of the lectures and tutorials, we met to discuss the material further.

I’ll never forget sitting up in the 7th-floor Grad Lounge of the Ross Building.

Although we didn’t realize we were practicing levels of processing at the time, we practiced everything scientists have discovered works for learning at a deeper level. We:

Read our notes to each other aloudTake more notes based on key points raised by our peersLearn about additional resources so we could benefit from additional books and articles

Later, in grad school, I joined even more advanced study groups.

In one of my favorites, we would each voluntarily read an article to present to the group.

In this way, we exposed each other to additional reading material we would never have time to consider in any other way.

Yet, we could still take notes about the key points, commit them to memory and enjoy the effect of priming our memory for future encounters with those references.

Summarize What You’ve Learned in Writing

We’ve talked a lot about writing today, and it is proven to hone your focus and boost your memory.

But I didn’t always do it.

And initially, I’m ashamed to say that I hated it.

Especially when one of my grad school professors made me write 300-500 word summaries of the books I read for a directed reading course.

I reconnected with this professor a few years ago, however.

Why? To tell her how much I appreciated the exercise week after week.

Thanks to her requirement, I learned to process the information in my own words, which is incredibly powerful for memory and reading comprehension.

That’s because summarizing your notes in prose forces you to:

Clarify your understandingReorganize ideas to fit different combinations based on your overall study goalsIdentify gaps in your knowledgeAsk more and better questionsSeek answers from more sources

If you don’t have a professor assigning summary tasks for you, try it yourself.

Even just the shortest prose summaries of your notes will boost your memory and improve your comprehension.

Organize Your Notes with Index Cards

I often take notes on index cards because they make it easy to:

Shuffle the ideas around and put them back into the original order I extracted them from the bookGroup notes by topic, theme or historical orderAnnotate the notes using the Zettelkasten methodExpand the notes over time in a way that linear notebooks do not allow

To store my many cards and harness the power of spaced repetition, I use Leitner boxes.

This approach lets you review your notes progressively over time and ensure that the information gets retained at a much higher level.

And if you think that using cards and boxes like this is too simplistic, rest assured you’ll be in good company.

Both Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin used similar approaches to great effect, amongst many other autodidactic personalities.

The Ultimate Path To Remembering Your Notes

Effective note-taking skills are discussed everywhere.

But you also need to bring your best critical thinking skills.

Whatever you do, I suggest that you approach note taking as an art, a science and a lifestyle. Make sure that you experiment with multiple styles and track your results.

As you pay attention to what’s happening more consciously, you’ll learn more about what works for you and lean towards your preferences with greater understanding.

But at all times, choose flexibility. Make sure you have on hand what you need whenever you attend a lecture or recording of one so that all your bases are covered.

And above all, remove all stress. So many learners bring so much worry about the game of education that they forget to play it.

This point is important because learning really is a game. It’s one you can win too, provided you put your memory first. And provided you have the mental strength strategies we all need to succeed.

And to help with strengthening your memory, consider learning to use the Memory Palace technique. It’s an ancient version of the Leitner Box that helps you remember more without so much as breaking a sweat.

If you’d like to learn it now, feel free to join my free course:

It gives you a complete set of video tutorials and worksheets that will help you improve your memory.

So what do you say?

Whether you’re a student juggling dense textbooks, or a professional juggling back-to-back meetings, these approaches will transform your notes into meaningful knowledge that stays with you.

And that’s the ultimate point:

Note-taking is not just about notes. It’s about transforming everything you capture into questions, ideas and associations that help usher the target information into long-term memory.

Do any of these note taking technique resonate with you?

Let’s discuss below and keep learning together!

How to Deal with Information Overload by Boosting Your Memory

As a polymathic professional who has walked multiple career paths, I’ve learned exactly how to deal with information overload.

The real fix for when you feel overwhelmed?

In my experience as everything from a touring musician to university lecturer and the owner of multiple businesses, here’s the ultimate answer:

Improve your memory.

Not in a vague way.

And definitely not “someday.”

But by following a clear, proven path designed to held you reduce mental clutter.

On this page, you’ll discover a system that will sharpen your focus and help you relieve cognitive overwhelm.

Pretty much on demand.

No, I’m not offering any magic bullets or hype.

Just proven strategies for preventing cognitive overwhelm in the first place, along with the self-education strategies that have made my successes possible.

If that sounds good to you, let’s get started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37oyQ...

Understanding the Modern Brain Under Siege:
A Definition of “Information Overwhelm”

It’s supposed to be a dream come true, right?

I’d finished my first major guest professor grant and my first memory improvement books were taking off.

So I went on tour with a band I’d played with in Berlin near the end of my PhD studies.

Never had I experienced so much freedom. Yet, I had also never felt so overwhelmed as my phone buzzed with non-stop updates, alerts and notices of things to do.

As the authors of this scientific overview of information overload have found, it’s not actually the amount of information that drives us crazy.

It’s how that the speed and volume impacts our ability to make decisions.

Stress and memory loss are well-studied, as is memory and anxiety.

But once you know that the biggest problem of all involves a reduction in your ability to think critically, workable solutions emerge.

What follows are the best I’ve found.

They’ve increased my “cognitive budget,” so to speak. Meaning that I have more mental power to spend on the activities that have allowed me to continue playing music while writing novels, learning languages and running multiple businesses.

Of course, there are other aspects of overwhelm to consider. So before we get into the tips, let’s examine what else might be going on in your life.

The Four Levels of Information Overwhelm

Each of the levels we’re about to discuss make critical thinking more difficult, especially analytical thinking.

They are:

Sensory overloadCognitive overloadEmotional overloadDecision fatigue

Let’s look at examples of each.

Sensory Overload

When I was a musician, a huge part of the overload came from the noise of traveling all day in a vehicle with my band.

We listened to loud music on top of the traffic sounds. Driving is visually stimulating even if you’re not at the wheel.

And then we would get on stage and have the sensory input of lights, audience cheers and our own extra-loud instruments pounding at us.

One simple hack that helped me was to wear my earplugs while traveling, not just while performing on stage.

As a result, I was able to read on the road and better manage my growing publishing business, which included writing this blog (and still does). To this day, I wear noise-cancelling headphones just to keep myself focused while writing.

As these scientists have found, one of the biggest barriers people face is that they need to experiment with their own ways of reducing sensory stimulation.

Fortunately, Queensland Health has some suggestions that mirror the processes that have helped me, including:

Identifying places you can go to enjoy reduced stimulationDeveloping routines that involve more time spent in quietCreating a sensory tool kit (sunglasses, noise cancelling headphones, anything that helps you feel calm)Cognitive Overload

I recently finished the eighth draft of my second “Memory Detective” novel.

The story is so complicated and my notes were all over the place…

There were too many inputs and not nearly enough integration.

The answer was to take a break and then order a print copy of the seventh draft.

I didn’t feel it was ready yet, but by reading the draft in book form, I was able to make marks on the page and consolidate my many notes.

When studying at university, and for my non-fiction books, I rarely have this problem. That’s because I used the Zettelkasten technique to easily organize and integrate my notes.

More on this strategy in a moment, but the point here is that part of my cognitive overwhelm came from working outside my circle of competence as a scholar.

As a result, I shifted how I dealt with the many inputs involved in writing a different kind of book. Chaos ensued until I took a break and approached the task more strategically.

Why did it take so long to arrive at a better solution?

As we now know, overwhelm reduces decision-making skills and other cognitive abilities. Breaking the patterned loop I was in was ultimately the fix, and doing that should help you too with cognitive overload.

Emotional Overload

I have an ongoing debate with a friend who disagrees that emotions have any logic to them whatsoever.

For better or worse, I can’t agree because I’ve read books like The Upheaval of Thought: The Intelligence of Emotions.

But often we don’t listen to what the intelligence of our emotions is trying to tell us.

And that leads us into even more emotional chaos.

Some tips that have helped me deal with emotional overwhelm are all science-backed, such as progressive muscle-relaxation and paced breathing.

Cognitive training has helped as well, including some of the memory-based meditation routines I shared in my TEDx Talk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvtYj...

