Anthony Metivier's Blog, page 24

Scott Young On “Ultralearning” In Your Self-Directed Education Journey

You’ve probably spent time in your educational career feeling frustrated, right?

You know the routine:

It’s the night before a test, and instead of resting…

You’re “cramming” to try to remember the things that didn’t quite stick during a lecture.

Here’s the thing.

It’s not your fault.

And there truly is a better way to learn.

No, it’s not sitting and listening to a professor, reading or copying from a textbook, conversing with a language learning partner, or mindlessly practicing yet another skill suggested by a learning “guru”.

To help explain what really works, my guest today on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast is Scott Young, author of the new book, Ultralearning. 

In this book, Scott shares the stories of people like language learner Benny Lewis, Eric Barone, World Championships of Public Speaking finalist Tristan De Montebello, and the French Scrabble world champion Nigel Richards.

These are people just like you. The only difference is they’ve discovered a better way to learn, through “aggressive,” self-directed learning.

Today’s conversation with Scott not only explores the concept of “ultralearning,” but Scott shares his own efforts to learn more, better, and faster.

To be frank, a lot of involves simply directing your energy towards what works. Isn’t that better than spending years trying to fit into a traditional learning model that may not work for you?

So, if you’ve ever struggled to learn a new language through books alone…

If you’ve sat in a classroom only watching a professor demonstrate a chemistry experiment and not been able to “get it” because you lacked hands on experience…

If you’ve used trial and error to make the perfect recipe and still ended up with a soupy mess for pancakes or an overly salty roasted chicken…

Ultralearning can be the breakthrough you’re looking for to finally discover what really works for you to achieve you learning goals.

Press play now and learn all about:

The definition of ultralearning and the origin of the term
The difference between autodidacticism and ultralearning
Why self-education is not always the best choice for effective and efficient learning
The importance of being a skeptic while being a reader
Why we really don’t know what we’re truly capable of…we’re actually shortchanging ourselves
How ultralearning can be masochistic, yet beneficial
Why you should actually care about the act of learning
Why self-testing and feedback are necessary, even with self-directed learning
The role of free will in education
What meaningful progress looks like in achieving your learning goals
The difference between procedural and declarative memory
How and when mnemonics are useful 
Overcoming challenges with consistency in a learning practice
Contrasting the traditional work model and entrepreneurship (pros and cons of each)

When it comes to consistency in scheduling, Scott is also tremendously generous in sharing how he schedules his time. Check this out:

So you see?

It’s really not so hard.

Does Ultralearning Get My Thumbs Up?

You bet!

I’ve actually been reading Scott’s emails for a long time and even sought out his okay to hold this live stream walkthrough of a piece on his blog about critical thinking:

I hope he and I will have a chat to discuss the role of critical thinking in learning more in the future. But for now…

Don’t miss this book and make sure you follow Scott Young!

Further Resources on the Web, this podcast, and the MMM Blog:

Scott’s official website

Scott Young on Twitter

Scott’s Facebook page

Scott’s YouTube Channel

Scott’s interview with The Leefkoe Institute

21 Study Tips on MagneticMemoryMethod.com

Brain Exercise Apps: Do They Help or Hinder Cognitive Development?

The post Scott Young On “Ultralearning” In Your Self-Directed Education Journey appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Memory Craft: Lynne Kelly On The Potent Power Of Ancient Mnemonics

It only took three pages for Memory Craft to become my favorite book on the art of memory.

Why?

The answer is simple:

Lynne Kelly, the author of Memory Craft, is devoted to helping people memorize information that matters.

And in a world cramped with endless memory improvement books devoted to directing memory skills at insignificant trivia, Memory Craft is a breath of fresh air.

Here’s why:

Memory Craft concentrates on learning facts, languages and processes real people can use in every day life (like using the multiplication table directly from memory). She also addresses memory science and how these techniques can be used by young people.

Now, you may remember Lynne Kelly from a previous interview where we discussed her fantastic book, The Memory Code.

I’m thrilled to have her return to The Magnetic Memory Method Podcast to talk about her newest release. The full title is: Memory Craft: Improve Your Memory Using the Most Powerful Methods From Around the World.

For those of you not familiar with Lynne, here’s the lowdown:

Not only is Lynne Kelly the author of several books on memory, but she is a highly skilled researcher, science educator, author and memory competitor.

Most known for her theory about Stonehenge’s purpose, she has also contributed to work in popular science and is a promoter of skepticism.

Lynne’s critical thinking and contributions to such a wide range of science subjects has led to awards from the Royal Zoological Society of South Wales among others. As a memory expert, Lynne Kelly is that rare practitioner who takes on large learning projects and shares the journey in addition to attending memory sport activities.

And that’s what makes today’s conversation with Lynne so special. Lynne helps us explore our need as a species to treat our minds as “muscles” that deserve ongoing development, ideally through a combination of learning and play.

Using tested memory techniques for completing fun and engaging memorization tasks, Lynne traces the timeline of the important role these skills have placed from ancient times to today’s memory competitors.

As a unique book on accelerated learning techniques, you’ll discover visual alphabets, medieval bestiaries, indigenous learning systems, and modern card memorization as Lynne has explored and updated them for citizens of the modern world.

If you want to learn a foreign language, you need to memorize and deliver a speech, or you’re a student preparing for an exam Lynne has a solution for your memory dilemma. The best part?

Lynne’s suggestions for incorporating mental exercise into your daily routines work even if you only have 5 minutes a day.

Intrigued? Press play above and you’ll discover:

* The real reason why stores play such upbeat, catchy music.

* Why outdoor Memory Palaces can be so helpful for memory retention.

* The benefits of “setting aside” time for memory training versus incorporating practice into everyday life.

* How vivid, violent, or vulgar imagery can bring abstract concepts to life.

* Why “rapscallions” are useful memory tools and not just mischievous little creatures.

* How art can help you remember more in a Memory Palace.

* The pros and cons to living with aphantasia.

* The key to using hooks and layering to create dynamic visuals.

* How to “dialogue” with your memory aids.

* Why we should encode using music and places for maximum mental skill (and possible mental health) benefits.

* The usefulness of memory techniques for school aged children and their long-term effects.

* The secret to overcoming “ghosting” when using memory techniques.

Further Resources on the Web, This Podcast, and the MMM Blog:

Lynne Kelly (The Memory Whisperer)

Lynne Kelly on Twitter

Lynne Kelly’s TEDxMelbourne Talk

Lynne Kelly on Amazon

The post Memory Craft: Lynne Kelly On The Potent Power Of Ancient Mnemonics appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

9 Awesome Accelerated Learning Techniques [Beyond Mnemonics]

Do accelerated learning techniques really speed up learning?

Well, if you’re looking for ways to maximize your study sessions and get the most “bang for your buck,” here’s the real deal:

Most of the shortcuts people associate with “speed learning” and “speed reading” actually make things longer and harder.

That’s right:

Speed reading is not a shortcut!

(This is because most people can neither comprehend nor remember when they’re skimming like a maniac.)

But if you want a collection of techniques that will truly accelerate your learning process and help you master your discipline in a shorter amount of time, then it really does need to be just that:

A collection.

And to be clear:

Learning “faster” isn’t always about efficiency.

In fact, the fantasy of efficiency throws up one of the biggest barriers around. People waste time trying to master shortcuts that are never going to work.

Why?

Because they haven’t mastered the fundamentals that allow the learner to even understand the shortcuts, let alone effectively use them.

And that’s why we’re going to start this training by busting some of the myths around learning techniques that some self-proclaimed learning gurus (strangely) vilify:

Highlighting
Re-reading
Keyword notes

We’ll cover when and why these 3 techniques can actually be great, and then explore 6 of the classic accelerated learning techniques everyone should know.

What Makes A Learning Technique “Accelerated”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve personally found highlighting and re-reading to be very helpful.

But there is definitely a right and a wrong way to perform these strategies. 

In fact, they are deeply problematic if you don’t take into account what matters:

Context and strategy.