Decision Fatigue

Making decisions taxes the brain.

As this study discusses, not only do you have to make the decisions in front of you.

You also have to either execute after the decision is made, or hold information about the processes you’ll need to follow in your memory.

One of the best ways to I’ve found to help make sure I don’t get overwhelmed is to keep studying working memory and practice expanding it.

We’ll talk more about ways to do that to beat down info overwhelm. And not just beat it down, but manage it without anxiety.

Memory Techniques that Expand How Much Information You Can Handle

I’ve been teaching memory improvement professionally for over fifteen years.

What you’re about to explore are the best ways to sharpen your memory so that your overall mind enjoys mental resilience and stamina.

Although the science is mixed, usually that’s because they experiments they run involve granular activities.

For example, in this study, they tested N-back tasks and saw negligible results. But most of us aren’t overwhelmed by those kinds of activities.

We’re overwhelmed by to-do lists, massive textbooks we need to read and the digital amnesia created by life online.

Rest assured, there’s lots of good evidence for taking memory training courses, including focusing specifically on working memory training.

You just need to keep your specific goals in mind.

For example, if you’re overwhelmed with language learning activities, then you’ll want to take the memory advice of a world renowned polyglot like Luca Lampariello. You can listen to him on my podcast share a powerful mental metaphor he’s used to reduce his own overwhelm.

Or, if you’re dealing with books as part of your studies, take advice from someone like myself. I take notes from textbooks in a specific way that will help your memory for that specific type of learning goal.

With these points in mind, here are the major memory techniques that will help you deal with all kinds of overwhelm.

One: The Memory Palace Technique

When you’re drowning in information, it’s easy to feel paralyzed.

Especially when the clock is ticking.

The reason you feel overwhelmed?

The brain isn’t designed to hold disorganized data.

That’s why I use Memory Palaces to help internalize information along highly familiar routes that are already in my memory.

I’ve taught thousands of students to use this technique as well, and my testimonial page is quite long with their stories of success.

What is it?

In brief, it’s the king of all the ancient memory techniques.

Sometimes called the method of loci, scientists believe it works because of how our natural spatial memory abilities allow for highly efficient neural coding.

For a full training, please read my guide to the Memory Palace technique. It goes into great depth about how to get started and even reach advanced levels of use quickly.

Two: Personally Created Flashcards

I pull a lot of notes from tons of sources.

That’s why I use the Zettelkasten technique.

Zettel means slips of paper or cards in German. And kasten refers to boxes.

This means that you don’t just take notes on flashcards.

You take them in a way designed to work combination with Memory Palaces and the Leitner Box approach.

Now, there’s a potentially overwhelming amount of things to say about managing these cards, but take a look at the photo above.

In it, you’ll see that I have very little information on the flashcard I’m holding.

That’s on purpose.

Scientifically, I’m practicing what’s often called the chunking memory strategy.

It’s based on the fact that our mental processing power isn’t that large. Even if you engage in a ton of cognitive activities, you’ll still benefit from breaking things down to smaller components.

It’s more than reducing overwhelm. This “less is more” tactic actually helps your brain remember more.

Three: Rapid Fire Alphabetical Associations

Have you ever met someone and said, “Oh, your name will be easy to remember. I have a friend with the exact same name.”

That’s the principle behind making alphabetical associations to expand how much you can remember without overwhelm.

My friends in the memory competition world use this kind of approach to memorize hundreds of data points.

For example, 3x USA Memory Champion John Graham has astonished people by memorizing dozens of names and numbers associated with those names in high pressure situations.

How?

Mnemonic images.

Specifically approached using one of four pegword methods.

You don’t have to learn them all to benefit.

But please set some time aside to pick up at least one or two of these techniques. You won’t regret how they help you rapidly absorb much more info than ever before.

For more powerful methods like these, check out my full list of memory techniques you can start mastering today.

I’ve also got a list of books on learning that often refer to them, amongst other learning strategies that help reduce overload quickly.

Organizing Your Learning For Stress Free Clarity & Retention

If you want to learn how to organize your learning, it matters a great deal what you’re trying to learn.

My strength is study tips for overwhelmed learners based on having completed so many degrees and certificates.

Even in my forties, I still take exams, such as when I passed Level III in Mandarin a few years ago.

Here’s a list of the tactics that have worked the best for me to create mental clarity and focus as a lifelong learner.

One: Balancing Input with Output

Too many students cram, consuming as many of the main points as they can.

Let me be blunt:

For most of us, this is a horrible learning strategy.

You need to integrate what you’re learning by using what scientists call active recall.

Put simply, instead of just studying, you need to regularly test yourself.

That’s why I suggest that you use Memory Palaces and the flashcard method we discussed above.

These techniques require you to process what you’re learning through writing and speaking the material. As a result

Two: Interleaving

One reason I rarely burn out on topics I study stems from my use of interleaving.

It’s a simple process where you switch between topics you’re studying frequently to avoid topic exhaustion.

The way I use it involves switching between books approximately every 15-20 minutes.

And I basically never read for long when feeling frustrated or bored with a topic.

Interleaving lets you switch without guilt and come back later when your brain is ready for another round.

This process helped me get through many books that didn’t feel like reading during university. And it still helps me educate myself when I have to go through articles and books for my research.

Give this approach a try. You’ll likely find it beneficial.

Three: Daily Routines

A huge part of my success comes from purposefully acting a bit robotic.

Almost every day I complete:

A morning concentration meditationA journaling exerciseDaily reading and writingSelective viewing or listening of educational content onlineEvening wind-down routines

I shot this video about my habits three years ago and little has changed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyUsL...

Four: Environmental Control

Often we struggle to overcome information overload because we put ourselves in locations that do not serve.

True, we sometimes have no choice.

But it is possible to seek out the best places for learning. You have my guide to the best study places I used during university.

Even if you can’t change locations to reduce overwhelm, getting out for a daily walk or sitting in a different room to hear some music can work wonders.

How to Reduce Digital Info Overwhelm

Like everyone, I struggle with the tsunamis of information online.

There are more books than I’ll ever be able to read in a lifetime.

New bands release albums at a pace I can’t keep up with and YouTube is constantly filling up with fascinating new videos.

One simple tactic that helps me is to journal what I spend my time on.

In 59 Seconds, Richard Wiseman shares research showing that people who journal experience time quite differently. In my experience, it feels like I have more of it.

And when I look back through my journals, it’s amazing how much I’ve read and still managed to consume online.

But the act of writing it all down also serves as a kind of mindful reminder. Writing things down constantly raises the question:

Is this digital media I want to consume really worth the time?

If you keep asking yourself that question, written or not, you’ll likely waste less time.

You can also use digital filters. But I tend to think it’s better to train the mind to stand up to these temptations without external devices.

Train Yourself to Become an Intentional Learner

As a polymath and autodidact, I learned long ago that there’s a difference between passive consumption and active learning.

You can learn a lot about making the switch in ways that will reduce your overwhelm by studying how to be a polymath and develop your autodidactic skills.

You’ll also want to study how other top performers managed to learn so much, such as Thomas Jefferson.

Although it’s temping to think that you might not be able to reach those levels, you actually can develop the personality traits they use to learn such incredible amounts without burnout.

The key is to get rid of so many of the cliches floating around out there. For example, many people say you have to be “curious.”

I disagree. A lot of top learners set an intention and then work out what needs to be done in order to accomplish a goal.

Then they do it.

And an open secret is that freedom is in the doing.

So much overwhelm comes from letting lists pile up and never attending to the accomplishment of your dreams.

But that doesn’t have to be you.

You really can master your memory and from there master how your mind responds to overwhelm.

If you’d like help, my free memory course has helped over one hundred thousand people. You can get started with it here:

Remember:

The goal isn’t always to consume less.

It’s to process better.

As someone who’s balanced the demands of academia, creativity and entrepreneurship, I know firsthand what overwhelm feels like.

But I also know that intentionally applying the various tactics I’ve shared today work.

And they scale with your goals too as you tackle increasingly ambitious projects.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to stop drowning in data and start organizing information in your mind with more structure?

I’ll be here learning right beside you and look forward to trading notes soon.

How to Memorize Scripture: 7 Proven Approaches

There are really only a few ways to memorize scripture quickly and make it stick for the long-term.

You can use either:

A Memory Palace NetworkMnemonic imagesRote RepetitionFlashcardsSpaced-repetition softwareCloze testsA combination of all the above

On this page, I’ll walk you through each of these options.

You’ll learn how to create effective associations to use within your Memory Palaces if that’s the option you choose.

And you’ll get my best secrets for all of the other methods, including the bad memory habits you must avoid.

Are you ready?

Great – let’s get started!

How to Memorize Scripture: 7 Proven Approaches

Before you start memorizing scripture, please consider following my P.E.A.C.H. formula (practice encoding at calm hours).

Memorizing the Bible is possible. But you have to set aside the time to do it. And it’s very important not to let yourself get interrupted.

For best results, explore each of the methods on this page in a well-thought out study place and a time when you won’t be disturbed.

One: The Memory Palace Network for Memorizing Scripture and Verse Numbers

Many people are aware of the Memory Palace technique and related memory techniques like the method of loci and the journey method.

It works simply. You take a familiar location, like your home or a neighborhood. Then, you assign a path, strategically following a journey where you will place mnemonic images that help you remember verses and their numbers.

For that reason, it helps to have a numbered Memory Palace, like this:

For best results, I suggest you sketch your Memory Palaces and keep these in a Memory Journal.

Then, as you’re learning to use the technique, you have a self-created visual reference to work with as you place mnemonic associations in the Memory Palace.

For some people, it will be easy to memorize multiple words at the same time. For others, it will be necessary to encode the verses with an image for every word.

When it comes to memorizing the verse numbers specifically, you’ll want a number memory technique like the Major System or the PAO System. I’ll give a detailed example further down showing you how all this works.

Two: Mnemonic Images without a Memory Palace

Some people do not want to use Memory Palaces. They wonder if they can simply create associations to scripture and have them float “in the void of their mind.”

On of my students just did that. In fact, Mike McKinley shared how he used just a part of my teaching to memorize 66 Psalms on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast. But as we discovered in our conversation, he still used a certain level of spatial memory. You can contract his experience with those of Matt Barclay, who joined me to discuss how he memorized and delivered an entire Psalm to his congregation.

The reason most of us prefer to use a Memory Palace is that it helps reduce the cognitive load. Using a familiar location to place images is like having a canvas to paint on. It helps you look back at a reference point and reconstruct the target verses you want to recall.

Three: Rote Repetition

Of course, it’s worth noting that you’re perfectly welcome to simply repeat the verses until they stick. This approach is traditionally called rote learning.

It doesn’t work very well for many of us. In fact, it can be downright destructive because it’s often frustratingly boring.

That said, it’s worth experimenting with in order to see how it compares to using other mnemonic techniques. Often people are pleasantly surprised and come to realize the benefits of the active recall mnemonics provide compared to rote.

Four: Flashcards

I just mentioned “active recall.”  One of its most important principles is that you need to personalize the associations you make when memorizing scripture.

Obviously, this is not possible with rote learning. That approach involves literally repeating the same thing over and over again.

But let’s say you want to memorize the books of the Bible by name. This is a great way to use flashcards.

For example, I drew this to help me remember the name Zephaniah:

I know. I’m not a great artist.

But the zipper helps me remember that the word starts with ‘Z.’ And Shaniah Twain helps me remember the sound of Zephaniah.

The trick here is that the exact name of the Bible is nowhere on the card. I have to use the way I’ve personalized the mnemonics as a clue that triggers the target information. This is what active recall is all about.

Notice something else: The card is itself a kind of Memory Palace. Even without looking at any individual card, you can simply reflect and ask, “What was happening on that card?”

By thinking of your drawing on the card, you’ll improve your rate or recall substantially.

Five: Spaced-Repetition Software

People often ask me about apps for memorizing the Bible.

Personally, I don’t recommend them.

That said, Anki is an app that follows the scientific principles needed for proper spaced repetition.

What’s spaced repetition?

It’s tactically (not randomly) revisiting the verses you’ve worked on committing to memory over time. If you prefer not using software programs, you can combine spaced repetition with flashcards by using the Leitner System.

Six: Cloze Tests

Some softwares for Bible memorization help you by restricting certain parts of the Bible verses you’re committing to memory. Like this:

I ____ the ____ I have for you,” ________ the Lord, “plans to ______ you and not to ____ you, plans to ____ you ____ and a ______. – ________ 29:11

This kind of memory strategy is called a Cloze Test.

Again, you don’t need a software to do it. You can write out scripture and leave out some of the key words and phrases. Then, when reading back the scripture, mentally fill in the blanks or us a pen and paper.

This approach isn’t for everyone, but it’s well worth experimenting with as you commit scripture to memory.

Seven: Combine Strategies

You’ve learned that active recall works best when personalization is involved. Another aspect of active recall is getting in lots of variety. This principle ties together with interleaving, which shows that we learn faster when we combine multiple approaches.

For this reason, I recommend you that you don’t get stuck in a rut with just one of the strategies I’ve discussed above. Try them all and rotate through them on a regular basis.

It might seem a bit much at first, but as you continue to weave the activities together, you’ll likely find yourself remember scripture with greater ease.

A Detailed Example of Memorizing Scripture & Verse Numbers

Now let me give you an example of how I memorize bible verses. Let’s focus on one of my favorites:

Proverbs 18:13 (NIV): “To answer before listening — that is folly and shame.”

First, I suggest that you sort out the keywords. That’s because your mind will typically fill in a lot of smaller words. The keywords I chose when memorizing our example verse were:

AnswerBeforeListeningFollyShame

Next, I asked myself…

Who do I know who relates most closely to either the form of the verse or its meaning?

My friend’s sister Andi comes to mind. She served as an mental association.

Then, using a Memory Palace based on Andi’s brother’s home, I imagined her typing out an email while a bee floated around. Something like what you see in this illustration:

To help with memorizing the full verse, I didn’t have Andi memorize just any kind of email?

Rather, I imagined her writing an email in response to an episode of Faulty Towers she’s just seen on television. She does this before she even heard the end of the sentence that offended her, and as a result, Andi feels ashamed.

Why Faulty Towers?

Because it has a sound similar to “folly” in it. Note that I thought of and chose Andi as my “Bridging Figure” for this verse because I was focusing on the first word “answer.”

The “an” in Andi and the “an” in answer “magnetically” attract each other. Weave these associations together in a Memory Palace and one will “trigger” the other.

By looking for natural parallels that are already in your memory and imagination, you can often come across just the right set of images. This happens much more quickly than if you try to create abstract associations.

Abstractions in your associations must be avoided as much as possible.

They’re difficult to recall, create weak associations and cause more frustration than they’re worth.

How To Memorize All Those “Little Connecting” Words

Now, you might be thinking that you’re still a beginner. What about “to,” “before,” and “is”?

Before you spend time memorizing them, stop and think it through.

Do you really need to memorize them? Or can you allow your mind to fill in the blanks?

In my experience, most people do fine with letting their mind fill in the blanks, provided they follow the rest of the steps I’m sharing now. As you’ve learned, Cloze tests actually involve getting yourself to fill in missing words from scripture that you want to memorize, so it’s actually a good thing not to have an image for each and every word.

But if you need to come up with associations for all these little words, I suggest you consider creating a “stockpile.”

If you use a tutu for “to,” always use that same association.

If you use a bee driving a forklift for “before,” always use that every time you need this word.

Don’t worry. It’s unlikely that your mind will mind the repetition. The Memory Palace will provide more than enough differentiation.

The important point is that you’re drawing upon information, ideas, people and objects already in your memory.

That’s where the real memory magic happens. And sadly, this is a point that is too often missed by many memory experts who otherwise mean well.

How To Remember Verse Numbers

I mentioned above that you can use either the Major System or a PAO System to memorize verse numbers.