(Especially with respect to effective note taking techniques.)

Whenever evaluating a learning technique, ask yourself important questions like, “What context am I in?” and “Does this apply to what I’m learning?”

Take into account your desired outcome and the application of strategy in context.

Use A Mind Map And Vision Statement To Help

Literally map out what you want to achieve and see how relevant a learning strategy is to that goal. I suggest you use Tony Buzan’s Mind Map Mastery to help.

I also suggest you create a vision statement. Here’s how:

Then, analyze your results with the technique you implement into your study sessions. It literally requires some trial and error before you pass final judgment on what works in different contexts.

Finally, you must be willing to conduct experimentation to improve your results. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes while searching for what works best for you. There is no end all, be all when it comes to study techniques.

It doesn’t matter what others say. Highlighting can be useful in context, and I’ll explain why. Re-reading can be a great strategy for learning. Keyword notes can be extremely beneficial to achieve your desired outcome.

My advice? Don’t listen to the critics who dismiss these techniques so easily…instead let’s explore them a bit more in depth.

3 Bad Learning Techniques Made Good (In The Right Contexts)

Sensible Highlighting

Highlighting can be useful for names, dates, key terms, and definitions.

Why is it a useful technique?

Certainly not because it helps you concentrate better while reading a text. After all, no matter how much you refine the approach, you’re still stopping and starting the reading process.

Nonetheless, the benefit of highlighting’s usefulness is rooted in delayed benefits.

For example, when you return to the text you can rapidly flip through the pages and say:

“That’s information I need.”

You don’t get the results immediately, but in context, the benefits can be powerful.

Used in a sparse and targeted manner, highlighting is a great alternative to having to search for specific kinds of information.

What kinds of information? When I was in university, I used highlighting for creating “beacons” that helped me rapidly gather:

Names of people
Dates
Key terms and definitions

I identified them on the first read, and then circled back to pick them up for memorization later.

Color Coded Highlights?

Should you experiment with color coding your highlighting?

If it helps you rapidly distinguish names from dates, why not? I’ve personally never found pausing to change colors worth the time, but you might.

For me, I limit this technique to specific “seek and find” tasks. Highlighting in just one color – sparingly – is the best strategy when I don’t mind marking up my books.

Alternatives to Highlighting

There are alternatives to highlighting as well. These are tidier and a bit easier on the eyes than a sea of neon in your text.

For example, try something I’ve coined the Marginalia Dot, a simple dot in the margins.

You can also use squares, circles, using brackets, or underlining in a text.

Develop your own system so you can discover what works best for you. Only you can, so dive in!

Re-Reading

I’m no stranger to re-reading a text, as you know.

Personally, I feel that re-reading is always a good idea after pre-reading and priming as well as after reading a book, and even after note gathering and memorization.

Now, I know that one of the reasons why re-reading is frowned upon is not because of the effectiveness of the technique itself.

It’s user error.

People have just not thought to budget and schedule the time for re-reading. The key is to set aside the time, instead of blaming time for being what it is.

Keyword Notes

While the precise definition of “keyword notes” varies from person to person, it generally just means boiling bigger ideas down into individual words that help us unlock the larger concept.

For example, on this mind map, I boiled down an entire concept related to practice down to just that keyword, even though multiple ideas were involved.

Not madness like this early mind map I created (though this approach was not entirely for nothing):

A problem that many learners face is that they just don’t know what keywords they should use to unlock the larger concepts.

The best way to gain clarity? Ask.

Ask your professor, ask other students, or even the department secretary. Ask for copies of previous exams, or explore related texts by using indexes, bibliographies and online search tools suggested by librarians.

You must become a bit of a self-directed detective. Learn to ask the “right” questions by just getting started with asking them.

Also, here’s a next-level mindset tip: Let go of the idea that you could ever know everything there is to know. We are all constantly learning. We are lifetime learners, constantly searching out “keywords.” Accept this fact and enjoy the ride.

What Makes The “Good Accelerated Learning Techniques” Coming Up So Good?…

If highlighting, re-reading, and keyword notes are bad, what makes an accelerated learning technique good?

The same things that make the bad, bad! (Mind-blowing, I know.)

Remember, it’s not so much about the techniques, as it is the strategic deployment of the right technique in the right context.

When it comes to the classic accelerated learning techniques, let’s explore more of the details that will help you choose based on the learning situations you find yourself in.

Self-Explanation

There are many ways to practice self-explanation, such as the Feynman technique:

Another method is to perform regular progress checks. Here’s how:

Record and analyze your progress. You don’t have to be hard on yourself if you don’t see a rapid improvement or something you believe is measurable, but really invest the time to explore where you are at with your learning journey.

For related tips like these, please see:

How to Create An UNSHAKABLE Memory Palace Training Routine

Take Practice Tests

Whether they be in textbooks, online, or are previous tests from your department of study, there are practice tests widely available for you to utilize if you seek them out.

Once you take the time to find “where you’re at,” and know what needs improvement in your knowledgebase, fill in the gaps with some “brute force learning.”

Although this accelerated learning term sounds like cramming, it isn’t.

Instead, putting on a timer and gobbling up as much related information as you can helps foster better understanding. It’s a powerful alternative to saying “I don’t understand.”

Instead, you tell yourself “I’m going to understand this. This is not something that I get right now, but I’m going to write out what it is I don’t get, and then I’m going to craft a plan that helps me seal the gaps.”

In this way, you are taking charge of your education through self-explanation and a little tough love. So the next time you get hung up on something, journal the nature of the problem and then write out the most likely way to solve it.

Like this:

“I don’t understand this concept about nuclear fission. My book defines it as ______________. What I don’t understand specifically is _____________. To help myself understand, I’m going to search the key terms on Wikipedia, YouTube and try to find a few blog posts from experts on Google.”



Isn’t a small bit of time spent in self-explanation better than giving up?

Elaboration

Elaboration is a mental process where you repeatedly ask yourself the classic questions of “Who, what, where, when, why, and how?”

Instead of just reading a text, this approach allows you to dig into it contextually. It’s essentially a means of manually injecting curiosity into your learning process.

For example, when dealing with mathematical formulas (for example) you can ask:

Who came up with this?
What were they doing with it?
When did they come up with it?
Where were they when they came up with it?
Why did they come up with it?
How exactly did they come up with it?

Really engage in the mental process of doing more than reading, but exploring, through questioning, the context.

Historical context can be very important!

The more you look at historical contexts, the more you’re able to compound a variety of levels of information. This act is itself a memory aid because you create more mental connections while doing it.

You’ll also want to use tools of comparison and contrast. Compare things historically, geographically, and geo-historically.

The possibilities are infinite. Use the power of combining multiple levels with these simple questions to your advantage.

The Power Of Consequences

Finally, take into consideration consequences of things which are always important to know.

For example, you can ask: “For those who understand the consequences of this knowledge, what happens for them as a result?”

Albeit conceptual, this is yet another layer of information that can deeply bolster your understanding and instantly make things more memorable.

At the end of the day it all comes down to getting granular with the text and diving deeper than a surface level of engagement so common amongst those who read passively.

Proper Goal Setting

You must have a purpose and a why to what you’re doing. Too many times young people are pushed into making major life decisions at a very early age. Even if these people do become successful, they often wind up wearing golden handcuffs.

What exactly are golden handcuffs?

Golden handcuffs chain your life when you’re successful in completing goals, but you wind up miserable because you’ve led yourself into a career that is very different from what you wanted to do.

For example, how many highly successful doctors or lawyers had childhood dreams of becoming artists or musicians? What about the corporate executive who really wanted to be an author when he or she grew up?

At surface level they have it all figured out and should be happy. But we all know how it goes. In reality, so many people who seem successful are actually unfulfilled. And sometimes, accelerated learning techniques helped lead them into the maze that traps them.

How can this be avoided?

Easy: Proper goal setting.