Let me give you an example of this technique. Once you’re set up with these number systems, you’ll find it simple to create little associations to precede the associations you use for the verses themselves. If you feel like you need more help after going through this example,  feel free to go through my tutorial on the 3 Most Powerful Memory Techniques For Memorizing Numbers.

For now, have a look at this:

For Proverbs 18:13, for example, I see a large TV set that I actually owned vacuuming J Edgar Hoover using a Hoover vacuum.

Weird and memorizable, right? It is!

But why these images?

Because 18 for me is always represented by a few things, one of which is a TV set.

Not just any TV set, but a particular TV set that has meaning for me.

And when you know the Major Method, you’ll know that there’s a very good reason that it’s a TV and not some other object.

Likewise with J Edgar Hoover with a Hoover vacuum.

It represents 13 because I’m following this simple chart based on the Major:

Sometimes for 13, I see Hoover vacuuming on the Hoover Dam. There’s actually a way to make that dam a Virtual Memory Palace that I’ll talk about in the future. For now, here are 5 Memory Palace Examples you can learn about to enhance your practice.

In any case, having multiple images to draw upon is the Magnetic Memory Method Principle of Compounding. It’s part of the joyful science of creating and using a “Magnetic 00-99 P.A.O.” Learn more in the MMM course on memorizing math, equations and all things related to numbers.

I know that this process might sound complex.

It really isn’t once you get into it. After all, as Jeannie Koh explains in her Magnetic Memory Method Testimonial, using these techniques helped her reach her goals immensely:

And it’s a skill worth having for more than just memorizing verse numbers. It makes committing all numbers fast, easy, effective and fun.

What matters most is that you associate everything with information that already exists in your mind and that is meaningful to you.

Following Up: What To Do After Your Memorize Scripture Verses

Now comes the fun part.

What you want to do is mentally walk through your Memory Palaces one at a time.

Do this as many times as it takes to recall the verses accurately. Be sure to recall them both verbally and in written form. There are a few more tips on this practice below.

How many times exactly is a question no one can answer. At least 5 times the first day and then 1 time per day for a few weeks is a good rule of thumb derived from Dominic O’Brien.

As you develop your skills, you’ll find that different verses enter your memory at different rates and each presents its own form of brain exercise.

The varying levels of challenge is a good thing. It keeps you on your toes, keeps things interesting, and in fact, you don’t want it to be easy. If using memory techniques suddenly became easy, they’d be boring and you would stop using them.

It’s very important to set a time aside for practicing recall to ensure that you do it.

I suggest using a Memory Journal to gather all your Memory Palaces and record your recall.

There’s no perfect journal, but one I recommend is called The Freedom Journal. It has just enough space for an effective Memory Palace drawing and lets you create 10-day “sprints” over the course of 100 days.

How To Recall One A Verse-By-Verse Basis

As you go, “trigger” off the associations you made and let them bring back the information.

For example, I would start with the specific Memory Palace and the specific station.

How does one remember that?

If you’ve correctly planned and organized your memorization activities, then the answer will be known to you without any stress or strain.

Remember:

You create the Memory Palace Network to serve the outcome you want. This process alone will help you remember what is memorized where.

If you’re properly numbered each Magnetic Station as taught in the free course, then you’ll have even more “autopilot familiarity” with your Memory Palaces.

How the Memory Palace Tells You The Right Word Order

And if you are memorizing verse numbers and memorizing the scriptures in verse order, order itself acts as a clue. It will tell you where in your Memory Palace the information is located.

Next, I would recall Andi and simply ask myself: “What was she associated with?”

Asking questions during recall is important because you’re encouraging your memory to do a bit of work.

Sometimes the entire line will blast back at you, almost like magic. Especially if you complete these powerful visualization exercises.

Other times, you’ll have to piece it together, word for word.

In all cases, if you have a pen or pencil in hand, recall the verse first, then write it down. Say the line out loud as well.

At more advanced levels, you can certainly remove the writing part, but I don’t recommend it. Even when I’m , I almost always write them out in my Memory Journal.

This simple, 1-2 minute practice ensure that I receive the full benefits for my memory and successful recall.

The Big 5 of Learning For Long Term Memory

In full, these are:

ReadingWritingSpeakingListening……from and into Memory

Visualized, the levels of processing effect for memory looks like this:

I’ve just mentioned writing out what you’ve memorized and speaking it out loud.

Writing automatically leads to reading, and you’ve already ready read the verses before, during and after memorizing them.

However, it’s good to also read interpretations by multiple thinkers where possible.

Plus, there are often more comprehensive commentaries available that you can read on various scriptures that will give your mind more context to help create deeper connections in both your imagination and the physical structures of your brain.

A Solo Way To Hear Memorized Verses Out Loud

It’s also important to also hear the verses spoken by others, so try to find recordings that you can listen to and recite along with them.

You can also record yourself and listen back to your own voice.

I also suggest making memorization a family or at least a community occasion.

Reciting with others and hearing others share what certain passages mean for them is very useful for creating long term memory impact.

The Biggest Levers You Need For Memorizing Scripture

In brief, you’ve got to commit to creating the time for memorizing scripture.

Logical, isn’t it? If you really want to get something done, you’ll make the time.

How much time do you need?

No one can honestly say just how long it will take for you to reach your goals. But you can start by gathering your memory verses and then assessing how much time you’ll need for each. After that, schedule the time.

Once you’ve started, chances are the question of how long it will take to commit various passages to memory will no longer be very interesting to you.

You’ll be enjoying the process itself too much and become completely satisfied that each new verse gets you closer to the goal. The journey will become so much more important than the destination.

And when those destinations are reached, you’ll be excited and want to create new ones. The benefits for the sharpness of your mind will be very clear to you.

Common Questions And Answers About Memorizing Scripture Quickly

Does The Length Matter?

Yes and no.

I recommend starting with short verses in the beginning. The sooner you develop the skills needed to quickly and accurately memorize short verses, the sooner you’ll be able to tackle longer verses.

The trick is in seeing that longer verses are usually just shorter verses fit together. In such cases, it can be very helpful to spend more time ensuring that you understand the gist of a long verse before committing it to memory.

Should you use flash cards and sticky notes?

No, I don’t recommend this because it doesn’t create the needed skills of memorization that a Memory Palace and association develops.

These forms don’t create brain exercise either. The only exception to the rule is if you are memorizing individual words or terms and don’t have the answer on the back of the card.

Instead, feature the Magnetic Imagery you created on the opposite side of the flash card or sticky note. In this way, you’ll ask your brain to do a bit of memory work and jog itself into action. The benefits of doing this will be incredibly rewarding.

And as soon as you can, leave the index cards and sticky notes behind.

Why You Shouldn’t Memorize Scripture From Online Sources

Many people want to memorize from online sources such as the Scripture Typer app and Bible Memory Kids.

To be honest, these Bible apps look great on the surface. They’re clean, well-organized and perhaps even fun to use.

But they’re also creating Digital Amnesia.

If you must source your scripture from a screen, at least write it out in your handwriting and memorize from that. This practice will deepen the importance of the verse to your mind and is a win-win from the get-go.

What Scripture Do You Want To Memorize?

At the risk of being repetitive, knowing why you want to memorize scripture does matter.

For myself, I like to memorize the odd line from the Bible. But overall I prefer scripture from the non-dual tradition, Advaita Vedanta.

In this memory demonstration, you’ll see me recite 32 verses from a text called the Ribhu Gita: 

https://youtu.be/CgNQ9bU-nEg

Although I didn’t memorize a verse every single day, I rarely spent more than 5 minutes on any single verse. It just isn’t necessary when you have these skills.

Also, if you’re concerned about age or various conditions with your brain, keep hope. As mentioned above, my student Matt Barclay completed the course and gave a 12-minute recitation from the Psalms in front of his congregation after spending hardly any time memorizing it. You can see the demonstration and our discussion about how he memorized the Psalm here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiY58...

Ultimately, what really matters is that you learn the skills and ground the project on a solid reason why you want to commit the scripture to memory.

And remember:

Long-term memorization is a marathon, not a sprint. You just need to have a solid reason why you’re memorizing scripture.