Set goals that:

You can actually accomplish
You actually want the outcome of,
Help you grow
Give you options beyond the outcome so that you’re able to go in different directions after you’ve accomplished a certain level of goal.

Many people set goals that require smaller goals on the way to a larger goal, like stepping stones.

The smaller goals build up larger and larger until the ultimate goal is accomplished, one leading to the next.

Understand that even the smallest goal has to start somewhere. This should be based upon your existing competence. Proper goal setting takes into account an already established knowledgebase, no matter how small.

Proper goal setting also is conscious of the Challenge-Frustration curve. You may find yourself bored as things get easier, as your goals are achieved, and, admittedly, that is a tortuous thing. Experiment and find the balance of giving yourself sufficient challenge, but not so much that you are constantly frustrated and become burnt out.

Finally, take into consideration the 80/20 rule when goal setting.

Remove or Manage Distractions

Easier said than done right?

After all, distractions can be internal or external. Oddly enough, it’s the internal distractions that are bigger, meaner, and nastier than anything from the outside world.

Internal Distractions

Internal distractions are largely mental. The stories we tell ourselves, and the way we convince ourselves we’re not good enough, smart enough, or capable is grossly unfair.

Although such rotten mental content has no place in an intelligent mind, nonetheless, it’s there.

More crazy:

We reason and justify negativity so that we believe it’s logical and our truth. It’s a constant inner battle.

In my experience, meditation and taking care of diet and sleep are the best cure.

External Distractions

Distractions can also be external.

Take into consideration your learning environment. Is it too crowded? Too noisy? How is the lighting? Find out if a steady hum of people and bright lights is beneficial to your or a distraction.

Also, do you work better in a more dimly lit space with silence? Experiment with your study space to find what works best for you. Take steps to remove or reduce those environmental distractions to multiply your efforts.

Multi-Sensory Learning

We’ve talked in great detail about the Big Five of Learning – reading, writing, listening, and speaking and their benefits to memorization and learning. By creating a multi-sensory experience, far more physical and mental connections are made.

When you use multi-sensory learning across multiple disciplines, the material becomes more naturally etched in your mind.

In addition to the Big Five explore the idea of distributed practice. Experiment with studying in short sessions, learning broken up into smaller bursts, over a long period of time.

Learn Faster By Changing Spots

Finally, try changing contexts or locations. The novelty of a new learning environment may be exactly what you need for retention.

Once you’ve found your ideal learning environment explore places with the same aesthetic.

Rotate between several cafes or area libraries. If you find yourself hitting a wall at a location, move to the next. You can even take the opportunity to walk between the places as a Memory Palace journey. Here’s how:

Yes, taking a break to walk between locations really can help you learn faster. It’s great for writing too (most of the articles on this blog were written while walking between cafes, as it happens.)

Tony Buzan with Anthony Metivier and Phil Chambers

Coaches and Mentors

Coaches and mentors are huge for accelerating your learning.

If you don’t have one, you should figure out how to get one.

Not only do you have the actual expertise of the person who’s gotten where you want to get, but they can see what you’re doing with a granular level of detail that someone who is not at that place that you want to get can never see.

We know there are benefits to a study group and discussion among peers, but a coach or a mentor is next level engagement. They can pick up the details of what you’re doing wrong, and what you’re doing right and give you advice, from personal experience, on how to improve.

If your discipline is so niche or you are unable, for any reason, to find a mentor, consider Tim Ferriss’s  idea of DiSSS.

D stands for deconstructing.

Look at top level experts or performers in your field. Analyze what they are doing right, or what works for them. What techniques have led to their success? What strategies have they utilized to excel at their craft?

Find and use the great ideas, but also use your critical thinking skills. What failures and setbacks have they had along their journey? Knowing their weaknesses and making note of their failures and missteps can help you to avoid those same mistakes.

(I has no representation. It is simply a placeholder vowel so the acronym can be spoken, therefore easily remembered.)

S is selection from similarity.

Selection involves meta learning or knowing how to learn. For example, if you have a goal of learning multiple languages, start with the second language where you started with the first.

If you are learning vocabulary and you began with household objects for your first language – bed, table, door, chair, etc., –  begin with this same vocabulary for the next language. Craft a modus operandi.

S stands for study. You have to put in the work. There’s no shortcut there. Studying is focused time and effort.

The final S represents stakes. Simply put, we’re talking about having skin in the game. Invest in yourself. Make sure you have the best possible training that you can get. If coaching and mentorship is an option for you (and even if it isn’t), make it happen.

Is Simplicity Actually Worth It?

There’s a trend out there these days that involves learning gurus urging people to seek out simplicity. After all, we naturally shy away from complication, and the sharks know how confirmation bias works. They’re singing exactly the tune most people want to hear.

Instead, I suggest that you ask yourself this difficult question:

“Should I simplify or look complexity in the eye?”

If you really want to experience accelerated learning, I challenge you to avoid the easy route. Stop simplifying things for simplification’s sake.

Learning doesn’t need to be simple, and the best science we have shows beyond a doubt that learning must be challenging in order for growth to take place.

Instead of simplifying information, make it manageable. Not easy, but manageable. In other words, deconstruct the steps involved, just as Tim Ferriss suggests.

Above all, remember to keep flexible. You may need to rework your plans, examine your goals for practicality’s sake, or raise the stakes. For many people, they’re goals actually aren’t lofty enough.

And just get started!

Once in motion, you’ll soon see that everything that once seemed tough looks very different on the other side.

I’m talking about the side of acceleration that you’ll be proud of.

Why?

Because it is real, earned and entirely your own through authentic experience.

The post 9 Awesome Accelerated Learning Techniques [Beyond Mnemonics] appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

How to Create An UNSHAKABLE Memory Palace Training Routine

If you want to create an unshakable Memory Palace training routine, here’s the most important point:

Your memory exercise routine needs to be immovable from your schedule.

Like a mountain.

Think for a second about what mountains represent:

Mountains symbolize strength, and they dominate the landscape. Mountains endure extreme weather, erosion, and yet remain sturdy.

Now, you may not think of your mind as being as sturdy and consistent as a mountain.

But when it comes to establishing memory ability and the mental power consistent memory training can create in your life, this level of sturdiness is possible.

All it takes is self-discipline, the application of the right techniques, and an established routine you love to maintain.

How do I know?

For one thing, I’ve recited the same passages from memory for nearly two and a half years (Ribhu Gita and Upadesa Saram).

For many years more, I’ve released podcasts, blog posts and videos with (almost) weekly consistency. Only a regular memory practice and personal discipline makes accomplishing such goals possible.

Along the way, I’ve interviewed and made friends with many of the best memory athletes and memory experts on the planet. They’ve inspired me on my mission to spread knowledge about memory techniques as far and wide as possible, and to keep up with memory training each and every day.

Here’s what I’ve learned about Memory Palace training routines along the way.

How To Topple The Biggest Barriers To Consistent Memory Training

First things first, you must master your mindset.

This step will help you eliminate the pain people associate with training, and the flight mode the fear of pain places people in.

Listen, I know it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re building your first Memory Palace Network.

Heck, for some people, even the first Memory Palace can be a challenge.

That’s why I created this free course and separated it into smaller and simpler steps:

But here’s the truth:

Even the simplest course in the smallest amount of steps will still challenge you.

Not only is challenge to be expected…

It’s normal! Authentic brain exercise that leads to better memory must be a challenge. Otherwise, you won’t grow.

This fact (one that all scientists and top performers acknowledge) means that challenges are never a reason to accept defeat.

Yet… I’ve heard the same complaint a thousand times:

“Oh this is so much work.” “How will I ever have time for this? What if it doesn’t work?”

How To Escape The “Pain Vs. Gain” Hamster Wheel

Well, what if?

Mental mastery starts with giving up fear of the unknown.

Why is this so important?

Because life is – and always will be – filled with unknowns!

For example, I just started memorizing Chinese characters.