Plan, show up consistently, and enjoy the multiple benefits as they increase, one verse at a time.

Thanks so much for reading and if you’d like more help with the memory techniques discussed, please register for my free memory improvement course:

I think you’ll find it just as helpful as my many students who have experienced much joy and fulfilment as a result of bringing themselves closer to God through verse memorization.

How to Become a Polymath: 5 Steps To Mastering Multiple Topics

There have never been more polymaths on the planet than right now.

And I compliment you on wanting to become one yourself.

Polymathy is the epitome of intellectual versatility.

Not for showing off.

But for the sheer pleasure of enjoying mental dexterity across multiple disciplines.

Who am I to tell you about becoming a polymath?

I run this website, for one thing, which involves multiple skill sets.

I’ve got a PhD and two MAs to top off my BA. Multiple certificates in different skills. Languages under my belt.

And from my perspective, there are some serious misconceptions about how to define polymathy.

When your definition is wrong, it’s impossible to reach the goal.

So let’s define what a polymath is, look at some examples and make sure you can quickly craft the perfect path to being an autodidact polymath yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgicL...

Are There Any Modern-Day Polymaths?

Many people focus on the Renaissance when looking for examples of well-rounded learners. Typically you hear about figures like Da Vinci and Michelangelo as having set the stage for polymathy in our age.

Even in the memory improvement world, we tend to focus on Renaissance figures like Giordano Bruno and Matteo Ricci.

Matteo Ricci was a Renaissance era mnemonist and polymath

However, ancient India, ancient China and other parts of the world show us many people who used ancient memory techniques to master multiple topics, expand their linguistic intelligence and rapidly learn new skills.

So whether it’s Ramon Llull with his memory wheels in the 13th century or an “ultra learner” like Scott Young, the signs of genius you’re looking for aren’t about a historical moment. They’re about how people behave.

And there are many people making themselves polymaths by following simple steps. Not willy-nilly, but consistently.

These are the key behaviours to look for and model yourself:

Intellectual Curiosity

Some people say that curiosity has to be naturally present. I disagree.

Obviously, it helps when you’re inclined toward exploring different topics, but when you understand and exercise the subconscious mind, you can boost your interest in even the most boring topics.

This ability is very important because no skill or interest area is exciting from top to bottom. For example, in language learning, you have to content with all kinds of unexciting words to be able to speak. You need the days of the week, colors, numbers and many pronouns that just aren’t that exciting.

But when you can stimulate your own intellectual curiosity, it’s possible to get excited even by the most quotidian information.

Learning as a Lifestyle

Although there’s always a place for playing brain games for relaxation and fun, polymaths tend to limit the amount of time they spend on such pastimes.

Make learning integral to your daily life and you’ll enjoy greater topic mastery.

A subset of the learning lifestyle is time management. I do this myself primarily through journaling. I also design reading semesters for myself, modeling how the school year works.

In other words, I spend three-six months taking “deep dives” into particular topics. Sometimes I’ll go longer, but the point is that it helps structure how much needs to be read in a day to reach certain learning goals.

Cultivate Critical Thinking Skills

There are several types of thinking you need to practice in order to be a polymath.

When you structure your learning time in the ways I’ve just suggested, you can get through the best critical thinking books I recommend quite quickly.

Once you’re familiar with what critical thinking is, from there you just have to practice this form of thinking and occasionally complete a few critical thinking exercises to keep sharp.

Why It’s Easier Than Ever to Become a Polymath

Thanks to memory techniques, it’s possible to learn quickly and retain more.

But there are other reasons that becoming a modern polymath has never been easier.

Free Information

When I was a university student, people were terrified to study topics like the law because the law library at York University was filled with damaged books. People would tear pages out of legal textbooks to prevent their “competition” from beating them at exams.

These days, so many of those books can be found for free online. That, and many books are available digitally – a format that makes it difficult to damage the information.

But always remember that “free” doesn’t mean you can get away with skimming and scanning. You still have to engage with the information substantively no matter how much it costs or what format it comes in.

Conversational Interconnectivity

Back when I was an undergrad and in grad school, we went out of our way to organize study groups. We always had to show up at a particular time and place. If we couldn’t be there, the best we had was the memory or notes of other students, many of who did not have very effective note-taking strategies.

But now?

These days you can interact with other people on a variety of topics through forums. You can join live tutorials via Zoom. And if you can’t be there live, you can watch the replays.

Even better, many people hosting the live sessions will take questions in advance and cover them during the sessions. That, or they will answer your questions after the fact.

Some Multitasking Does Work

Remember how I said above that a learning lifestyle puts the games aside and focuses on learning?

There’s one exception to this rule, something I do for a few hours a week:

I listen to podcasts while playing some simple games I use for light brain exercise. This allows me to place the priority on my learning goals while still enjoying a bit of downtime.

And let’s face it: Even though I rarely fall asleep while reading, it’s sometimes nice to let my ears do the reading for a change.

You Can Invent Your Own University

David Perell talks about “learning in public.” This is an activity I’ve been doing since starting the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast back in 2014.

Sure, there’s a small amount of technical learning and work involved – but this is precisely the kind of knowledge a true polymath will want to include in their skillset.

From there, you invite on as many guests as you want to learn from and enjoy the flow of information wealth that comes into your life, one interview at a time. It’s basically exchanging coaching and mentorship in exchange for a bit of publicity you give to your guests.

How to Become a Polymath in the Digital Age

Now that you understand how easy it is to become a polymath, let’s look at some specific strategies that will help you remember the information you’re mining.

Always remember: cruising forums and interviewing experts is one thing. But remembering what they say and turning it into crystalized intelligence is another.

Here are the steps I recommend:

One: Master Your Memory

The key memory techniques are:

The Memory PalaceThe Major SystemThe PAO SystemThe Pegword MethodMind mappingSpaced repetition

You can spend a weekend and get the bird’s eye view on all of these techniques. From there, it’s just practice to keep your skills with each mnemonic device sharp.

Two: Deliberate Practice

Do you want to know the biggest reason people fail to ever pass a polymath test or experience the answer to the question, what is a polymath?

It’s practice, specifically deliberate practice.

For example, I’ve studied philosophy for years. But I couldn’t just absorb philosophy books and remember their details. I also had to practice asking philosophical questions in a philosophical way.

In other words, it can’t be random or just seem philosophical. It has to literally involve the hallmarks of what philosophy is and how the best philosophers practice it – deliberately.

Whatever skills and topic areas you include your in your polymath journey, you’ll want to make sure that you’re practicing things optimally, not just casually.

As they say in Japanese: Genchi Genbutsu. Go to the real place and do the real thing.

Three: Balance Depth & Breadth

A true polymath is not a jack-of-all-trades. You can’t be a surface-level “expert.”

In order to become and then remain a credible authority, I suggest you set goals that involve some kind of testing measure.

For example, my first MA is in English Literature. Completing the degree is a testing measure, as is my second MA in Media & Communications.

So when I share my views on the Internet, you can rest assured that they’re not just coming from my experiences as someone with a popular blog. They’re also informed by years of study into the nature of what information is and how it functions in different societies and different historical periods.

Likewise in language learning. I don’t just speculate on how the Memory Palace works for studying languages. I complete specific goals, such as when I earned a certificate in Mandarin Chinese. Although in that case I didn’t carry on to a higher level, I still take steps to maintain the level I achieved, which is what balancing depth and breadth is all about.

You’ll need to work out ways to do that too as you develop as a polymath.

Four: Engage With Experts

We use the term “autodidact,” and there’s truth to it. You can teach yourself many things as a solo student.

But it’s also a misnomer because when we learn, we use materials created by others. Learning is always interpersonal and intrapersonal at the same time.

The more you understand this, the more you’ll seek out conversations and collaborations with other experts in each of your fields.

And by constantly expanding your network, you’ll be able to tap into and leverage the resources of other people. Build a polymathic community around yourself and you will constantly enjoy the spark of new ideas and opportunities to exercise your knowledge by helping others. You’ll also be able to observe how people use reasoning in a variety of topic areas and improve your own reasoning skills by asking them question and modeling them.