All of a sudden, my brain starts melting under questions for which there is no answer:

What if I spend time on characters I won’t use?
What if I don’t have enough Memory Palaces?
What if I give up?
What if, what if, what if…

The good news is:

I know how to shut these questions about the unknown off. And I can help you. Here’s how:

You need to separate your “pain thoughts” from your “gain thoughts.”

After all, the dread created by thoughts of “so much work” erases the promise of what you stand to gain.

Plus, you can get all kinds of interference, as memory scientists call it, just one of many causes of forgetting.

How To “Flip The Script”

Instead of focusing on the pain, flip the script. Ask instead:

“What if I actually had a fully functional Memory Palace Network and could memorize information quickly? AND not only memorize it, but have it at my fingertips, when I need it?”

Replace focus on the pain with a serious grasp on the outcomes, the benefits, and the goals needed to help you create your first Memory Palace Network. Then create the simple systems that will help you achieve those goals.

Want proof that the Memory Palace technique works? This memory science makes it undeniable! All you need to bring is the practice. The tips below will help. Keep reading!

Fight Vs. Flight:

How to Raise The Fists Of Your Memory And Keep Punching

Are “fight” or “flight” behaviors typical for you?

If you’re not sure, think about the last time you faced a really big challenge.

Did you dive in, or did you sit still and further cement your status as a “couch potato?” through more inactivity? (Let me know in the comments below if you wish.)

Now think about creating that Memory Palace Network (here are some varying examples of this memory technique to help you).

Do you see it as a challenge you can rise to or something to run from?

If you’re running from it, see if you can’t craft a different story for yourself. See yourself diving into battle without fear, for example.

Such a simple shift in mindset really can enable you to make it happen instead of throwing your hands up in the air, admitting defeat and hiding your head in the sand.

You really can harness those runaway, unhealthy, defeatist thoughts. You just need to step back from your ego a bit and objectively view the nature of your thoughts. Or use this simple tip:

Contrary to popular belief, this form of self-inquiry like this does not lead to paralysis analysis.

Instead, an honest analysis of how your mind creates fears and endless self-doubt really can help you take action. You really can start to understand that the barriers you face are really just thoughts in your mind. Walking meditation can help if you don’t like asking and answering these kinds of questions while sitting still.

In all cases, you must take action in order to fully understand how memory techniques work.

Put it this way:

How would you know that you can’t lift Thor’s hammer until that you’ve actually had the handle in your grip?

This is where having a proper mindset separates the wheat from the chaff.

You must have an “all-in” attitude. You’ve got to go for it with laser-focused intent.

The only question is… how do you develop the mindset that allows you to leave your fear and overwhelm about such a “big task” behind?

Use The World’s Most Powerful Cliché And Find Your “Why”

“Know your why” is a cliché, to be sure.

But it works for a reason, and not just because it’s identifiable and relatable.

Thinking about your why causes you to take a long, hard look at your reason behind doing anything, much deeper than surface level reasons like looking smarter or getting a raise.

For this reason, every time we think about our Memory Palace training routines, we will do very well to revisit our why.

How To Dig Into Your Why

Ask yourself “What do I really need these techniques for?”

It is to become a memory champion? To pass exams? To learn languages?

Is it that you want to be able to deal with a large volume of information, or are you more concerned with the speed at which you’re learning and retaining information?

Next, dig deeper.

I recommend that you look for at least five levels of why.

These reasons do not necessarily have to be in a hierarchy of importance. It’s just important that you have enough fuel to draw upon when times get tough or other priorities start to compete with your memory training schedule.

Example of Five Levels Of Why

For example, here are my five levels:

To grow the garden of my knowledge through multiple layers of connection
To deepen my understanding of how world history and philosophy connect
To correct errors where they exist and increase factual accuracy
To increase cultural understanding and communication through ongoing language learning
To maintain brain health through continual brain exercise

You might struggle at first to reach five reasons. Keep practicing and you’ll get there.

The Bucket List Technique

Another way to find your why involves creating a “bucket list.”

Think of the things you would really like to do, and then ask yourself “Why would you like to do them?”

Then ask yourself “Why else?” and repeat.

If you can’t figure out five reasons, or five whys, why you want to do a thing… what are you even bothering wanting to do it for? Do you really want it after all?

This high level “why” will help you not to waste time on training for things you don’t actually want to do, because your training will fall apart if you don’t actually want the goal you set out for.

Do you have to stop at five?

Of course not.

But when you have at least five, you’ll discover it’s easy to complete the next, crucial step: Crafting a Vision Statement.

And as you can see from Joe’s email and extract from his Memory Journal after he watched the video above, this technique really works:

Vision Statement from Joe’s Memory Journal

“Hey professor

3 POWERFUL Elaborative Encoding Memory Exercises

Elaborative encoding isn’t the sexiest term memory science has come up with, is it?

No, but it sure is fantastic when it plays out in real life.

After all, use this memory technique well, and you can  memorize a dozen names (or more) at any meeting or party.

Not to mention several dozen details about:

Occupations
Hobbies
Relationship statuses
Locations
Educational and professional backgrounds
… and much, much more!

Imagine being able to remember so much about all the people you meet… within seconds of hearing the details.

Wouldn’t that be a great skill to have?

(If you don’t think so, I’d love to hear why not in the comment section below!)

The best part (when you have these skills)?

You’ll have it all perfectly organized and reachable in your mind. These details will have literally gone from short term memory to long term memory within seconds.

Don’t Fear Memory Science!

Now, I realize that a lot of people hear the scientific terms for how memory techniques work and are immediately turned off.

If that’s you, here’s the blunt truth:

You’re missing out on a huge opportunity to improve your memory by understanding more about how and why it works.

And even though a term like “elaborative encoding” sounds complicated, it is actually:

Simpler than you might think
Something you’re doing already …
And always beneficial to practice so you get better over time

To help you out, I’ve designed three memory-boosting elaborative encoding exercises.

But first, you’ll be best served by understanding exactly what elaborative encoding is.

Effective elaborative encoding is like having a vibrant, multi-connected ecosystem of connections in your mind

What is “Elaborative Encoding”?

Defining elaborative encoding is elementary! Yes, really!

And it’s not so much a thing, as it is a thing you do when using memory techniques.

This simple mental task starts with linking information that you want to remember with existing knowledge.

For example:

There’s a guy named Hunter at Burger Project (in Brisbane) where I go to get grass fed beef burgers (no bun).

I memorized his name almost automatically because I linked the information, Hunter’s name, with information I already know about hunters.

And I put several layers of that information together within seconds of hearing his name. I linked him to a camouflage-clad man with a gun, and not a generic one. Rather, I used my favorite Looney Tunes hunter, Elmer Fudd.

Elmer Fudd with the old Nintendo gun for Duck Hunt worked great as my Magnetic Image for “Hunter”

At the same time, I put that old plastic gun from the Nintendo game Duck Hunt in Hunter’s hand. (Not in reality, but in my imagination.)

By taking his name and associating it with Elmer Fudd and then going one step further and adding Duck Hunt, I was elaborating my mental imagery. In addition to thinking about what all of this looked like, I also:

Heard the sound of a duck-hunting gun and Elmer Fudd’s voice
Felt the Nintendo gun in my hand
Imagined the smell of gun smoke
Imagined the taste of roasted duck

In each case, I made the image weird, larger than life and filled it with vibrant action. Hunter literally shot Elmer Fudd before I started eating him as if he were a duck.

All combined, these layers of elaboration made the name Hunter even more memorable. This process only took a few seconds, and I’ve never forgotten his name since.

What Else Can This Style of Mnemonic Elaboration Be Used For?

Not, you may think that this all sounds fine and dandy for names. But here’s the thing:

Elaborative encoding can be applied to any knowledge.

If you can take that knowledge, make associations and manipulate size, color, speed, duration, distance, mood, emotion, and space… you can memorize anything.

When can elaborative encoding be used?

Any time.

But in the beginning, just focus on the keywords related to the information you want added to your knowledgebase.

From there, you can branch out to more challenging memory tasks, like memorizing scripture.

Otherwise, you’re creating more work for yourself before you have the needed skill set. Why put the cart ahead of the horse?

The Main Tools of Elaborative Encoding

Elaborative encoding is both semantic and echoic.

Semantic encoding has to do with the structure, and oftentimes, meaning of information.

For example, in learning the letters of the alphabet, you probably didn’t start with the letter Q.

Instead, you learned your A, B, Cs through song, in alphabetical order (a structure).

You concentrated on each letter individually as you learned the sound each letter makes.

Later, you learned how to recognize them when written, and how to write them yourself.

The Magisterial Role Of Mental “Free” Association

To take another example, if I say the word “red,” you might picture a stop sign, firetruck, or big, juicy apple. You associate red with its meaning, with examples of that color in the world. This is an element of elaborative encoding.

But that’s not all …

Elaborative encoding can also be echoic, or relating to sound.

It can be the literal interpretation or imitation of sounds, such as onomatopoeia:

A frog croaks, bees buzz, cats meow, and horses neigh.

These sounds are familiar and engrained, so that when we hear a “woof,” we instantly picture a dog.

All of these connections are already in your brain. That’s what makes it so easy to use them along with the classic memory techniques.

Sound like “free” creativity?

It is. The only cost is being human.

What Else Can You Elaborate? …

You don’t have to stop with elaborating your mental imagery. You can also…

Elaborate organization itself.

Look:

Memory Palaces are the go-to tool of most mnemonists. They are in essence the palette upon which we “paint” our elaborative encoding.

Other tools include the alphabet image list of the pegword method, as well as the 00-99 PAO List.

These organizational tools, powerful on their own, can be multiplied by using them in combination with each other. Think of them as elaboration inside of elaboration.

I help you further here:

Elaborate your state.

Think of the state that you’re in. What is it that you’re doing? Are you relaxed, present, and aware, or just simply floating through your day? Make use of relaxation and meditation techniques, even breathing exercises, to elaborate your personal state.

For example, in the beginning, you’ll want to beware of noise. It can distract you as you try to memorize. Later, as memory expert John Graham shares, yo should practice Memory Palaces in both noisy and quiet environments for mental simulation.

Elaborate your memory consolidation.

It is no secret that sleep is very important for memory consolidation, but it is not as widely known that is dependent on your age, meaning memory elaboration decreases with age.

It’s therefore a “no brainer” that we should try to squeeze every ounce of benefit to our memory by practicing good sleep habits, as well as tending to our overall health in general.

This means a proper diet, socialization (face-to-face interactions with others, and a consistent, daily routine, including a morning ritual to start your day off in the best possible way.

So how do we put all these ideas into practice so that our memory improvement efforts flow? With three simple exercises (check this out for more advanced Memory Palace training exercises):

#1: The Abstract Concepts Elaboration Exercise

The goal of this exercise is to practice the elaborative encoding of concepts.

To begin, select a list of non-visual concepts, or words.

Nothing fancy!

Seriously. There’s no need to run to a dictionary of philosophy (though you can if you want).

Just start with concept words you already know. These are words that contain basic concepts and ideas like:

Justice
Truth
Economy

Try to come up with a list of 10 such conceptual words that are already familiar to you.

If 10 is too much, you can always scale back. Challenge yourself appropriately, while avoiding piling on so many concepts that you just wind up frustrated.

Once you have your list established, use a Memory Palace with an appropriate number of Magnetic Stations, and make associations that let you memorize the words on your list.

For example, if you’re a metalhead, Metallica’s …And Justice for All probably comes to mind when you hear the term justice.

In this case, you could use James Hetfield to represent justice. Or maybe an icon of justice has stolen his guitar, and he wants it back.

Are you more of a comic book fan?

No problem! Think about Superman and his infamous tagline, “Truth, justice, and the American way.”

Encode your entire list, making associations with your memory palace, elaborating these associations – maybe Superman is tossing tea on James Hetfield’s guitar, causing Hetfield to seek justice. By bringing the two together…

You’re elaborating elaboration!  That is a very powerful way to boost your memory, indeed.

Finally, test the strength of your abstract elaborations. Use Recall Rehearsal as you write out your list into your Memory Journal.

For more practice, add more conceptual words. Now might be the time to get out that dictionary of philosophy!

#2: The Name Elaboration Exercise

Next, put together a list of names.

What kind of names? How about ones that relate to your field of interest?

Are you a budding scientist? List pioneers in your field.

If you’re an aspiring artist, who are your influences?

Are you a talented home cook? Who are some of your favorite professional chefs?

To take another example, memory science is obviously important to me, both personally and professionally. Two innovators in the field are Fergus Craik and Robert Lockheart.

I can remember Fergus Craik by recalling my aunt’s mother who used to live in Fergus, Ontario.

Craik sounds similar to kraken, a mythological sea creature. So, perhaps my aunt’s mother is battling a kraken.

With Robert Lockheart, I remember this same aunt’s brother was named Robert.

While her mom is battling the kraken, Robert is having his heart ripped out by the Loch Ness monster.

Quite an image, right?

Not until it has all of the Magnetic Modes, it isn’t.

I need to add sound, some sense of feeling, and everything taught in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass to make sure the images really pop out in my Memory Palaces.

With your list of names, always seek to push the limits. The more “out there,” the more poignant it will be in your mind.

Encode your list, just as you did with concepts, using names, practice Recall Rehearsal, and test yourself.

#3: The Vocabulary Elaboration Exercise

For this exercise, choose vocabulary in your mother tongue.

(Or, for more of a challenge, choose words from a foreign language. Here’s 15 reasons why learning a language is good for your brain.)

Make associations for this vocabulary in Memory Palaces, elaborate the associations, and then test yourself.

If you feel like you’re doing “too much,” or going “too far,” it’s just right.

Focus on the elaboration of the information and elaborate the elaborations. Then you can focus on increasing memory retention. 

Push forward and make sure you’re not just settling with good enough in your practice. Good enough will not sharpen your skills when it counts. You need to be challenged.

Your Next Steps Along The Never Ending Memory Adventure…

It’s easy really.

Step beyond the exercises and into the realm of use.

And as many kinds of use as you can.

For example, use these memory exercises in your daily learning practice across multiple disciplines. The more connections you make along your daily learning journey, the faster and more intuitively elaborations will come to your mind.

Finally, challenge yourself.

Try adding numbers to names. Learn the Major Method or Dominic System to make this possible.

Also, mix and match these powerful brain exercises. Use vocabulary paired with names and concepts.

Constantly evolve your practice by adding challenges. Scale back if frustration occurs, and then add more challenge before you’re ready so you keep growing.

Then, the next time you’re at an event and you meet new people, you’ll have no problems whatsoever coming up with the perfect Magnetic Image for each and every person you meet.

Bonus Memory Training Content:

Check out the replay of this training with a live audience in the house. And make sure you’re subscribed if you want to join us for future sessions.

The post 3 POWERFUL Elaborative Encoding Memory Exercises appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Delayed Gratification Tips For Memory Training With Matt Dobschuetz

All self improvement requires delayed gratification, especially memory training.

Now, I’m going to take you on an 180 degree spin, into the heart of a storm many millions of people face. Particularly men.

You see, I get a lot of private questions from people about memory.

And one of them involves online addiction, particularly around porn.

And that leads to compulsive behaviors, one of them being masturbation, more colorfully known as “fapping.”

Guess what?

Too much of it, especially when you’re wired for hours in front of a screen, definitely robs your memory of energy that could be used for memory training.

Worse:

There’s no denying that more of this behavior is happening now than ever before.

The good news is that people have become incredibly frank about the problem.

In fact, I often receive this question in my inbox:

“Should I try a no-fap challenge to help me improve my memory?”

To date, I’ve never addressed the question formally.

An instead of taking the stance and saying, “If porn and masturbation is a distraction from your memory training, eliminate it and see what happens,” I decided to call in an expert. 