Five: Nurture A Spirit Of Experimentation

One sticking point for would be polymaths is that they remain stuck on consumption-mode.

But you need to implement on ideas and embark on journeys into the unknown.

An experiment can start with something as simple as a “what if” question. From there, you formulate a theory of how you would answer the question and provide a hypothetical answer. The more you brainstorm on this basis, the better your experiments will be.

But let’s call a spade a spade: The more you experiment, the more you will fail.

Just don’t ever accept the standard definition of “failure.” When you’re a true polymath, each mistake and every less-than-satisfactory outcome is in fact a gift. Downfalls provide opportunities for analytical thinking.

And this is a very special kind of analytical thinking because it’s produced out of your personally designed learning experiments.

For example, I wrote a “Memory Detective” novel as an experiment. As part of launching the book, I designed, tested and released a live-action memory game.

There were many mistakes along the way. But each and every time, I used the unexpected results as an opportunity to analyze and think rationally about what to do next. I learned a lot about games, even more about novels and exercised an area of my “marketing brain” I’d never even knew existed.

But no experiment? No new learning. And no new area of expertise to add to my polymath profile, so to speak.

Become A Modern Polymath (Almost) Overnight

I’m confident that you can be a polymath incredibly quickle.

It starts by setting some goals, organizing your time and making sure you build a community that helps encourage and guide your deliberate practice.

Although it can never be just about learning and memorizing facts from a variety of subject areas, memory is a massive lever.

So if you’d like to add memory skills, there’s a lot to explore and I invite you to get started with my FREE Memory Improvement Kit:

It will not only give you new skills, but it will also introduce you to an entire area filled with topics you’re going to love. You’ll explore history, critical thinking, the biography of a variety of mnemonists and more.

In sum, let me revisit one of the points above: by becoming a polymath, you can literally make your own university.

And this reminds me of a personal story.

Back when I was in grad school, my supervisor gave me “the talk” near the end of my degree. I was excited that I’d finished writing my dissertation and only had the final defense to go.

We were walking down Bay Street in Toronto and he told me all about how bad the job market had become over the years. He said that even if I published a dozen academic books, I’d still struggle to get a job on the tenure track at a university.

By that time, I’d already learned how to learn so many different topics, I turned to him with a clear and focused confidence in my voice.

I said, “if it comes down to it, I’ll build my own university to teach at.”

Long story short: That’s exactly what wound up happening. But it was only possible thanks to thinking and acting like a polymath.

I know you can do it too, so put the strategies we’ve discussed today into action and do whatever it takes to become the architect of your creams. Polymathy is the path.

Why Rote Memorization Doesn’t Work (And What to Do Instead)

Some people swear by rote learning.

Others dislike this approach to learning with a vengeance.

They even get dramatic, calling rote repetition…

“Drill and kill.”

What gives? 

And how specifically is learning by this deadly form of repetition defined? 

We’ll get into everything on this page so that you can make an informed decision about how to learn based on science, not opinion.

Plus, I’ll share with you an alternative approach to learning that never feels boring.

Sound good?

Let’s get started!

What Is Rote Learning?

Rote learning is exposing yourself to information repetitively until it enters your long term memory.

It definitely works, especially if you have a lot of time on your hands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL8Rh...

Typically, people use rote learning because it’s the main learning technique they’ve been taught. It has applications in music, for example. Rote memorization can also happen on autopilot in a certain way. For example, when you learn to ride a bike, your procedural memory uses the repetition to form deep neural pathways that ensure you’ll remember the skill for life.

Examples of rote learning include:

Flipping through flashcardsUsing spaced repetition softwareMentally repeating the same informationMeditations or spiritual practices in which you repeat prayers

I also repeated my TEDx Talk several times for practice giving the speech. This is a great example of when a small amoutn of rote repetition makes sense. 

Why Rote Memorization Is Terrible

For thousands of years, many people have sought out memory techniques as an alternative to rote learning for a few reasons:

Rote is almost always boring and discouragingIt takes more time than people want to spendIt’s not nearly as effective as alternatives like active recall, a technique that engages all the senses.

If rote memorization is truly this terrible, why do so many people use it instead of mnemonics?

According to Carla Hannaford in Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All In Your Head, part of the success of the drug ritalin is easily explained. It helps students put up with the tedious nature of repeating information without any kind of multi-sensory engagement.

In other words, societies have preferred drugging children instead of tackling the real problem of making learning fun.

But is repetition itself bad? 

Absolutely not.

Again, let’s take the music example. It’s really important to repeat songs if you want to commit lyrics to memory. Repetition is also a huge part of ear training, and general instrumentation a form of rehearsal musicians sometimes call “dedicated practice.”

Rote repetition can be good for ear training.

However, even in music, even practice forms of repetition can be quite brutal in how they create boredom, I.C. McManus and Peter Richards call any memory gains they create “incidental learning.”

In each case, there are alternatives. For one thing, you can use interleaving to spice things up, which basically involves switching between topics or skills that you’re studying.

There are many other disadvantages to rote learning, most of which are easily avoided. 

First, rote learning usually does not ask you to think about what you’re learning. It’s focused entirely on repetition itself. 

This focus on repetition-for-the-sake-of-repetition not only makes the learning process boring. You also lose out on the benefits of thinking you could receive by engaging with the information in a deeper way.

Rote learning also treats the brain as if it were a “linear library.” As a result, you miss the benefits of what I often call the “rhizomatic effect” you experience when using a Memory Palace Network to produce new knowledge based on information you’ve engaged with deeply.

Your mind is not a library. Avoid treating your memory in a linear fashion.

You also lose tons of time that could have been spent enjoying using your mind and imagination.

Finally, rote repetition prevents you from experiencing the benefits of having memorable conversations with others.

What To Do Instead Of Rote Memorization

I suggest you start using mnemonics to help you commit information faster.

One place to begin your journey with memory techniques is the pegword method. To use this mnemonic approach, you simply assign a dynamic shape or figure to each letter of the alphabet. For example, every time you think of the letter C, you also think of a favorite cat.

Having a simple set of associations like this makes learning spelling much more fun and interesting. And it follows the rules of active recall I mentioned above because you have personalized each letter of the alphabet.

You can develop a similar set of personalized images for numbers as well. For this, I suggest you learn the Major System and combine it with rhyming or story and the method of loci to make learning the entire set engaging and immersive.

Is there proof that it works?

Tons.

In language learning, Dr. Richard Atkinson has shown just how poorly rote learning works in comparison to the mnemonic strategies shared on this blog. Many of my students have shared their incredible results and my podcast has hosted over a dozen of the best memory athletes as quests.

Rote repetition is normally a source of frustration. It doesn’t work well because the lack of multi-sensory engagement with personalized points of reference fails to stimulate enough of the brain.

Here’s something interesting: In experiments that have been successfully repeated by scientists around the world, Atkinson demonstrated that rote learners were successfully able to recall vocabulary from lists at a rate of 28%.

By contrast, those who used techniques like the Memory Palace showed a retention rate of 88% or better. Dr. David Reser and Tyson Yunkaporta recently showed even better results by incorporating some Aboriginal memory techniques into a follow-up experiment.

Lynne Kelly, one of Australia’s leading memory experts and author of The Memory Code recently become a member of the Order of Australia based on her research in memory. That’s a big deal.

So now that you’ve seen some of the evidence, what would you prefer?

Sticking with rote learning and recalling only around 28% of what you learned correctly?

Or do you prefer what more meaningful learning and comprehension techniques offer? If you’d like more resources, get this free course now:

Benefits Of Rote Learning

So far, everything we’ve said makes rote learning look pretty bad. 

However, we’ve already seen that rote practice is a must in areas of learning like music, giving speeches and spiritual goals.

When used in the correct context, rote can help learners achieve incredible goals. Playing a musical instrument is one such example.

Although rote learning reduces critical thinking when required of children, there may be some contexts where it can be helpful for certain types of adults. 

For example, Po Li Tan’s research has suggested that adults who grew up as rote learners might still benefit from it.

Other research has shown that individualized learning plans can themselves fall into rote that has not benefited students in places like Sweden.