So let me introduce you to my friend Matt Dobschuetz.

Matt’s the man behind Porn Free Radio and RecoveredMan.com. He is a podcast show host, author and recovery coach for men dealing with addictions to pornography with one on one and group coaching through REV Group Coaching, which he founded.

On this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, Matt and I discuss the problems porn addiction creates for your memory training progress. 

Memory Vs. Porn Addiction (And How You Can Win)

We cover methods to overcome these memory-robbing impulses, and the science behind why that dependency develops in the first place.

Matt shares his own journey with overcoming porn addiction and we discuss how it relates to memory, and how using memory techniques can help to eliminate porn dependency.

If you struggle with true intimacy with a partner…

If you find yourself gravitating towards masturbation for stress relief …

If your sexual confidence is so low it’s almost nonexistent …

And if you habitually watch pornography and don’t even know why …

This podcast is for you.

Press play now and learn more about:

The rise in pornography accessibility with broadband internet and smartphones
How erectile dysfunction relates to porn dependency
Lack of focus as the result of a pornography habit
The true reason behind lack of confidence in the bedroom
How the experience of failure with overcoming porn addiction can bleed into everyday areas of life (school, work, and even simple conversations with the potential partners)
How to recognize patterns that create opportunities for eliminating porn use and change those destructive patterns to positive growth habits
Relating the Challenge-Frustration Curve to breaking the porn addiction cycle
How to use memory techniques and exercises to overcome porn dependency and porn habit behaviors
What triggers porn addictive behaviors (it’s less automatic than you think)
How to deal with triggers and threats when they occur in real-life situations, both head on and through elimination techniques
Using self-identification as a means to combat porn habit behaviors
Being present and connected as powerful tools for recovery

My biggest takeaway from our interview?

I feel like the issues boils down to an inability to delay gratification. If you’d rather watch this episode of the podcast to discover tips for better strategies, just click play below:

Further Resources From And on the Web:

Recovered Man (Matt’s official website)

REV Group Coaching

Recovered Man on Facebook

Matt Dobschuetz on Twitter

“Is Pornography Addictive?” (APA online)

Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction

Your Brain on Porn

Surviving PTSD with the Help of Memory Techniques featuring Nicholas Castle

The post Delayed Gratification Tips For Memory Training With Matt Dobschuetz appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

3 Ways Low Student Debt Helped Me Preserve Memory In Grad School

Don’t you hate that feeling every year as more fees and living expenses stack up… and it always seems like job prospects are plummeting? 

If you’re nodding yes, let me tell you:

I’ve been there. 

I remember one day during the depths of my deepest depressions receiving an ominous letter. It said that my loans were coming due much earlier than expected. 

The loan people didn’t care that I had a documented history with mental illness and even won some scholarships just for people with medical issues like mine.

They didn’t care that they were sending the letter at the worst possible time as I my exam dates were drawing ever nearer during the dark of winter.

The Debt Collectors Don’t Care About The Stress On Your Memory

And they certainly didn’t give a damn that my doctoral supervisor had recently given me a soul crushing reality-check speech. While on a walk, he told me how it was very unlikely that anyone graduating during my year was ever going get the job of their dreams. 

Well, even though this letter hit me hard when I received it, I at least had one thing going for me that most of my fellow students did not. And this special strategy ensured that I had a high return on investment, even while going into debt. 

Let me tell you all about it, along with a few other strategies that helped me keep my debt low that ANY student can put in place right now. I’m also including a powerful fact about student debt at the end you’re not going to want to miss.

The Tips Are For University Students, And Good

For Anyone Struggling With Debt

None of what I’m about to share with you is meant to make you think I’m an arrogant braggart.

Far from it.

I’ve just had a low tolerance for risk all my life. That’s a good thing. It’s made me productive and reduced a lot of problems. My hope is that these tips will help any student stop risking so much so you can focus on the lovely adventure of life without so much strain and pain.

Plus, I’ve made sure these tips will help anyone struggling with any kind of debt. You don’t need the stress on your memory.

The best part?

Low stress helps you preserve memory ability, the number one asset we all need to cherish and protect above anything else.

So here’s the first thing I want to share that helped keep my student debt incredibly low while making sure that my jobs weren’t a waste of time:

1. Get The Best Possible Jobs

I always worked during university, and with a few rare exceptions, I found jobs that either directly supplemented my education or kept my mind free for contemplation. 

The first institute of higher learning I attended and worked at.

In this first case, I worked in three libraries:

The Okanagan University College library on the Salmon Arm campus, the Prince George Public Library and as an assistant to the head research librarian at York University. 

The Prince George Public Library is a great Memory Palace and workplace.

These jobs were great for one simple reason:

In each position, I could either listen to audiobooks while replacing books and shelf-reading, or do my own research while learning from a master. 

Being able to spend time on my own goals while sharpening my skills helped reduce stress as well because these roles wasted barely a minute of precious time. Nothing bugged me more then, and nothing bothers me more to this day, than frittering away time on work that builds someone else’s dreams with out also developing my own. 

Were these hugely well-paying jobs? On one level, no, but every penny helped me borrow less on my student loans. And each paid off incredibly well in terms of what I learned and how I could perform double-duty.

Plus, I would always find unexpected information that accelerated learning and memory techniques helped me rapidly remember and connect with my own projects. 

My Secret Strategy For Getting Expensive Books For Free

Even better, I was able to directly request these libraries order books I needed, and most of the time they would, and even speed up the process because it was an internal request. This simple benefit saved oodles of money in the long run. 

Finally, library staff are usually very knowledgeable people, if not scholars themselves. That makes librarians a pleasure to be around.

Overall, these jobs were golden, so if you’ve never thought about working for either a university or public library, I highly recommend both. 

The Public Film “Library” That Gave Me Heaps Of Memory Exercise

Along these lines, I also worked for the legendary Queen Video in Toronto.

I worked at the Queen Street and Bloor Street stores. This one was my favorite.

Since Film Studies were a huge part of all my degrees, it was amazing to have direct access to what was then considered the biggest collection of VHS and DVDs in North America.

Although much busier than some of my library jobs, the endless questions about movies from the patrons kept me on my toes. Plus, the constant requests exercised my memory all day long. 

And it really was all day because my shifts were from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with only three breaks!

The Neighborhood Debt Reducer

More grueling jobs included my own little business of mowing lawns and shoveling snow across East York, or when I worked to assist the elderly in their homes through Community Care East York.

But I kept my eyes and ears open during this time and gathered dozens of Memory Palaces.

More importantly, I heard many stories about life from the senior citizens of our neighborhood. Their autobiographies were priceless because every time I went to work, I had multi-perspectives from stories of war and economic depression that helped me remember just how good I had things, even if my clinical depression legitimately felt like the hell it was.

Personally knowing many survivors of equally, albeit differently tough times was one of the greatest medicines. 

Plus, if you ever find yourself working in the homes of the elderly, you might just find yourself getting fed. I don’t have exact stats on how much money I saved during those years, but it was impossible getting out of those places without being invited to dinner or leaving with a bounty of fruit and vegetables from the gardens I helped tend.

Gardening Advantages Beyond A Quick Buck

And gardening not only reduces stress, but also gives you a skill set you can use for life. Tending tomatoes, mowing lawns and shoveling snow not only made me lots of money, but came with ample tips made from the currency of high quality homemade food. I was too stupid at the time to feed myself properly, so without these wonderful people, I probably would have died from malnutrition. 

I have many more stories of the jobs I held, but in sum, if you can’t find a decent job to help keep your loans and spending down, make one.

There’s no magic to it. I just knocked on the doors in my neighborhood, the same strategy that ultimately led to me getting a major research grant after I graduated, a story for another time.

As an additional tip, you can explore the advantages of bilingualism by helping families that speak a language you’re learning. The extra exposure and practice will help your fluency and make you a more attractive candidate for hire in the future. 

2. Budget and Monitor Your Expenses

Even as I was accumulating student debt that drove me bonkers with stress, I followed a budget and allocated resources for the things I needed. 

For example, I couldn’t concentrate during my depressions, so I had to buy a lot of audiobooks.

Back then there was no such thing as Audible, the library wasn’t able to get some of the exact programs I wanted, and in this case, there were crazy amounts of shipping.

But because I budgeted for learning materials, I was able to get what I needed and then sometimes resell the programs after siphoning the information into my mind. 

I could do this because, except for wasting too much money on the booze I used to self-medicate my depression (never realizing it was actually worsening it), I walked or rode my bike everywhere I could.

Also, I figured out a few ways to reduce the trips I needed to take to campus. For example, a few times I arranged to be write additional research papers in lieu of attendance grades.

One course in particular had 20% of the grade weighted just on showing up.

How Negotiating Better Class Attendance Saves Cash On Commuting

I told the professor I loved him and loved attending his course, but really needed an alternative arrangement. We agreed upon the length and depth of the additional work I would do, and bang presto, I completed the entire course without having to travel to the campus again from that day on.

And he really had no hard feelings. In fact, years later, he wound up sitting on my dissertation defense committee. This arrangement saved not only time, but also the transit fees.

The Zen Of Walking And Biking Towards Knowledge

Likewise, I took two directed reading courses in grad school.

In both cases, I arranged to meet the professors in cafes I could reach by bike or foot. On the one hand, a directed reading course can be more intense and feel like more work.

To be honest, it also lays more scrutiny on the work you produce because the professor isn’t forced to split attention to other students. But this is ultimately a good thing because it sharpens you for the career yet to come. 

Saving Tips From An Academic Monagamist

Also, this next one might seem like a weird tip, but I found it useful for many reasons:

Have a steady romantic partner and treat it like a marriage. 

All throughout university, I saw people driving themselves crazy with romantic pursuits instead of focusing on their studies.

Enjoying an inexpensive and soulful date in an amazing cafe that is also a powerful Memory Palace.

Look, I’m flesh and blood too, but dating is not only financially draining, but the many emotions drain energy too.

So I gave up the endless chase of the dating buffet for the less exotic, but ultimately more satisfying long-term game, even if I knew these relationships would ultimately not last.

I’m not really the best person to be giving relationship advice. But when it comes to everything that went into getting my PhD, purely through the observation of others (many of whom never made it to the finish line), I really do feel I spared myself a lot of drama and expense.

I circumvented a ton of pain by cultivating long-term romances, keeping them deep, but simple. And since they were usually with other university students, they were largely intellectual. Other than books and beverages, talking philosophy for hours on end is free and easy review and hardly costs a thing. 

3. Use Memory Techniques

The beauty of using memory techniques effectively and well is that you never fail exams. Absolute success means you never have to take courses over again or stack on additional years to complete your degree.

I saw many people fail courses and extend their stay at university, which ultimately stacks on more debt. The sooner and more directly you graduate, the less your education costs.

My first and second Master degrees, for example, were both two year programs and in each case, I completed them in just one, saving significant fees.

I also completed my PhD program ahead of and was even found eligible to pause the fees for an entire year while I waited for the dissertation defense committee to find a date for the great intellectual grilling.

This pause in paying tuition helped me leave Toronto, live in Manhattan and I even found a teaching gig over in New Jersey (at Rutgers) during this time. 

In other words, you not only save tons of time you can direct at other activities when you can learn faster and remember more.

You can also find other jobs that pave the path to a better future. For example, it helped a lot that I had Rutgers on my CV and a great reference when I knocked on the door of a director’s office in Germany. But if I’d been learning like a slow-poke, I wouldn’t have had the time to accumulate more practical experience in my field. 

So if you need to know how I memorized so much info so quickly, get started now:

You’ll love how it helps you strategize a full Memory Palace Network you can use to gobble down knowledge and keep it in your brain for when you need it. 

About that fact I mentioned at the beginning, there is an interesting study showing that student loan debt is negatively influencing how often people get married.

This research suggests that if you want to have a better marriage, or even get married at all, keep your debt as low as possible. Student debt may also cause people to have fewer kids too, so keep that in mind if you dream about having a family one day. 

Next, I suggest you watch these videos, hit the thumbs up, get subscribed if you aren’t already and keep the conversation going below. Thanks as always for the view, and until next time, keep yourself Magnetic! 

The post 3 Ways Low Student Debt Helped Me Preserve Memory In Grad School appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

3 Blazing Fast Ways To Increase Memory Retention

Memory retention… what the heck is it? Is it worth worrying about? If so, can it be improved?

We’re going to cover memory retention on this page and give you three blazing fast ways you can increase your ability to retain information.

The Simplest Definition Of Memory Retention

Overall, this term from the world of memory science is simply defined:

It is the ability to keep any information for different periods of time for the purpose of using it in the future.

And so if someone gives you their name, but you can’t , you haven’t retained it.

Why exactly we retain some things and not others is the subject for another post, but basically, we don’t really need a more robust definition for memory training purposes.

Nonetheless, you might be wondering about the differences between short term memory and long term memory when it comes to memory retention.

You might even be wondering about how working memory plays into the mix when it comes to learning faster and remembering more.

These are all great questions that we’ll be covering in the future, so make sure you have this so you’ll be notified:

Now, another question people ask is…

Why Is Memory Retention Important?

In addition to practical matters like remembering names, passing exams and learning new languages, memory retention helps you connect with yourself.

Think about it:

Every time you can’t recall information about your own life… it feels kind of weird, if not outright painful.

Self-punishment ensues and usually that only exacerbates the memory problems you might be facing.

So with an eye to helping you feel more connected with yourself, let’s dive into three rapid ways you can increase memory retention.

1. Take Better Care Of Your Brain

Look, I know everyone wants memory techniques that are easy and fun to use.

However, it only makes sense to care for the engine that makes memory possible in the first place.

For example, many people who complain of brain fog don’t need memory techniques on their own. They simply aren’t eating well.

Although diet is a tricky matter, you’ll find certain foods help improve memory better than others.

Diet has been a huge problem for me throughout my life, but I’ve one a lot to fix it and experienced much better memory as a result.

In my case, chronic pain has been the most mentally taxing and distracting problem.

Pain makes paying attention difficult.

When you can’t pay attention to information, memory retention goes out the window.

Reduce the pain, and your ability to pay attention and retain information in memory automatically goes up.

(And no, in case you’re wondering, these memory improvement vitamins are unlikely to help.)

Sleep Secrets for Better Memory Few People Consider

Next, we have sleep.

Although you might not normally think of it this way, not having enough sleep also creates pain the interrupts the ability to pay attention.

Being groggy and irritated, for example, is a kind of pain.

Plus, the brain simply cannot perform as well unrested as it can when you’re getting enough sleep.

What are the secrets?

Computer curfew
Journaling by hand, including gratitude journaling
Planning the next day’s activities
Bedtime rituals
Morning memory fitness activities, such as dream recall

Just by attending to diet and sleep (and stopping smoking), you can improve your memory retention, and it will happen faster than you might think.

2. Get Regular Memory Exercise

One of the easiest ways to improve memory retention is to regularly use your memory.

There are at least two kinds of memory exercise:

Active and passive.

I’ve got a wide variety of brain exercises you can play with, and here’s a condensed version of my favorite from the passive category.

It’s called The Four Details Exercise. All you do is notice 4 details about a person.

Don’t use any memory techniques. Just observe.

Later in the day, ask yourself to recall those details.

No Need To Give Yourself A Grade

It’s not a right or wrong memory retention test. It’s just a quick jog to make sure that you’re giving your memory regular exercise.

Active memory exercises for increasing retention might include using memory techniques. Here’s where “right and wrong” comes into play, and that’s all part of the fun.

For example, you can memorize a deck of cards and work on increasing either your speed of encoding, or the volume you can encode. Test yourself for accuracy of retention over different stretches of time (5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days, etc).

You can increase speed and volume with names, vocabulary, abstract shapes, numbers and even verbatim texts like song lyrics or poems.

Likewise, you can actively memorize vocabulary, historical dates, or the names of everyone in a company you want to work for (or already do).

3. Have A Long Term Learning Project

Okay, I know this doesn’t sound like a “blazing fast” tactic. But in reality, it is.

Here’s why:

Learning a language or memorizing large texts that you focus on over the long term produces incredible short term benefits when it comes to memory retention.

Improvements will happen for you because, as you use memory techniques consistently, you’ll build up something called “memory reserve.”

This term means that the more you know, the more you can know.

Why You Should Learn A Language To Increase Your Ability To Retain Information

Take language learning, for example.

As soon as you know about 850 words, you have all the building blocks you need to snap on more and more vocabulary and phrases.

Each new word and phrase you add builds up your memory reserve.

And this memory reserve helps explain why many people find it easier to pick up their next language. They’ve become good at the skill of building their memory reserve.

When it comes to memorizing large texts, I’ve been doing this with some scriptures written in Sanskrit.

The more I memorize, the easier it becomes to memorize even more due to this effect of memory reserve.

For example, the pool of Magnetic Imagery grows. Having more to draw upon means fewer Magnetic Images are fired off with less effort.

You’ll find this is also true when memorizing texts in your mother tongue. The more you do it, the greater ease with which you can move through words, expressions, ideas and more.

And again, you don’t have to wait forever for the memory retention benefits to kick in.

How To Start Investing In Your Brain (And Keep Consistent)

Just get started.

I know that sounds simplistic, but how else would you do it?

Next, be consistent. That means showing up at least a little.

Ideally, you’ll train your brain every day, but four times a week is a bare minimum.

Before you know it, you’ll feel like you have a completely revived brain that can conquer the world of information overwhelm with ease.

Again, we’ll talk in the future more about things like short term, long term and working memory, but the reality is that all these aspects of memory work together.

By following the 3 simple tips in the following video companion to this post, you’ll be working them comprehensively, holistically, and, dare I say, Magnetically.

The post 3 Blazing Fast Ways To Increase Memory Retention appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Bilingualism Advantages That Fortify Your Brain With Bartosz Czekala

Are you struggling to understand all of the bilingualism advantages people keep talking about?

Are you jealous of people already learning their third (or even fourth) language? Does bilingualism seem like something that’s simply out of reach? Do you feel as if you’re being held back by some invisible force to meet your goals in language learning?

Oftentimes we are crippled by our misconceptions of learning another language.

Worse, a lot of people don’t know just how beneficial bilingualism is for the human brain.

As a result, people blindly believe they’re just not smart enough.

Worse, they think that mass marketed learning methods “won’t,” or “don’t” work. That’s a big problem, especially if we’ve hit a wall with our learning journey. We tend to blame the techniques without looking at our strategies for using them. 

The Biggest Problems Language Learners Face

We may falsely believe we just don’t have the time to dedicate to learning a language, “It’s too late to start,” or we know we’ll never have the opportunity for immersion learning, so we simply give up.

My guest today on Magnetic Memory Method Podcast is Bartosz Czekala from Universe of Memory. 

As a multi-linguist, language teacher, and someone with a background in computer science, econometrics, and legal translation, Bartosz is also strikes me as world class mnemonist. With Polish as his native language, he learned Swedish in only four months, and speaks seven additional languages.

The Ultimate Bilingualism Advantages Await

To share his knowledge, Bartosz’ website pairs memory techniques with learning systems to help you master language learning in fun and creative ways.

Today we run the gamut of the journey of learning another language, from common barrier to success to the methods for guaranteed results and the pros and cons of various learning techniques. We explore the relationship of memory to language studies and the science behind it all.

If you’re looking for a real, unfiltered conversation about language learning, struggling to come to terms with “Is it for me?” this is the podcast for you.

In sum: it is possible to learn a foreign language. You just need to equip yourself with the right tools.

Just press play now to learn about:

The effect of diet and sleep on memory, specifically fasting and sleep deprivation
The correlation between focus and concentration and eating habits
The impact of the sun on overall mental health
How results are possible with every memory method, but not always optimal
The impracticality of apps for language learning
The biggest issues with textbooks and word frequency
The argument for spaced repetition and its usage for learning another language
The importance of being a “scientist” in your own mind
The benefits of context and meaning to learning foreign language vocabulary
Passive exposure versus active learning
How knowing multiple languages fortifies the health of your brain’s neural networks, lessen the forgetting curve, and maybe even give you an incredible career
Pros and cons of immersion and proxemics for language learning
The differences in language learning in adolescence versus adulthood

Further Resources on the Web, This Podcast, and the MMM Blog:

Bartosz’s Universe of Memory

Bartosz Czekala on LinkedIn

How to Learn Faster and Rediscover the Joy of Learning

The Science of Language Learning: How Learning a Language Affects Us

How to Learn and Memorize the Vocabulary of Any Language

The Freedom Journal For Language Learning

Teach Yourself (MMM Podcast Interview with Olly Richards)

Stoic Secrets for Using Memory Techniques with Language Learning

The post Bilingualism Advantages That Fortify Your Brain With Bartosz Czekala appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Surviving PTSD With The Help of Memory Techniques Featuring Nicholas Castle

Have you ever experienced trauma in your life that created mental blocks, or worse, PTSD?

Or do everyday situations remind you of terrible experiences from your past?

I know I am not alone when I say that there are painful memories that can be haunting.

From the death of a loved one, to near-death experiences and childhood trauma, we all have that “thing” that pops up from time to time and haunts us …

If we let it.

But here’s the powerful truth:

We don’t have to live our lives in a constant state of fear that these memories will be triggered.

Although we can’t prevent memories from flooding back at inopportune times, we can change how we respond to our triggers.

A Powerful PTSD Survival Story

To help those suffering from any kind of unwanted memories flooding their awareness, here’s what I’ve done:

On this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, I sit down with the founder of Bushcraft for Kids, Nicholas Castle.

His organization teaches children survival and outdoors skills to increase their self-motivation, life skills, and confidence through adventure.

Using these same memory techniques he teaches to his students, he explains his journey from being a young boy struggling with dyslexia to a former law enforcement officer living with post-traumatic stress disorder.

His secret to overcoming these setbacks?

The Memory Palace.

The thing that struck me most about our conversation was how versatile Memory Palaces became for Nicholas.

Not only was spatial memory and mnemonics essential to his success in his educational career, but also throughout his time in law enforcement. This role included public speaking, a healthy, but still stressful situation he had to deal with on top of his PTSD.

And you know what?

Nicholas enjoying a forest that also serves as a Memory Palace

Memory techniques saved the day yet again. A bit of time out in nature helping other people seems to have contributed to Nicholas’ success too.

If you want to know how Memory Palaces can help to transform every facet of your life, especially if you are dealing with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, like Nicholas, this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast is for you.

Press play above and discover:

How creating memory palaces can improve confusion from dyslexia (a condition that didn’t stop Dominic O’Brien from creating the Dominic System)
An important point about the logic behind creating Memory Palaces (including prompts for and how to create them)
The relationship between magic and memory through association
Notes on the influence of Tony Buzan and Harry Lorayne
How mnemonics can improve public speaking
The precise way memory techniques reduce the stress responsible for so much memory loss
How using memory techniques can help to influence large groups of people
Commonalities between hypnosis and mnemonics
The potential of memory techniques to manage PTSD symptoms
The versatility of meditation practice for concentration
How to use a Memory Palace Network as a practical learning tool

Further Resources on the Web, This Podcast, and the MMM Blog:

Nicholas Castle’s organization, Bushcraft For Kids

Nicholas on Twitter

How to Improve Memory Power and Concentration by Eliminating Stress

Memory Techniques and Dyslexia

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Test for Dyslexia: 37 Common Traits

How to Practice Memory Techniques For Studying Tough Subjects

The post Surviving PTSD With The Help of Memory Techniques Featuring Nicholas Castle appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.