At the end of the day, each individual has to decide what is right for them and cultivate radical honesty. Sometimes engaging in rote learning gives you the benefit that you’re engaged in some kind of activity. 

But if the activity of what some people call “over-learning” doesn’t actually lead to accomplishment, then the benefit of doing something for the sake of doing something is an illusion. 

Rote Learning Vs. Meaningful Learning

You might be wondering why the scientific success rates I mentioned above matter so much. After all, it sounds like it really only comes down to time spent. 

Looking only through the lens of time, you might conclude that if you only get 28% correct, all you have to do is go back and spend more time on the material.

Not so.

You’re also losing out on critical thinking benefits by doubling-down on rote memorization. 

As Linda Jakobson has shown in her book, Innovation with Chinese Characteristics: High-Tech Research in China, societies that grow up with rote recall tend to have poor critical thinking skills.

Although it’s common for children to learn Chinese characters by rote, this learning practice has been shown to stunt critical thinking abilities.

This is tragic because problem solving requires the ability to “mentally rotate” information through multiple angles. 

The absence of rote repetition in other cultures may be one reason why places like parts of Europe and the United States thrive and promote individualism and freedom. 

Historically, a learning technique called Ars Combinatoria was much more prevalent. This approach promoted a form of learning sometimes called “inner writing,” a means of “creative repetition” that relied upon deep and meaningful engagement for the learner.

Meaningful learning might include tactics like:

Guided discoverySensory learningPhysical engagement with learning materials (such as through mind mapping)Social experiencesCombining writing with speakingCombining listening with speaking, such as through debateDeveloping highly personalized learning plansA Powerful Example Of The Alternative To Rote Learning

Is rote learning effective?

To a certain extent, yes. 

And in some areas, rote rehearsal is absolutely necessary, including when you’re using memory techniques.

However, repetition should always be “creative repetition.” 

A simple way to reduce the amount of repetition needed and always ensure that you deeply immerse yourself in what you’re learning is to use KAVE COGS or what we call the Magnetic Modes in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass.

To take a simple example of how I learned something very quickly with a minimum of repetition, let me refer to my Sanskrit meditation project. 

In learning a word pronounced like “tesham,” which means “unto them” or “for those,” I didn’t repeat it over and over again.

No.

Instead I looked at the “tes” part of the word and imagined Nikola Tesla driving a Tesla over a Christmas ham. He did it for those who are always devoted to reality itself, which is the main meaning of the entire line I was learning. 

A simple, but engaging mnemonic image like a Tesla driving over ham makes memorizing a word fast, easy and less likely to need rote repetition.

Then, I went through KAVE COGS to drive home the sound and meaning:

Kinesthetic – Feeling myself driving the car as if I were TeslaAuditory – Hearing the sound of the engine roaringVisual – Imagining what this scene looked likeEmotional – Experiencing Tesla’s intention to help the devotedConceptual – Reflecting on the meaning of the text and who Tesla wasOlfactory – Smelling the hamGustatory – Tasting the hamSpatial – Thinking about the size of the car and the ham

By engaging deeply with the word in this way, I learned it immediately and never forgot it after one pass. 

I’ve memorized more Sanskrit than I ever thought possible doing this, the same technique I learned to use when memorizing the names of all my students within minutes when I was a professor. 

In sum, rote learning is boring. By contrast, memory techniques are scientifically proven and indescribably fun. All you have to do is get started.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to rev the engine of your mind and get some real learning done for a change? 

How to Remember Trivia: Win Any Competition & Know Your Facts

Knowing how to remember trivia questions and answers can make you a lot of money.

But there are other reasons you might want a full arsenal of memorization tricks at your side.

In addition to making bank, being at the ready with lots of interesting tidbits can be:

Personally fulfillingProfessionally usefulAn alternative to physical sports for competitive peopleA great way to socializeA source of social capital

Plus, being fascinated with trivia does not make the information “trivial.”

Far from it.

In fact, as you’re about to discover, even if (heaven forbid) a fact you commit to memory does prove trivial, you can still use that datapoint as an asset. I’ll show you how I just did earlier today near the end.

So if you want to learn how to get better at trivia, this page has all the details that will take you from amateur to pro.

Ready?

Let’s dive in!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHB6c...

The Strategy Behind Trivia Memorization

When memory athlete Jonas von Essen won a major television trivia competition in 2023, a ton of people asked me my opinion as a memory expert.

“Did he use memory techniques to win?”

Of course. But that’s not the only strategy von Essen and other successful trivia players use.

If you want to truly know how to study for trivia, it’s a combination of multiple methods. These learning techniques include:

Keeping up with current events and world newsWatching other trivia shows and game shows at largeUsing chunking techniques while readingBeing good with numbers and mental calculationMemorizing key lists like the names and dates of presidentsPracticing in situations that are like the trivia setting to stimulate state dependent memory

This final point is key.

See, if von Essen had one edge above all, it’s that he was well-practiced at competition. He won the World Memory Championship twice, after all.

That means the stress helped his memory more than it hindered it. He was a pro at performing well under pressure, something most of us can only do when we have some deliberate practice in similar settings under our belts.

How to Remember Trivia: 6 Memorization Tricks to Help You Become a Trivia Master

Now that you’ve got the broad overview and understand how being skilled with trivia can fulfill a variety of cognitive needs, let’s get into the granular details.

Every step of the way, knowing how to remember things is going to be key.

So let’s start with that.

One: Master Mnemonics

Broadly speaking, a mnemonic is anything that helps you remember something, including rote learning.

The problem with rote is that it takes too long. That’s why people use mnemonic devices like planet mnemonics, mnemonics for anatomy, and alphabet mnemonics for simple tasks.

More advanced strategies like the Major System and PAO System are also helpful, especially for memorizing numbers.

All of these approaches have mnemonic images and the Memory Palace technique in common. People serious about getting better at trivia will want to get deeply familiar with each of these approaches.

Two: Consume Massive Amounts of Info Like a Pro

Once you’ve got your memory skills boosted, you’ll want to get good at extracting information from a variety of sources.

One of my go-to strategies has always been a special textbook memorization technique. It’s a vast improvement to most speed reading programs because it avoids skimming and scanning practices that cause you to miss the important details.

Basically, you use this technique with physical index cards. Some people call them flash cards, but the strategy is the same. You extract the information onto cards and then use Memory Palaces to memorize it.

The writing step is really important. Memory expert Lynne Kelly calls handwriting “a powerful encryption tool in the science of memory.”

Sure, you can use Anki or some other spaced repetition software, but you’re quite possibly diminishing the amount you can remember when you do.

Three: Chunk While You Read

You don’t always have to use the index card method, however.

For example, I was reading a book about Latin and Greek word origins earlier today. I learned that “sitos” is Greek for “sitting and eating, usually at the side of another.” It’s part of the word parasitos. We get our word for “parasite” from this origin.

To remember this, I didn’t need to do anything other than chunk it together with a quick mental image of Superman sitting beside a guy I know named Perry at a Safeway grocery store.

Superman is a pegword I use a lot for words that start with ‘s.’ And I have many others.

The point is that I’m able to “chunk” the core information quickly together and add it to a Memory Palace. In this case, the Memory Palace starts with ‘s’ as well.

Four: Learn Mental Calculation

A lot of facts involve numbers related to historical dates, how much things weigh, how old things are, distances, etc. I suggest you use the number techniques I’ve already mentioned, or try the number rhyme technique.

You may even have to perform calculations. To get really fast at that, you can:

Learn mental calculation skills Master the Trachtenberg methodDevelop an understanding of Vedic Math

Not only will these skills help you solve any math-related puzzles that may come up, they also contain interesting tidbits that might come up on a trivia quiz.

Five: Practice in the Right Conditions

I once competed at a memory competition against Dave Farrow.

Fortunately, I didn’t fall flat on my face. But because I had never competed before, I had no context dependent memory developed.

As memory expert and multi-time USA Memory Champ Nelson Dellis coached us when he hosted the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, to win you need to practice competing.

Here are a few ways you can do that in low stress environments before taking it to the big time:

Play trivia games in noisy places where your concentration will be taxedPractice with friends who understand your goals and support youMake sure you balance the challenge-frustration curve

This final suggestion comes from The Victorious Mind.

Balancing the challenge-frustration curve means that you should watch out for when things get too easy. It can feel good for your ego that you’re doing really well, but it risks not growing your skills.

On the flip side of the coin, if you take on too many challenges, you wind up frustrating yourself. So always be willing to scale back so that you don’t wind up quitting.

As you continue on, you’ll find that that mental strength tactic helps you improve with greater consistency and avoid the temptation to pause or quit.

Six: Keep a Progress Journal

We’ve talked about the role of handwriting as a kind of encryption tool.

You can take it a step further by journaling for improvement over time. Memory athlete Johannes Mallow has used journaling a great deal as a memory athlete.

And as someone who loves facts large and small, I journal what I memorize frequently.

I’m not particularly tidy about it. I just summarize what I memorized throughout the day to get in a bit of extra practice.

Become an Invaluable Trivia Player & Person of Incredible Knowledge

One thing I love about memorizing trivia is that it makes playing trivia games with others a lot of fun.

Not just because winning is deeply fulfilling. It also provides two special opportunities:

A chance to reflect on when and where you encountered the right information in your pastThe opportunity to learn many new things

In this way, you never lose when you play trivia. Each and every question gives you fantastic brain exercise whether you score points or not.

Plus, becoming a personal of greater knowledge is an ongoing benefit.

There’s always so much more to know.

And the great thing about learning more about Latin and Greek as I was just doing today is that I can chunk on more and more facts. That’s because once you establish one thing in memory, it’s easy to add on more.

For example, it’s not at all trivial to know about the etymology of “sitos” when I can use the same image of Superman to add on “supercilious.”

The word means “haughty and arrogant” now, but it literally comes from the words for eyebrow (super means “above” and “cilium” is eyelid). What better eyelid to use than Superman’s?

If you’d like ancient memory techniques like these working for you, please consider getting my free memory improvement course by clicking the image below and signing up:

In it, you’ll learn more about how to create a vast web of associations in your mind.

That way, you’ll win on trivia night and enjoy knowledge that stand the test of time.

 

How To Renovate A Memory Palace (And When You Shouldn’t)

Year after year, people ask me “what if” questions about the Memory Palace technique.

For example, what if I need to make changes to my Memory Palace?

It’s a good question with several dimensions.

For one thing, we need to look at what the need to change involves. Is part of the Memory Palace making its use inefficient?

Or do we feel the need to expand the Memory Palace, if not connect it to other Memory Palaces?

Certainly, you can do all of these things if absolutely necessary.

And on this page, I’ll give you some suggestions that will help make the process smooth.

But there are also ways to ever have to avoid renovating any Memory Palace once you’ve set it up.

And when things do change, you’ll be ready to handle the need for transformations in a flash.

Ready to get into the nitty-gritty?

Let’d dive in!

https://youtu.be/X7VKqhoBm7w

The First Thing To Do If You Feel The Need to Change A Memory Palace

Pause.

That’s right.

Before you do anything, pause and ask a simple question:

Is this really necessary? Why do I think the Memory Palace needs to be changed?

Could I start a new Memory Palace as an alternative?

The answer is that yes, you can start new Memory Palaces. But some people don’t have enough of them.

No problem. Here’s How to Find Memory Palaces.

Try Compounding Within The Memory Palace

Often, you don’t need to change the Memory Palace, just how you’re using it.

For example, when using the Memory Palace for language learning, I usually focus on memorizing vocabulary first.

Then, using the principle of compounding, I add entire phrases to the words I’ve memorized.

This technique moves from strength to strength because they only thing it changes is the mnemonic imagery, not any of the Memory Palaces themselves.

Explore Reusing Your Memory Palaces

Frankly, reusing a Memory Palace is usually only worth exploring after you’ve mastered the main Memory Palace technique.

I’ve talked about this several times.

https://youtu.be/3wc544lgS1U

 

Here’s a follow-up video with more detail:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umt-i...

The key drawback is that reusing a Memory Palace often leads to ghosting or confusion. Ghosting is often referred to in memory science as The Ugly Sister Effect.

How To Renovate a Memory Palace Properly

After exhausting all other options, the first step is to clean the Memory Palace you want to renovate.

According to 3x World Memory Champion Alex Mullen, the key is not to “clean” the Memory Palace. That would involve going through it with an imaginary mop.

Instead, Mullen suggests that you leave the Memory Palace fallow for a certain amount of time. Not using the Memory Palace will fade out anything in it and give you the most solid foundation for changing it if you want to revise the journey.

This point is important because if you make changes too soon, you could lead to the ghosting issues created by reusing Memory Palaces.

I totally agree with Mullen, but alternative views exist. You would do well to also get Idriz Zogaj’s take on the matter of clearing out your MPs too.

Add “Virtual” Elements To Memory Palaces

One of the simplest ways to renovate or expand a Memory Palace is by creating and adding Virtual Memory Palace elements. These can include imaginary bookshelves other types of invented or imaginary stations. You place these between pre-existing stations and the information memorized at/on/beside/in or under them.

This technique will be most useful for mnemonists who already have some experience using Virtual Memory Palace elements in combination with the Method of Loci.

Personally, I stopped doing this many years ago. Starting a new Memory Palace has proven faster, more direct and ultimately more effective.

Connect Your Memory Palace Network With Mnemonic Images

At intermediate and advanced levels, every mnemonic image can serve as a Memory Palace.

In fact, this is one of the points of combining the 4 pegword methods with the Major System and the PAO System.

Let me give you a case study:

I was working with a coaching client yesterday. She was asking for help with memorizing an aspect of the law. For a term like “Supreme court jurisdiction,” I showed her how Superman connects with the word Supreme.

And it connects via the letter S to my friend Stacey’s home. It also connects to the number 1 using the Major. And the number 1 has a top, middle and a bottom.

These observations mean that you can expand any Memory Palace conceptually. You don’t have to change it. You just notice features of the target information and start to elaborate it with spatial information in mind.

This is just one of the features of the ancient memory techniques that are quite different from how memory athletes memorize.

If you need more help, make sure to complete these elaborative encoding exercises.

Multiple Memory Palaces for each letter of the alphabet may have limited appeal. But once you give it a try, you’ll find that it works a charm.

The worst that can happen is that you wind up not using some of the Memory Palaces you create.

But that’s hardly a problem. It will give you a lot of practice in Memory Palace construction and you can always go back and use those Memory Palaces later. You’ll also boost both your memory and intelligence simply by engaging in the experimentation and exploration process.

Your mind loves this kind of exercise and the experimentation involved. It certainly gives your declarative memory a workout, amongst other types of your memory. You just need the mindset, the willingness and the determination to succeed and you’ll find more success than you imagined possible.

Multiple alphabetized Memory Palaces also work wonders when you’re memorizing vocabulary around themes.

For example, if you’re memorizing words based on the theme of restaurants, instead of having one Memory Palace with 50 words, you could have 5 with 10 words each.

In fact, you could think of 5 restaurants that you’ve enjoyed and use these. This will create a nice connection between the theme you’re working on and the actual Memory Palaces you’re using.

Get Out There And Start Experimenting

Ultimately, in my experience with teaching memory techniques over the last decade, I feel strongly that your personal experimentation is the key to success.

Studies in active recall demonstrate the importance of your personal involvement. And one of the only mysteries that remains is why some people jump in and others hesitate.

I hope this post has helped you take action and I invite you to learn more by getting my FREE Memory Improvement Course:

It will help save you time by teaching you how to create Memory Palaces properly from the get-go. That way, you won’t have to worry about renovating them because everything I teach you is based on how your memory actually works.

But if you still want to, now you can. And there’ll be no “what ifs” about it. Because now you know that you need to experiment – and if you run into trouble, you now have powerful alternative approaches to renovating Memory Palaces.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions. And if you want more detailed training, everything you need to learn and memorize anything you want awaits you in the full Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass.