Anthony Metivier's Blog, page 27

How to Study Fast: A Practical Guide To High Volume Learning At Speed

If you’re serious about learning how to study fast, get ready to say goodbye to those horrible emotions of anxiety and fear.

That’s right.

Instead of wringing your hands in terror every time you’re facing an exam or professional certification…

You can simply sit back and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

How can you trust me?

Great question. Here’s the answer:

I’ve got a Ph.D., two Masters, a BA and several certifications.

And I’m here to tell you that you really can study quickly and effectively without all the stress others go through.

Let’s get started.

How To Plan For Speed Studying Using Effective Scheduling

First things first, please understand this:

You should always schedule a planning session for how you’re going to get enough studying done.

Now I know you may be thinking that this seems contradictory. After all, you want to study quickly, and planning feels like it takes more time than it’s worth.

But think of it like this.

You’re throwing a backyard barbecue for your friends and family. It’s late summer and still quite hot outside.

What’s the number one thing your guests will need?

A cold drink!

You wouldn’t be prepared for the party if you just relied on your three measly ice trays in the freezer to chill everyone’s drinks would you?

Certainly not!

You’d stock up on bagged ice from the store along with all your other BBQ essentials. You could only be prepared for your guests if you planned ahead.

The same goes for your study sessions.

Just like making a list of all your barbecue supplies saved time and stress of filling up all those ice cube trays last minute, having a plan in place for studying is a real time saver.

How To Craft Your Studying “Plan Of Attack”

Planning can be as simple as writing down your plan of attack on paper.

Like this:

“I will commit X number of hours,” (or even minutes) “per day to studying.”

If you’re attending university and you have a syllabus, refer to that to plan your study sessions. It will tell you WHAT you need to study, then use your calendar to plan WHEN you will study, and even where you will study.

Why You Must Plan Your Study Breaks

It’s also important to plan for breaks.

Giving your mind a reprieve is essential for effective studying.

When I was in university I would study in the library, usually near a section that was music related.

This way, after I had studied for my predetermined amount of time, I could read about a topic I was generally interested in.

Or I would take a walk and read.

Unusual, I know, but it’s actually very relaxing and helps you keep learning while getting a break at the same time.

Plan For Unexpected Interruptions To Your Studies

We must remember though that life happens.

If we have a perfect plan in place for our study sessions then an emergency comes up, what then?

What if there is an illness in the family or a professor strike at university?

Because such things do happen, we must be flexible and revisit our plan.

Plan, and plan again, because life truly is unpredictable.

Finally, as you create and revise your plan make sure to schedule time for creating Memory Palaces.

Why?

Because a solid Memory Palace strategy is, without a doubt, the most effective way to study efficiently.

This fact is true because this memory technique unlocks your spatial memory and spatial mapping.

Just ask my friend and fellow memory expert Nelson Dellis.

The more you create and use Memory Palaces, the more they unlock multiple levels and layers of memory that you can use in order to learn faster.Which levels of memory exactly?

These ones:

Autobiographical memory
Episodic memory
Semantic memory
Procedural Memory
Figurative memory

And more… all unlocked through a Memory Palace devoted to improving your memory for studying to make your study sessions faster and more powerful.

In sum:

Benjamin Franklin famously said “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

Nothing could serve as a better, literal reminder for you to schedule those study sessions along with breaks and ideas for what you’ll do when things suddenly change gears.

Final Exam Study Tips That Will Simplify Your Life

The most important tip I can give you in terms of simplifying your learning life is this:

“Don’t cram.”

Seriously.

Cramming makes you feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and keeps you asking questions you cannot answer under pressure.

I’m thinking of questions like:

“Where do I start? How do I do this?” and “Where do I even begin?”

Now, overwhelm and frustration is totally normal.

But the kind of frustration that comes from cramming- it’s totally avoidable!

The Best Study Shortcuts Provided By The Big Five Of Learning

Aside from the obvious “Don’t cram,” I highly encourage you to truly understand the “Big Five” of learning, which are:

Reading
Writing
Speaking about the topic
Listening to others
Doing all of this from memory to help you remember everything better.

And you want to put the Big Five of Learning into action as frequently as possible.

This process will help you truly process and retain what you’ve read and make deep connections in your brain.

Here are some suggestions as to how you can make the Big Five easy and fun:

Listen to podcasts on the topic, or even a loosely related topic.
Write summaries of what you’ve read.
Join a study group (either online or offline – ideally both) to discuss the information you need to know. Discussion helps especially if you’re stumped on grasping a certain concept, or have a mental block about a subject.

All of these approaches help you gain a fresh perspective, especially if student with those in different disciplines that compliment yours).

When Push Comes To Shove: How to Study in One Night

But what if the unthinkable happens and the night before the exam you’re faced with the prospect of having to pull an all-nighter?

In the immortal words of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy, “Don’t Panic.”

First, break the study material down.

For example, if you had an exam solely based on one book and you procrastinated all semester and didn’t do the assigned reading.

Ask yourself “Okay, so how many chapters does this book have?”

Then ask, “How many pieces of information am I actually likely to remember tomorrow?”

Break this down further and say “There are 10 chapters in the book. The maximum I can memorize is three things per chapter,” then read for those three big ideas in each chapter.

For more on this technique, please see, How to Memorize A Textbook.

Use The Major Method (Or Major System) To Help Rapidly Remember Numbers

You can also use a memory technique called the Major Method.

This technique will help you remember where those pieces of “need to know” information are located in the book as you read because it helps you memorize the page numbers.

This helps you easily go back to those pages and commit them to memory.

Here’s where the Memory Palace, again, is key.

A Memory Palace lets you commit a room or station to each of these pieces of information.

Can’t Keep Up? Find Syllabi And Example Exams From The Past

Secondly, find example exams if you can from past semesters.

If your school won’t provide them, contact other schools. In the Internet age where virtually everything is available online, use that limitless database to your advantage.

Can’t find example exams on your own?

Network. Consult with others even at the last minute.

If you can work together to capture the big ideas, the “need to know information,” this will go a long way if you find yourself cramming the night before an exam.

The Most Effective Study Techniques For World Class Learning At Speed

Many students’ number one go-to strategy for studying is re-reading assignments and notes.

This learning technique, however, is simply not as effective as we believe.

Mark McDaniel, a Washington University psychologist said:

“On your first reading of something, you extract a lot of understanding. But when you do the second reading, you read with a sense of ‘I know this, I know this.’ So basically you’re not processing it deeply, or picking more out of it. Often, the re-reading is cursory – and it’s insidious, because this gives you the illusion that you know the material very well, when in fact there are gaps.”

Instead of the somewhat flawed, yet popular, re-reading, I suggest pre-reading instead.

What is pre-reading?

It’s simply this:

“The process of skimming a text to locate key ideas before carefully reading a text (or a chapter of a text) from start to finish.

Prereading is essentially an overview that “can increase reading speed and efficiency. [It] typically involves looking at (and thinking about) titles, chapter introductions, summaries, heading, subheadings, study questions, and conclusions.”

Another technique for active learning and effective studying is Magnetic note taking.

I’m not talking about the boring rote note taking that you’re likely used to.

I’m not suggesting you copy information down on an index card.

Instead, you need to be engaged, present in the moment and taking creative notes.

I detail everything about this in the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast here.

You can also use this style of note taking to create your Memory Palace networks. Add mind mapping for best results.

The Speed Learning And Memory Magic Of Acronyms

Use acronyms. We’re all familiar with them, especially in the digital age. ASAP, MIA, BTW, LOL, FYI – the list could go on.

Take a look at those acronyms again.

I’ll bet that you could identify all of those shorthand phrases with ease, and for good reason:

These are powerful memory tools that can help you instantly recall information.

Do you remember PEMDAS? Many learn this acronym in school for parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction.

Why does this information stick with people for 20 years or more? It’s because the simple, if odd word that the acronym creates makes the information more engaging and real to the mind.

More Memorization Tricks That Make You An A+ Learner

(At Any Age)

Email yourself. Remember those summaries I suggested writing? Take a few seconds and email them to yourself. You can read back over them with fresh eyes.

Just the act of doing more with the information is helpful. That small, extra step can work to your benefit.

Next, find and visit the examination room. This can be very helpful, not only to remove the pre-exam jitters, but to turn the room itself into a memory palace.

And now for the elephant in the room, the distraction of the Internet. Be cautious of the time you spend on Facebook.

Although Messenger can be great for communicating with the study groups you formed and Facebook groups can help you organize those study sessions, you can lose focus with the temptation to constantly scroll through your newsfeed.

Block those apps that cause distraction during your study sessions (I use Kill News Feed).

Remember: Digital Amnesia is real.

Your concentration can be interrupted merely by the thought of those apps. If possible, go offline for your study.

Read from physical books instead of digital screens.

Remove the physical temptation for “just a quick check-in.”

Technology doesn’t have to be a distraction.

If you’re going to go online, why not have your notifications filled with useful information? A handy tool for this is Google Alerts. Use that study preparation time to subscribe to alerts relevant to your material.

You’ll receive emails at your chosen frequency about new books, blog posts, news articles, and podcasts that can further help you incorporate the Big Five into your studies.

Reinforce the information you need to know by any avenue you can.

Concentration Tips For Learners That Eliminate Brain Fog

Meditation is by far the biggest lever.

If you are in a high stress state of mind, your concentration will be shot.

A simple walking meditation can “take the edge off” so you can make the most of your time.

If you want to go deeper into meditation I recommend Happiness Beyond Thought: A Practical Guide to Awakening by Gary Weber. He’s my go-to teacher for everything related to meditation that helps you learn more faster.

Become a Master of Real Speed Learning By Playing The Long Game

All these techniques and additional tips are geared towards helping you learn more, faster.

But to be a true master of speed learning, you’ve got to play the long game. Yes, even if you’re dealing with boring topics.

Remember the tortoise and the hare? Who ended up being the winner of the race?

Be the tortoise who wins the race. Be in this for life.

Don’t think about the short-term exam. Think about how that this is all going to wrap up to your future.

Set your goals, both long and short term.

Use those all-important planning sessions to put a plan in place to reach those goals. Then don’t just “set it and forget it,” but go back to your plan again and again to make sure that you’re online, and in line, with your goals.

By approaching your learning in this way, you’re going to be able to play the long game at a much higher level that serves for a very long time.

Always remember: The quality of your memory is directly related to the quality of your life. The more you invest in it, the greater it will be.

So what do you say? Are you ready to study faster and learn more?

The post How to Study Fast: A Practical Guide To High Volume Learning At Speed appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

12 Brain Exercises To Improve Memory (Step-By-Step Tutorial)

Looking for brain exercises to improve your memory?

You’re in the right place!

On this page, you’ll discover:

Exercises using your mind only
Exercises that combine your mind and body
Exercises that work with your thoughts and feelings
Exercises that work with your sleep

But before we get started, this distinction matters for all mature learners who want to unlock mental adventures and experience better memory, focus and concentration:

The Important Difference Between Brain Exercises

For Memory Improvement And “Neurobics”

It’s common knowledge that there are many benefits of exercise on the body, but brain exercises to improve memory is all too often overlooked.

Sad, but true.

In our regular routines of cardio Mondays, weightlifting Tuesdays, and, yes, even the dreaded “leg day” – the most important muscle to target is sometimes overlooked, our brain!

In their book, Keep Your Brain Alive, Dr. Lawrence C. Katz and Manning Rubin coined an altogether appropriate term for this mental workout, neurobics.

Catchy term, right?

The authors make the case for brain exercises in everyday life.

It really can be as simple as stepping out of our routines to create a gymnasium of sorts for your brain so you get a regular mental workout.

Exercises to improve memory and concentration produce these results because:

“Different, underused nerve pathways and connections get activated. The result is the production of a kind of natural brain fertilizer that strengthens nerve connections and helps them and your nerve cell receivers stay younger and stronger.”

In our modern world, with its fascination with the “fountain of youth” isn’t that something we all want?

But there’s a huge difference we need to consider:

Neurobics does not always exercise your memory because these exercises rarely directly involve your memory.

But if we want to see continual growth and stability for life when it comes to memory, we need to include memory in our fitness regime.

Brain Exercise Games You Should Play Every Day

Now it’s easy to feel overwhelmed at the mere mention of brain exercises.

After all, a simple online query in your favorite search engine will return seemingly endless choices for brain exercise apps.

You might even breath a sigh of defeat (gasp!) trying to decide which one is best and simply give up on the thought of brain exercise all together….

But what if I told you the answer was simple?

What if the solution to how to make your brain sharp naturally is not a $3.99 app in the Google Play store?

What if all the tools you needed to make your brain work faster is already in your possession?

It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Good news…for once it’s not.

The Zen Of “Game Theory” To Guide Your Brain Exercise Efforts

I know you may be asking “Why do we need theory in the first place?”

Theory matters because we need something that leads us to practice.

Then, our practice with memory training leads us to theory that improves our practice.

In short, the game theory that underlies true memory improvement is cyclical.

That’s not the whole story, either:

Your brain development is not something you should approach haphazardly. Each of us must ask ourselves these questions to discover our “ideal brain workout”:

How do we play brain games that get results?
How do we know what those games are?
How do we play only those games that we will cheerfully play, that we enjoy, and that we want to play again, and again, and again?

That’s game theory in a nutshell.

How To Pick The Right Brain Exercises For Maximum Memory Improvement

With the New Year approaching it’s easy to let our mind wander to the idea of New Years’ resolutions. It’s a time when gym membership numbers skyrocket and the billion dollar industry of sports and fitness apparel clothing has its time to shine.

Why?

The no. 1 resolution, year after year, is to stay fit and healthy, whether that means losing weight or eating cleaner.

The sad fact is that approximately 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February. What is the key to success for that remaining 20 percent?

Why are they still putting in work in at the gym come March when attendance has dwindled for spin class and CrossFit?

They only do the workouts they enjoy.

Let that sink in.

Let that resonate.

Those that stick to their goals are not the ones that trudge through a 3-mile run daily if they hate it. They don’t suffer through the latest trendy group class twice a week because it doesn’t bring them joy.

To achieve their fitness goals they start with an activity that interests them, trusting the process to find what they love.

Applying this same principle, you too can find the neurobic exercise you enjoy, not just for enjoyment’s sake, but one that works, that you see results from, which keep you motivated and cheerful in your practice.

Consistency:

Where You’ll Find The Best Advantages

From Memory Improvement Brain Exercises

The greatest advantage we can give ourselves when it comes to brain exercise games is to, whenever possible, create games from the information you’re learning.

In other words, information that you’re already seeking to commit to memory.

Why?

This is information that matters to you, that you’re already invested in, that is practical and applicable to your life.

Think back to the narrative about going to the gym, or even just a physical exercise plan in general.

This is the greatest example of starting with an activity that interests you. You are building upon a foundation that already exists. You are setting yourself up for success by playing to your strengths.

1. Fun Brain Exercises Using The Alphabet

For example, the alphabet learned at an early age, as well as basic addition and subtraction can be used as powerful brain exercises.

This foundation of general knowledge, so engrained, can be used as a basis for a brain game.

Try to recite the alphabet backwards in another language, or forwards-backwards by saying A, Z, B, Y, etc.

2. Amazing Brain Exercises Using Numbers

Use “math facts” to your advantage.

Think of a number important to you and decide on a pattern to work with that number, say add four, minus five.

If your anniversary is July 22nd (722) and you have a 9-year-old child (4 and 5), you could use this number and pattern to recite 722, 726, 721, 725, 720.

You are using information that is already in your knowledge-base to challenge your thinking.

Time Out! Maximize Your Mental Fitness By Managing The Challenge-Frustration Curve

As you complete this exercise, or any others, work to find a balance on the challenge-frustration curve.

Think of a total body workout.

If you wanted build muscle a key component of your routine would be weightlifting, right? Too little resistance and you wouldn’t achieve growth, but adding too much to a free-weights system would only lead to frustration (and a barbell never making it off the ground).

For optimal results you would gradually add to your total, a few pounds at a time, to constantly challenge yourself.

The same idea applies to building on the knowledge you already have.

If you’re no longer challenged using an addition and subtraction pattern try addition and multiplication.

If the alphabet backwards is no longer a challenge, try recitation in English and another language, switching with each letter in succession.

Try larger numbers for your mental rotation.

Use historical dates (birthdates or inauguration dates of Presidents, publish dates of pieces by your favorite composers, etc.). These larger, four-digit numbers are a challenge to build upon.

Go beyond the elementary school basics and create a real-world gymnasium for even more of a challenge.

Instead of suffering through a mindless morning commute, use your drive into work to memorize license plates.

Use these random sequences of letters and numbers as a jumping off point for the alphabet and summation exercises we just discussed.

3. How To Increase Mental Fitness By

Using Popular Culture In Your Brain Games

Even sources of entertainment can be used as brain exercise.

Take a favorite actor or director and see if you can list their filmography either in historical order or reverse historical order.

Then take it a step further:

See if you can list all the actors in your favorite film.

You’ll easily create connections, or a web of sorts, of actors, directors, and movies. From a casual observer to a movie buff, this “celebrity cultivation” exercise is a great activity for any level.

4. Powerful Brain Games With Language For More Exciting Challenges

Building upon the alphabet to increase the level of challenge, try suppression or skipping.

For example, think of A, skip B, think about C, skip D forwards, then go backwards, with Z, skip Y, X, skip W, and so on. The patterns for skipping around are endless just for the alphabet.

Move on to whole words next.

If you don’t want to work with the language you’re learning, take your list of celebrities you cultivated earlier.

Instead of simply naming Angelina Jolie as a favorite actress try spelling her name with suppression. A, skip N, G skip E, and do the opposite for her last name:

Skip J, O, skip L, etc.

You can use this method for a database of historical figures if history is your concentration, medical terms, elements of the periodic table, or even just to memorize the names of your colleagues at a new job.

5. Brain Games with Foods That Improve Memory

Ask any fitness expert and they will agree that exercise alone is not going to cut it if one is trying to shed extra pounds.

There is a golden rule that weight loss is approximately 20 percent exercise and a whopping 80 percent diet. Weight loss happens with a caloric deficit, meaning more calories are burned than consumed. Basically food is the key element to healthy living.

Diet and exercise work as a team to achieve overall health, so naturally brain games involving food are a great way to work out your mind. These games might even be better than vitamins for memory improvement you’ve heard about on advertisements.

So the next time you head out to the grocery store, add these mental exercises to the physical fitness you’ll be getting while on the road.

Memorize the ingredients to a favorite recipe, equivalencies in baking (3 teaspoons are equal to a tablespoon), or try to imagine the result of a flawed recipe by using suppression or skipping to purposefully overlook an ingredient.

Imagine omitting baking powder from a pancake recipe or eggs from a cake. Visualize the results.

Then, take the healthy approach and try “brain active” foods.

Mentally calculate the amount of baby carrots you could eat to equal a serving of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, or the cups of baby spinach to amount to the calories in a serving of New York style cheesecake.

6. Get Your Mouth Into The Physical Exercise For Brain Boosts

Make a game of memorizing your shopping list in another language. Even pig latin will do.

Or if you must do it in your mother tongue, try this instead of rote learning the list:

Commit to memory that you need milk, eggs, and bread, by reversing the letters of each word. Recite that you need K-L-I-M, S-G-G-E, and D-A-E-R-B.

After spelling and pronouncing your list backward, practice the same list using the skipping/suppression exercise to spell your items.

7. Physical Brain Exercises That Improve Concentration

I learned the metronome exercise from Matthew Clark at York University. It is a great exercise to improve concentration with minimal equipment.

By using either a physical metronome or any of the widely available apps for smartphones try to synchronize your claps or snaps with the beat, then gradually slow the beat down, increasing the distance between claps or snaps.

By mixing both a mental exercise with a physical action this will increase your concentration over time. For an even greater challenge, once you’ve mastered this, try the same exercise with your eyes closed.

8. The Four Details Exercise

If you want to incorporate elements outside yourself, try the four details game I learned from memory expert Dr. Gary Small. When you are introduced to someone new try to memorize four details about them.

This could be their eye color, what color shirt they were wearing, or hair color. When you recall their name, recall these details.

You can add even more of a challenge to this passive exercise (simply noticing details about someone) by making these details magnetic.

For example, if your new acquaintance has a red jacket, you can associate a mnemonic, magnetic image to that red jacket.

Or, if your Magnetic image of red is an apple, you can associate Amy’s red jacket to apples.

Finally, build upon the celebrity list you learned about earlier.

Take one of the films you named and try to recall the movie’s plot points in order. How many times have you tried to tell a friend about a great movie you watched the weekend before, only to find that a lot of the details were fuzzy.

You could remember the beginning that pulled you in and grabbed your attention and the action packed finale that left you clamoring for a sequel, but everything in the middle wasn’t so clear.

Instead of shutting your brain off the next time you turn on Netflix, try, instead, to keep yourself engaged so that you can recall the entire film. It’s a great way to satisfy the need for entertainment while giving your brain a workout.

9. Yoga For Mental Sharpness:

The Ultimate Physical Brain Exercise

Incorporating a physical practice, just like the metronome exercise is a fantastic way to increase the power of your memory.

If you already have a practice in place, you can use as few as three poses and flow between the movements, using your flow to rehearse memorized content.

If you are new to yoga you can learn a few simple, beginner poses followed by an easy way to shift between them.

After finding what works for your body, balance, and skill level, combine the sequence of movements with reciting information that you have committed to memory.

To build on this idea, if you want to take your yoga practice off the mat, or if you find yourself frustrated with your physical yoga practice, you can shift into the more mental practice of karma yoga.

The purpose of this practice is to humble your ego, serve your community, and causes you to become part of something bigger.

You are acting selflessly in service to others, doing good things for others with no expectation of anything in return.

You are putting a selfless action out into the world with no expectation of return. Letting go of the outcome, by sampling taking action because it is the right thing to do.

10. Why Karma Yoga Is The Ultimate Brain Exercise

How does this kind of yoga count as brain exercise?

The answer is simple:

You are constantly reminding yourself, keeping yourself in check, that once you have set an action out into the world it is no longer yours to control.

This consistent reminder to one’s self, in itself, is an exercise in staying present, building concentration through self-awareness.

Think back to your childhood.

If you were anything like me you loved Super Mario.

Was there that one level that you just couldn’t seem to get past? Whether it was being eaten by a piranha plant or missing a jump, you would get frustrated if you ever got stuck, right? It’s a natural reaction…but it doesn’t have to be that way.

A great mental exercise would be to revisit those sometimes tantrum-inducing games as adults. What if you could play simply for the sake of enjoyment?

What if you could laugh off constant defeat by the goombas a koopa troopas and just have fun? What’s stopping you from finding joy just in the action of play? Absolutely nothing but your own mind.

You can enjoy the journey, powering your way through the levels, with a karma yoga mindset, letting go of the expectation of saving Princess Peach, and simply playing the game.

Over time, you’ll find with the act of letting go the levels pass easier, because your practice will be enjoyable and your skills will then improve.

With reevaluation and consistent review of your mindset to one of karma yoga practice, concentration is less forced, and thereby memory improved, because your focus is shifted.

Karma yoga concentrates the mind, crumbles bad memories, makes life a bright and shiny game, and creates a wonderful treasure-trove of memories, all through a shift in mindset.

11. The Brain Game of Bhakti Yoga

To take mental yoga even further, another branch of yoga, bhakti yoga, is a practice of “love for love’s sake,” or “union through love and devotion.”

Simply put, bhakti yoga is a practice of devotion, in its broadest sense.

This word can be interpreted in many ways, with the idea of devotion being such a general term, but it goes effortlessly hand-in-hand with memory palaces.

By physically visiting inspiration for memory palaces, such as a childhood home (even if yours was a turbulent one), practicing forgiveness in order to build a memory palace from a place that perhaps heartbreak resided is a powerful manifestation of bhakti yoga.

Committing to a life of love, with receiving nothing in return – incorporating the karma yoga ideals is a mental exercise, again, to constantly evaluate your thoughts, and therefore shapes your actions.

You can also turn this practice inward, through devotion towards self-inquiry.

We must all constantly look inward, examining our own thoughts in order to have a mindset of karma, or mindset of love.

Instead of passively having thoughts, or being passive, letting those thoughts control us, we must constantly examine our thoughts, asking ourselves:

“How do my thoughts behave?”
“Are they useful?”
“Just how real are my thoughts?”

For more information on questions like these, please read Evolving Beyond Thought by Gary Weber. It is excellent and the source of these questions.

With this devotion to self, a devotion to the health of our own thoughts, developing a concentration, an active mental state this will prime our brains for memory growth.

And like many of the other exercises, you can perform these self-inquiry questions while on a walking meditation.

12. Magnetic Dream Recall as Brain Exercise

Finally, training does not have to be limited to our waking hours. With a few simple techniques all 24 hours of our day can be productive, and we can exercise our brains in a dream state.

First start with the concept of lucid dreaming. In order to utilize your dream state, you must realize you are, in fact, dreaming.

A practical way to know if you are dreaming or awake is to draw a symbol on your hand (a star, heart, smiley face, etc.) with a permanent marker. You will know that you are awake if you look down and see your symbol. If it isn’t on your hand, it is likely you are asleep.

By knowing you are in dream state, you can sort through alternate realities you perhaps have created for yourself, or are punishing yourself for.

You can separate fantasy from reality, and understand what a healthy reality is subconsciously, so that your waking life is no longer filled with suffering-inducing expectations caused by a dream state.

Practically, you will also be able to practice your autobiographic, episodic, and figural memory. If you incorporate dream journaling and autobiographical (the events of your day) journaling into a daily mindfulness practice you will be able to not only remember more of your dreams, but remember more of your waking life. Over time your memory will improve by focusing on its improvement, setting a goal of improving it.

Final Thoughts On Keeping Your Brain Well Exercised And Your First Steps

All of these techniques are beneficial to memory improvement, and will improve your concentration through disciplined practice, incorporating neurobics into your everyday life, however, you cannot improve if you don’t know where to start.

If you have no idea of where you are with your memory health, you cannot take the steps to make it better.

Join me now to begin the journey of self-awareness and the first step to better brain health.

The post 12 Brain Exercises To Improve Memory (Step-By-Step Tutorial) appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

How To Learn Faster With The AFT Learning Model

If you’ve been trying to learn faster and keep getting stuck, chances are you haven’t got the AFT Learning Model on your side.

And if you’re someone who invests in coaching so you can reach your learning goals and they’re not aware of how learners need Action, Feedback and Triggers, then you need to reconsider the person you’ve got on your side.

To clarify just why the AFT Learning Model (Action, Feedback, Trigger) is so important to learning, Edan Kertis of MyQuest joins me on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast.

Success is something we understand very well at a neuro chemical level.

The questions is…

How will our educators use the best 21st century technology has to offer to magnify their ability to coach us toward results?

And is it even possible?

Can Coaching Apps Really Help You Learn Faster?

As a memory blogger, vlogger and podcaster, I truly believe that it is possible to learn faster and remember more  using the kind of software Edan has created.

And there is a long track record of seeking insight into the matter…

I’ve posed similar questions to Gabriel Wyner, creator of the Fluent Forever app.
Olly Richards and I have also discussed the ins-and-outs of this topic when it comes to getting the most out of online language learning courses.
I’ve talked about mnemonics and language learning in “virtual Memory Palaces” with Timothy Moser.
I hope to get Jaron Lanier on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast to talk about Dawn of the New Everything and his views on VR as a kind of Memory Palace.

And the reality is…

I keep my mind open, but…

Not so open that my brain falls out.

Why?

Because the threat of Digital Amnesia is real.

Worse…

Some people are taking related technologies into some pretty dark territory.

Then there’s Neuralink.

Don’t think it can’t happen.

And before you open your skull to receive, understand that there are at least 7 Reasons Having A Memory Implant Would Really Suck.

Yes, the technology really can grow so small that our coaches start crawling into our heads.

The Future Of The Magnetic Memory Method App…

Despite my concerns over these technologies, I’m still open to designing a Magnetic Memory Method app.

In fact, a wireframe for a very good “passive training app” already exists.

This app is probably best used in hospitals for helping stroke and brain trauma victims recover their memory abilities. But it could help every day people remember more and learn faster too.

It’s pretty clear that MyQuest could help create a “guided” version of the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass.

We shall see what the future brings as I continue to explore the discussion Edan and I started a few years back in Tel Aviv.

In fact, Edan introduced me to Hummus Mshawsha, one of the city’s best kept secrets. It’s also become one of my favorite Memory Palaces.

I’m very honored to have an ongoing discussion like ours with such an accomplished entrepreneur and technological innovator.

If you haven’t heard our previous discussion about the role of questing in your education, you’ll learn a lot from Edan. And you can fill out our survey about the MMM app yet to come on that page.

How Fast Do You Want To Learn? 

At the end of the day, today’s episode of the podcast will help you discover the AFT Learning Model so you can make better education choices.

It will always be based on your learning style.

Whether you’re into using Stoic Secrets For Using Memory Techniques With Language Learning or…

You want to reach your memory improvement goals with “Atomic Habits”…

This discussion will put you in good stead.

Let us know in the discussion below just how the ability to learn at a faster speed would improve your life – and what you’ll do when you can.

That’s your call to action.

You’ll get feedback when you post.

And I promise I’ll say something that triggers further action to keep the right kinds of action flowing towards the right kinds of feedback and triggers in your learning journey.

Sound like a deal?

The post How To Learn Faster With The AFT Learning Model appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Next Level Memory Training Secrets with USA Memory Champ John Graham

Want memory training secrets from a bona fide memory champion?

You’re in the right place.

And even better than talking about mnemonic examples, Memory Palaces and general mnemonics…

When you click play on the recording above…

John Graham, the 2018 USA Memory Champion shares the mindset, strategies and habits needed to train your memory…

Under pressure. 

And the ability to perform under pressure matters for everyone, whether you’re recalling information on TV…

Names at a meeting…

Or information during an exam at school.

Why I’m So Impressed With John’s Memory Training Know-how

As a memory enthusiast and blogger specializing in memory techniques, John’s skills and the information he offers through his memoryjohn website and email newsletter are top notch.

And as you’ll hear today…

John originally didn’t think he could use memory techniques!

He went on an incredible journey to find courage, consistency and competence with memory training.

The same levels of laser-sharp mental clarity you can find too…

Just by listening to the right memory training mentors.

Why You Need To Train Your Memory For The Long Term

And John is indeed one of the best because he helps you see both the short and the long term benefits of memory training…

All while making sure that you find ways to stay with it for the long term.

Why does that matter?

Because life’s rewards go straight into your memory… nowhere else.

Think about it:

Cars… houses… money…

They all change, get lost, lose value.

But memory?

The more you can hold onto, the greater its value increases the longer you can call it your own.

And if you can’t remember the great things you learn, then you risk losing life’s treasures forever.

So follow John’s lead and overcome whatever mental rubbish might be holding you back from success with memory techniques by following his lead.

And if you want to see John working his memory magic with your own eyes, just click play on this incredible video:

Then, as you’re listening, make sure you follow John on Twitter.

The Next Level Memory Ideas I Enjoyed Learning The Most

Personally, I benefitted the most from hearing John talk about:

Crafting the mindset needed to develop memory competitor-level skills
Deliberately using additional difficulty to increase your memory chops quickly
The correct use of memory training apps and software to avoid falling into the traps Digital Amnesia
How to incorporate consistent training into a busy travel schedule

All of these points will help you in your memory practice just as they helped me.

Even better:

After listening, you can leave us a comment below with your questions and comments so you too can experience “next level” memory skills!

Further Free Memory Training Resources

How to Win the USA Memory Championship

8 Reasons You Need A Flexible Memory Method Not A Memory System

5 Note Taking Techniques That Force You To Remember More

The post Next Level Memory Training Secrets with USA Memory Champ John Graham appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Brain Games, Sommelier Studies And Avoiding The Oliver Cromwell Effect With Christian Fitzharris

What kind of brain games do you think will help you focus better and remember more?

If you’re like most people, you’re probably searching for an app.

Well, not Christian Fitzharris.

Actor, musician, sommelier and author, Christian plays brain games with words.

And to make the brain exercise even more effective, he adds juggling to the mix too.

In fact, I was so blown away when I saw a video of Christian playing an authentic brain game, I could help but record a response!

For the original video that started it all, check out:

Then click play on the interview above and discover:

How Christian first encountered memory techniques and mnemonics.
The differences between different kinds of acting.
The role of memory techniques in becoming a sommelier.
The role of using mnemonics while imbibing alcohol in a professional role.
How to avoid the “Oliver Cromwell Effect” when learning to use mnemonics.

This final point will be especially important for those who want to become a living mnemonics dictionary.

The alternative?

Getting endlessly lost the constant hunt for mnemonic examples and be trapped in learned helplessness forever.

The ultimate cure? Play Brain Games as Christian suggests. In case you want to follow along with his rap, here are the wonderful lyrics he created…

“Brain Games”

 BY SCHOLAR & Anthony Metivier

“I Define Establish

Exercise and Practice

Externalize Spatial maps

As I attack the path of, “mature learner”.

“Bottle Burner”

But I yearn to max memory reserve

In earnest/

I’m a furnace.

An anomaly.

Sibling of Simonides, known.

To Reduce Cognitive load.

And oh-

How I ro-tate

Juggle-ing space

Makin’ a case

For Brain Games so Digital Amnesia

Leaves ya.

Digital dementia is censored.

Did ya all tag Herrenium on your mind wall?

Re-view recall? (We will evolve!)

Chorus:

Brain Games synapses flashin’

Mind Palace crashin’

With the Brain Games

Info encoded, mental high roller.

 

Brain Games, don’t need an app for that

I just attack with the path of a lab rat.

I mean, scientist.

I’m an annihilist finalist

Illuminist mneumonist

Doin’ this, provin this.

Who is this? SCHOLAR!

Dopamine fiend

Clean sheen like the Pleaides.

Enemies, ill at ease.

Killin’ with abilities.

Strollin’ with affinity.

Rollin’ with my Kennedy’s.

Brain Games-

Healthy snacks!

Build a palace.

Peg some facts.

 

Learn to Balance

While you rap!

Unleash talents, don’t look back!

For More On Christian Fitzharris…

Christian is a man of many talents. Connect with him on:

Twitter

Soundcloud

YouTube

Further Resources

For more ideas on how to keep your brain fit, check out these 5 Brain Exercises That Ensure Memory Improvement.

The post Brain Games, Sommelier Studies And Avoiding The Oliver Cromwell Effect With Christian Fitzharris appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

How To Practice Memory Techniques For Studying Tough Subjects

You know success with memory techniques for studying requires practice, right?

That’s a no brainer. But here’s the catch that stops many people cold in their tracks:

Because people also know adding another skill will require time…

Getting started with memory improvement kind of freaks them out!

But what if there was a way for memory techniques to save you time instead of costing you time?

One that lets you cut like a laser through even the toughest subjects and most challenging languages?

And in a way that creates more energy instead of making you feel burned out all the time?

In this post, I’ll share with you exactly how you can make that happen.

But first, please understand this:

My Memory Techniques For Students Started With A HUGE Dream

Let me ask you something:

When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up? 

An astronaut, firefighter, veterinarian, princess, or cowboy?  

Perhaps it was something more … heroic. 

Me? 

Well, long before I wanted to be an author and a professor…

I wanted to be Batman. 

Yes, the caped crusader and defender of Gotham himself, Batman.

Of course, I eventually grew up.

As we grow older, our ambitions change and we tend to choose professions that are more practical.

Or we select careers that will make us financially secure, which is usually not the same thing as following  those childhood dreams. 

But because I learned how to integrate memory techniques into my every day life through proper practice with them, I actually did follow my childhood dream and grew up to be something like a “Mnemonic Batman.”

Why The Right Memory Techniques Will Make You A Real Life Superhero

Wait a minute!

How is that possible?  

After all, I’m certainly not the billionaire playboy, Bruce Wayne.

But that doesn’t matter.

You see, the thing that makes Batman, Batman is not superhuman strength, intelligence, or any number the of supernatural powers possessed by our favorite comic book heroes.

It’s practice.

And for anyone who knows the full Batman story, anyone who practices the right things can wear the Batman mask for a few simple reasons:

1) Batman is a trained scientist who practices science

2) Batman creates the tools he needs to get the job done (and practices creating them)

3) Batman trains with the tools needed to get the job done (including training his body, which is also a key part of memory improvement along with eating foods that improve memory)

Other than that, Batman is just a normal guy with a utility belt loaded with knowledge and tools earned through practice.

The Most Important Memory Improvement Tool Of All

I’ve equipped my tool belt over the years with many memory techniques. 

But at the end the day, the most important tool of all is discipline. 

Is discipline itself a memory technique? 

Yes. When you train yourself to remember to practice, your ability to implement becomes stronger. 

Your ability to experiment (like a Batman-level scientist) with new memory techniques also becomes stronger. You learn to have courage through disciplined practice.

And you understand that all memory training you undertake is worth the time you risk because memory practice causes you to stretch and grow.

The best part is that you already possess two things:

1) A vast ability to develop the discipline of practice with memory techniques

2) A massive depository of mental imagery in your episodic memory to practice with

But at this point, you may be wondering…

What Are The Right Memory Techniques For Studying Tough Topics And Complex Languages?

The answer is…

It depends.

We’ll talk more about the options, in this post, but for now, here’s a roundup of the best:

The Memory Palace is foundational across the board. You need to know this technique because every other technique can be used inside of a Memory Palace.

Some people call this technique the Method of Loci, but I think that term is flawed. To learn more about why, check this out:

The important thing to understand with the Memory Palace is that they work best in a network. 

That’s what allows you to expand your spatial memory and get the most use from your Magnetic Bridging Figures.

You may also need the Major System (a.k.a the Major Method). 

But you might not need it right now, so it’s fine to save it for later. 

Next, you need Recall Rehearsal. This process is what lets you load the information you memorize into long term memory.

But These Three Major Memory Techniques Sound Like A Lot Of Effort!

Yes, and no.

Please don’t let yourself get overwhelmed.

If anything, you should consider overwhelming yourself on purpose, if only for a short while.

How?

Dive in and practice what my friend Jonathan Levi calls “brute force learning.”

That means instead of trying to cover every last detail, you rush in and get the broadest possible overview as quickly as possible.

Only after that has been accomplished, do you zero in on the fine details.

And only then can you discover what memory techniques are really all about without getting caught up in the Sherlock Holmes mythology that traps many students who wish they could use memory techniques as well as they want.

The point is:

You need to bring a sense of adventure and a sense of play.

That will make learning and practicing memory techniques easier and more fun.

To help you discover this sense of fun and adventure…

Think Back … (A Quick Memory and Brain Exercise)

Think back again to your childhood. Whether you begrudgingly took piano lessons, played Little League baseball, or had a starring role in the school play, the one key to your success was practice.

With practice you could play scales from memory, throw a faster pitch, or recite your lines flawlessly (while your peers still had their noses in their scripts).

If this idea worked for us as children, why have we abandoned it as adults?  Its importance is clearly evident, especially in the world of memory improvement. 

Take the professional musician. Practice is something that is a part of their everyday lives, especially “dedicated practice.”

Musicians learn and repeatedly perform physical actions. The play the notes on written sheet music or their own composition with “specific sounds and visual patterns (musical notation) while receiving continuous multi-sensory feedback.”

It is believed this “association learning” or training of the neural network can lead to brain plasticity, actually changing the structure of the brain,

In short, with practice, the brain’s ability to modify itself (i.e. rewire its connections) over time is strengthened. 

You may ask “Why is that important? Why would my brain need to change if it is the control center of my body? Isn’t it kind of static?”

Your Brain Has An Extraordinary Knack For Learning Memory Techniques

It’s just practicing using them where most people fail.

Now, you might not feel that they are easy in the beginning, but your brain is actually perfectly suited to learn memory improvement tips and tricks.

And the only reason why people struggle in the beginning is because they haven’t used their memory muscles in quite this way before.

But once they get started, a very exciting fact kicks in that isn’t just for musicians:

Every Brain Has The Ability To Modify Itself Through Practice!

Not only during childhood (when the majority of formal learning takes place), but especially during adulthood, perhaps even most crucially in one’s senior years.

You know what that means, right?

It means you’re never too old to get started!

And your brain adapts so readily to training.

Think about it:

With everything from recovery from injury, alleviating chronic pain, to enabling easier use of prosthetic devices.

Your brain can even adapt to artificial hearing devices. Neuroplasticity is not to be taken for granted!

All your brain needs is care, cultivation, and training through extended practice.

Using Memory Techniques Is Creative Repetition, Not Rote Learning

When training your memory, practice is more than just repetition.

Most repetition is boring and painful, after all, and so it’s no wonder so many of us easily dismissed it in our everyday lives.

Yet, in the beginning, practicing by memorizing cards or setting up your first P.A.O. with something like Florian Dellé’s Major System may make you think:

“But isn’t this practice with the techniques just doing something over and over?”

Stop.

Thoughts like that instantly take you back to those hours behind a piano, or reciting lines from your third grade play script until they were committed to memory when you would have rather been playing video games or splashing in a mud puddle after a good rainstorm.

But practicing with memory techniques is not like that at all, once you get used to them.

An Unusual Source of Inspiration For Practicing Memory Techniques For Your Studies

Right now, I’m studying a lot of Sanskrit for a large learning project about Advaita Vedanta.

In his book, Happiness Beyond Thought, author Gary Weber explores this idea of the importance of practice, serving as a practical guide to awakening.

Gary Weber might not be a memory expert, but he’s memorized a ton of Sanskrit and has some skills. Recently, I’ve been following suit by memorizing his selections from the Ribhu Gita:

Back to Happiness Beyond Thought and what it teaches us about practice:

Basically, the book is about bringing yourself to a state where you are no longer troubled by worry, concern, or thoughts that impeded your conscious state.

Even better:

You essentially escape the traps of the ego, of the self, and you experience this wonderful state of “happiness beyond thought.” I’ve certainly been having a good taste of it.

Now, “happiness is a complicated word.” I often think of eudaimonia which is ancient Greek for happiness, though it is said to be better translated by experts as meaning “flourishing.”

But then, you might be thinking … How can having a still mind be flourishing?

Especially when you’re filling it with Memory Palaces and Magnetic Imagery!

I know, I know. It does seem contradictory.

How Memory Practice Positively Changes The Structure Of Your Brain

But here’s the thing:

As we’ve just discussed, neuroplasticity shows that the brain can change.

And when you’re training to memorize information that is good for your brain, your brain cannot help but change in positive ways.

The more you practice, the more you create flow and a level of ease that can come only as a result of practice.

From this state you will develop a stillness. An inner peace.

But only if you show up and put in the work can the discipline of practice grow and fortify those neural pathways and strengthen existing connections in your brain.

Why Smart Phones Are Destroying Your Ability To Practice Memory Techniques

In this age of smartphone addiction where we essentially have a computer in our pocket, long division is a thing that seems straight out of the Stone Age.

But again, think back to when you were learning long division in elementary school.

Do you remember how frustrated you were with the first couple problems you tried? Your little pencil eraser probably got quite a workout!

But, with practice, how were those same problems by the end of the year? You could fly through them with ease, without a second thought. You developed those connections and were able to solve 936 divided by 2 almost automatically.

And if you had to learn it all over again, those rules of math are still true. You would just need to put the cell phone aside for long enough to learn how to make the calculations again either on paper or in your mind.

This is why I teach people about Digital Amnesia and the importance of “digital fasting.” If you don’t take time away from the devices to exercise your memory, you will lose the ability to use it altogether.

How To Choose Your Memory Improvement Habits Wisely

So how does one develop good practice habits to help us in memory practice? First, start small. Not to say you don’t want to “dream big,” but think about your goals. Really think about them.

You can have different kinds of goals.

You can have very big, huge, hairy, snarly, real over the top goals, where you must build a long-term path to achieve that goal, or smaller goals, for the more short term.

James Clear says in his book, Atomic Habits, “If you choose a habit that’s very small and it accumulates with a bunch of other small changes to form a larger system then you can end up with a very remarkable result, or an immensely powerful outcome.”

And so the practices that you will do need to have some focus on what it is you want to achieve

How To Make A Practice Plan For Using Memory Techniques In Your Studies

 

Create a “Memory Journal.”
Personalize your Memory Journal so that you feel more connected with it (draw on the cover, add stickers, etc.)
Set a specific and measurable learning goal.
Use this Memory Journal to gather together the floor plans  of your Memory Palace Network.
Use the Memory Journal to describe your Magnetic Imagery and guide the encoding process.

Yes, this is a manual activity, but it will actually speed up the process of learning how to practice.

When you personalize your Memory Journal, it will not only have more meaning, but visually stand out from other books in your learning space.

If you’re already an intermediate or advanced memorizers you can squeeze small Memory Palace drawings into The Freedom Journal, which I highly recommend.

Practice The Kind Of Memorizing Based On Your Desired Outcome 

If it’s speed, if it’s length of retention, if it’s volume of information or if it’s a combination of all those things, then a combination of all those things for what, specifically?

Is it for memorizing playing cards? Is it for foreign language vocabulary? What is it for?

These questions really matter!

Next, build the practice routines that will help you achieve those outcomes and those goals.

More importantly, pick the right techniques that are going to get there.

Why Is The Memory Palace Always The Right Technique?

In a word, it’s because all memory techniques are spatial in nature.

To take just one example of a relatively week mnemonic technique:

If you are using acronyms, each letter exists in relation to the next (either to the left or right of the preceding letter).

And since all information is laid out in a linear and temporal order, you might as well start with the foundational technique. Master the Memory Palace, and then use all the other memory techniques inside of Memory Palaces to harness the power of sequentialization.

And to do this well, to tailor your practice with making information linear so you can memorize it, you must have a plan.

“A goal without a plan is just a wish” – Atoine de Saint-Exupery

Whether you’re a culinary wizard or a novice baker who struggles to make box brownies for their child’s school bake sale fundraiser, one thing you know if you’ve ever been in a kitchen (and who can live on take-out alone these days, right?) is you must have a plan.

Think about it:

You cannot go into the kitchen to make beef bourguignon with only 30 minutes to get dinner on the table, and you wouldn’t dream of trying to craft the perfect macaron without eggs or sugar.

You must have a plan…or in the culinary world, a recipe to achieve your end result, and a good plan takes organization. Kind of like my wife and I had a plan when we made these memory-friendly pancakes:

This level of organization is what we teach in the Magnetic Memory Method, to organize your mind with a Memory Palace, so that when you sit down to memorize you can do it in an organized manner.

Remember the musicians we talked about earlier?

They wouldn’t simply sit down behind a music stand with a piece out of order and attempt to play it.

No, in order to practice effectively, to make the most of their time, they would make sure their sheet music was in the right order.

They would make sure they were warmed up properly, and their instrument was at its peak playability (i.e. they were in tune, all valves were clear, and they had a fresh reed or strings, given their instrument of choice).

Your Next Step With Memory Techniques For Studying Well

In a word, you need commitment.

There are more components to practice than simply setting a goal and getting organized. There is the greatest element of practice of all:

Your habits.

This is where the idea of improvement comes into play, and the idea of flow that we discussed up above.

In order to improve, to achieve that state of stillness, of awakening, and of peace as skillful individuals, we must show up and put in the work, consistently.

Yes, you must be committed to mastering your habit to see results. In that way our outcomes are linked to practice and our practice to our outcomes.

Again, the greatest thing we can do to achieve our goals is show up, and show up consistently.

For example, every morning before my wife wakes up I practice my memory training. Today my goal after working some Sanskrit into memory was to memorize a selection from a deck of cards.

As I mentioned the morning I recorded this live stream, I got through memorizing only four cards:

Granted, that’s a low number for me in my practice, but my time was limited.

Even so, l made the time to practice. I exercised the discipline needed to sharpen my skills, and you can do the same, even if it amounts to only minutes a day.

But I “Can’t…” The Ultimate Memory Training Excuse And How To Eliminate It

You may feel like you don’t have the time, the energy, or the willpower…

You might be frustrated because you feel like your memory work has stalled.

You may be comparing yourself to those that have achieved the goals you aspire to, or who simply seem to “get it” more easily.

Stop. Just stop and breathe. 

And then consider learning to mind map and explore how you can commit to practicing to improve your memory for large learning goals.

Finding commitment is important because the most empowering key to Gary Weber’s idea of practice is finding resources inside yourself.

Weber writes:

“Insisting that you follow precisely the path that worked for your teacher is guaranteed to be inadequate in some way. Any student, no matter how diligent and well-prepared, is going to be different from the teacher in conditioning, experience, age, genetics, family history, bodily and mental capability, etc. How could something as complex and comprehensive as awakening not be a personally tailored process?”

That’s a solid point, and it’s why I’ve always talked about the Magnetic Memory Method as a “method,” not a system, because I already know this truth:

You cannot simply adopt someone else’s system. Rather, you need to create your own, because everyone’s needs are different. My goals are not your goals. My learning style is not your style.

Notice also the word “precisely” in this quote from Gary Weber.

Weber doesn’t mean that you don’t follow the path of your teacher at all.

Instead, you must avoid the fantasy, the hoping, wishing, and praying, that anything will play out exactly as it did for your teacher.

To try and recreate anything “precisely” is the trap of expectation. And expectation always leads to suffering.

But rest assured that you really can follow in the footsteps of teachers.

Gary Weber talks about how he has done this himself and there’s truth to that old phrase about standing on the shoulders of giants, which is even older than Isaac Newton. In many cases, it’s the only way we get to see beyond ourselves.

And using the teachings of Giordano Bruno and many others as my own guide, please use the Magnetic Memory Method as it was intended to be.

It is a technique, a tool in your utility belt, a method of practice to reach your memory goals. And as someone who used them to earn my Ph.D., I crafted the approach I now share with thousands of people around the world with studying in mind.

With practice, you can achieve any learning goal. Along the way, you can also achieve the inner stillness that comes with mastery or your mind and memory.

It just takes practice, discipline and the right teacher.

Get all that together and you too can be a “Mnemonic Batman.”

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Reach Any Memory Improvement Goal With These Atomic Habits From James Clear

Do you struggle to reach your memory improvement goals? If so, you probably need “atomic habits.”

To help you have the best possible habits, in this episode of Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, you will hear from habit expert James Clear.

Here’s one of my favorite quotes:

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

– James Clear

 

Who Is James Clear And What Are Atomic Habits?

 

James Clear is an author, entrepreneur, travel photographer and founder of The Habits Academy.

In this episode, James shares interesting topics and science-based ideas for living a better life, creating small habits and improving them.

James gives us a picture of how one can master and start a good habit. He also demonstrates just how much impact good habit formation is to achieving your goals.

If you are a person who fizzles through your to-do lists or suffers Digital Amnesia to the point that you can’t remember what you wanted to do at all, this episode with James Clear will definitely help and encourage you. James makes the habit formation process easy from the get-go and easy to maintain.

Learn more and discover how you can put these habits into action with consistency and improvement.

Press play now and you’ll discover:

How James started with Atomic Habits
What “Atomic Habits” means and how it can change your perspective of putting habits into action.
How you can create the best environment to make success easier
The importance of consistency and being organized.
The meaning of “system building” as a way to approach life improvement.
The wisdom of putting ideas into action.
How to handle criticisms in life.
How one can establish a habit and improve it over time.
Practical strategies for building habits.
The importance of mastering a habit and how you can dramatically save time in the process.
How building habits can impact decision making and your ability to continuously improve.

James Clear Resources

James Clear’s website

James Clear’s Habits Academy

Atomic Habits by James Clear on Amazon

James Clear on Entrepreneur’s website

My Favorite James Clear Post Of All Time:

The Difference Between Professionals and Amateurs

Related Episodes:

How to Improve Focus And Concentration Using 3 Memory Boosting Habits

Joanna Jast On How To Hack Your Habits

Mind Map Mastery

The post Reach Any Memory Improvement Goal With These Atomic Habits From James Clear appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Optimizing Evernote And Other Productivity Software For Better Memory

Evernote for better memory?

I was skeptical too.

Until I met Charles Byrd.

As a 15 year Silicon Valley veteran with an extensive background in technology and software, Charles needed Evernote to work better. His success demanded it.

But although Charles has some great things to teach us about optimizing Evernote for better memory, he’s also part of the larger memory improvement community. Just wait until you hear how he still uses lesson from Dominic O’Brien he learned a long time ago.

As a public speaker, trainer, and life long learner, Charles has combined his understanding of mnemonics with technology and productivity and become a recognized expert in the field.

He is also the founder of the company Byrd Word, LLC – specializing in productivity training, marketing, and technology to expand his reach.  He specializes in the tools and workflows that will organize your team, reduce your anxiety, and x2 your business, school progress and personal improvement journey.

To learn more about how Charles can help you use Evernote in ways that improve your memory and productivity, I recommend his Kill the Chaos presentation.

 

Evernote For Memory Vs. Mind Mapping

After recording the interview with Charles, one of the first questions I had was how technologies like Evernote compare with Mind Mapping.

As you know, Mind Map Mastery is a worthy skill every lifelong learner should develop.

After you listen to this interview, I think you’ll have ideas on exactly how you can apply Charles’ core process to your mind map strategy.

Although how you would apply these techniques differ in time, what I love about the information Charles shares in this interview is that you can apply the “decision parameters” to all kinds of media.

Indeed, I am thinking about ways to combine mind maps with Memory Palaces and Evernote in one fell swoop as we speak.

This also includes how you use The Freedom Journal and other note-taking devices and approaches for organizing life in our current ocean of information overwhelm.

The simple process even applies to your memory training practice with Memory Palaces.

In many ways, I’ve been applying a similar process for years, but Charles has streamlined everything into a kind of ars combinatoria that any mnemonist can quickly link to their hand for use with any information you encounter in life.

Wouldn’t Evernote Cause More Digital Amnesia?

It’s a great question.

The answer is…

It depends.

Digital Amnesia is a real issue, one that all mature learners in the 21st century face.

But as Charles demonstrates beyond all doubt, it’s more about our habits around technology than anything else.

In other words, we need to avoid the traps of technological determinism. We cannot blame the technology for how we behave. But we can use the technology to help ensure we operate in better ways.

Can Evernote Provide Brain Exercise?

Although we didn’t talk about this question on the interview, I’ve been thinking about it ever since.

When thinking about brain exercise apps, memory experts are divided.

As a question of application, I think this software certainly can be used for brain exercise.

As a quick example, imagine using Evernote to capture all of the 00-99 images you create based on the Major Method for your PAO.

Likewise, you could enter a number of mnemonic examples of Magnetic Imagery you’ve drawn and placed in a Magnetic Memory Palace for review in Evernote:

Then, simply schedule in a review period that exposes you to your drawings without revealing the answers. This is a fantastic way to keep learning and give your brain an extra workout throughout the day.

This process also provides a simple and direct way for you to challenge your brain without feeding it the information, all within a simple app.

The trick is in making sure you have some “desirable difficulty” as part of the process so that you’re challenged. Sans Forgetica has been working in this area recently around reading, and using obstacles to move your memory forward is what personally applied Memory Palace science is ultimately all about.

But if you’re looking for the best memory improvement exercises, just make sure that you match the desired outcome with the processes and the information that will get you there.

Further Memory Improvement Software Discussion & Resources

There are many other learning opportunities related to technology and memory on the Magnetic Memory Method site.

For language learning:

The Fluent Forever App

How to Consistently Get Quick Victories With Language Learning Courses

Learn Languages Online With Skill Silo And These 9 Fluency Tips

For General Technology and Human Memory Discussion:

7 Reasons Having A Memory Implant Would Really Suck

MyQuest For Your Memory Improvement

Why I Only Read Physical Books Instead of Digital Ebooks

In all cases, the danger I see above all in discussions like these is the human element. Whether its “organic” memory techniques like the Memory Palace or a software, we always risk too much self-involvement with the information.

So after listening to this podcast with Charles Byrd, I encourage you to think about how all of these strategies apply to you getting more out of your human relationships.

To that end:

I’d love to hear your thoughts and more about your memory improvement journey in the comments below.

The post Optimizing Evernote And Other Productivity Software For Better Memory appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

How To Train Your Memory By Phil Chambers [Memory Improvement Book Review]

If you want to know how to train your memory, the journey to greatness begins with recognizing something odd about that brain between your ears:

You sometimes forget enormous things!

That’s how Phil Chambers begins his fantastic book, How to Train Your Memory. 

When you start your memory improvement journey by acknowledging just how easy it is to forget where you parked your car, you start from practical realities we all face. 

After all, vehicles are the biggest things we own apart from our homes. 

Yet, the location of a car can still easily disappear from memory!

Acknowledging this fact gives us a sense of just how strange and mysterious an entity you’re dealing with. 

Of course, there’s something even bigger than cars and houses we forget that How To Train Your Memory helped me recognize, but we’ll get to that in just a bit.

First, let’s talk about:

Why You Should Learn How To Improve

Memory Recall From Memory Expert Phil Chambers

It’s a good question, and a delight to answer. 

First off, Phil’s a great writer. When learning how to improve memory and concentration, clarity matters. 

Second, Phil’s got street cred. 

More than being a leading memory expert, he’s the Chief Arbiter of the World Memory Championships. We talked a few years ago about what this role involves in the interview called Phil Chambers and the Outer Limits of Memory. 

Phil is also one of the few memory trainers who has thought deeply about combining Memory Palaces with Mind Maps. He is a World Mind Mapping Champion, after all, and author of the incredible guide, 101 Top Tips For Better Mind Maps. 

And if that wasn’t enough, get this:

Phil has taught memory improvement and mind mapping alongside Tony Buzan himself for many years. In fact, I made it a point to attend a live Thinkbuzan training and learned more than I ever would have dreamed possible.

Having them both in the same room is a blessing you won’t want to miss! 

Why Memory Training Is The Best Way To Improve Memory And Concentration

I remember taking courses with the filmmakers Atom Egoyan and Peter Greenaway while studying at the European Graduate School. 

Both of them have encyclopedia knowledge of Film History. 

But because I know how to convert semantic memory into episodic memory, I listened to those lectures differently than my fellow students. 

Sure, I took notes using my approach to note taking. 

But using the same tools Phil talks about in How to Train Your Memory, I remembered tons of names and details simply because I was actively connecting imagery with the information as the professors spoke. 

And I was able to do so even though I was star struck to be in the same seminar rooms with these legends of cinema. 

Kind of like how I was star struck to be in a room with Phill and Tony!

In other words, using memory techniques help you zone in on details by using association that pushes away distractions. 

Phil explains why and how association works. He also gives additional tips and examples that will help you. One skill in particular that you’ll get better at after reading this book is the one that matters the most:

The ability to convert abstract information into concrete images better and faster. 

How does Phil’s book help you develop this skill? 

Each chapter gives you exercises to complete.

And you really should complete them. 

In fact, getting a physical copy of How To Train Your Memory will help make sure you complete the exercises. I talk about why I’ve been reading only from physical books for memory training here:

(Oh, and physical books make it easier to use the Major System to memorize page numbers so you can easily find good passages you want read again.)

When Acronyms For Learning Help Your Memory Excel &

When They Lead To Failure

One of my favorite parts of How to Train Your Memory is when Phil Chambers lays out the pros and cons on using acronyms for memory training. 

Basically, it comes down to calculating the margin for error. 

The same thing goes for using rhyming as a memory technique. Sure, it can work, but when using mnemonic devices, too many things can go wrong. 

Why? 

It comes back to the science of memory: 

If you don’t convert semantic information into episodic memory through the use of mental imagery, you will find it harder to reproduce. 

But there is one acronym that Phil gives us that demonstrates when this technique is super powerful, and I’d like to demonstrate how and why. 

The acronym is SEAHORSE.

You’ll need to read the book to learn the memory training lessons packed into that single word, but when you get it right, you’ll have the keys to the memory improvement kingdom permanently locked into your mind. 

The reason why this acronym works so well is that: 

1. The mnemonic acronym SEAHORSE creates an image. You can picture the creature in your mind.

2. SEAHORSE creates an image that looks like a part of the brain that plays a huge role in memory. 

This is the hippocampus, which is names in Greek after its resemblance to the animal. (Hippo = horse and kampos = sea monster).

3. You can connect the SEAHORSE acronym to the author himself when you realize that the name Phillip (i.e. Phil Chambers) relates to the word hippocampus. 

How To Use A Mnemonic Acronym In A Memory Palace

As I’ve already shared, I’ve met Phil Chambers in a room. In fact, Phil and our group turned that room and its surrounding area into a Memory Palace. 

Now I can use it again and see where Phil sat in the room. I can place the image of a Seahorse over his head to remember the acronym. 

I can also place as a hippopotamus with a horse’s mane over his left shoulder and a camping tent over his right shoulder.

These images remind me of the Greek word origin of hippocampus. I am encoding both the sound and meanings of these words by converting facts into images. 

These images automatically receive episodic memory characteristics.

This “transfer” happens because:

There is a story behind why I was in that room.
The stories I know about Phil
The “image-story” of why a hippo would have a horse’s mane in the first place (it’s because the seahorse in his brain is driving him insane…)

This image-story takes just a few seconds to generate.

And yes, my brain is aided by the fact that I’ve met Phil and I’m drawing upon neurochemical changes.

This is why you should focus on drawing from your own experiences too. It’s related to the multi-sensory memory experiences fellow memory expert Nelson Dellis talks about in Remember It!

Then, by charting out 8 Magnetic Stations throughout the room, I can then layer on some Magnetic Imagery for the parts of the acronym itself. 

For example, the first word of SEAHORSE is “Senses.” In the corner of the seminar room, I can see Superman. He is tasting his hearing aid while blind and suffering from a belly ache. 

Why? Because a blind Superman tasting a hearing aid while in pain reminds me of most of the senses. I can even change his name to Super-Sense-Man to tap into the cognitive mode of the mind and memory and seal the deal. 

All that needs to happen next is to move to the next station and create a memorable image for the acronym word that starts with “E.” 

The Fullest History Of The Major System In The World

I’m a huge fan of the Major System and use it every day in the memory training I use based on memory training techniques from around the world. Even if it feels invisible, the Major (or Major Method) is actually behind the 00-99 I use for phone numbers, playing cards, birthdates and everything based on digits. 

I learned a lot from reading Phil’s take on both the history of the Major and how he mixes it with the number-shape technique. 

Why is the history of our tradition so important? 

Easy:

Knowing the story of the memory tools you use gives you even more mental connections and imagery! 

In terms of the actual technique, Phil points out something that I try to make sure everyone understands: 

The techniques you use for competition are not necessarily the same as the ones you would use in every day life or for large learning projects. 

Before I continue, let’s review the Major Method. There are some variations and different approaches to the Major System, but this arrangement is quite common:

Now, for many people learning how to memorize numbers, this approach will be more than enough for daily life. Except…

How do you deal with 3 digit numbers without creating a 000-999? 

Phil demonstrates exactly how to do it in ways that I do all the time. For example, 358 would be the mail man based on the Major and a snowman based on the number-shape technique. 

For me, 35 is the mail man Mr. McFeely from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. So I just see him shoving envelopes into Frosty the Snowman.

However, here’s the problem: 

In a competition setting, the context might tempt you to mix and match the Major with the number-shape technique and impoverish your results. 

And that’s exactly what happened to me when Phil gave us a number memory test. I was half-using the Major and half-using the number-shape approach. 

In real life, when you have time to review your images and re-shape them when needed, no big deal. But when the heat is on during a competition, there simply isn’t time. You are working at the level of practical strategy. 

Both involve what Phil describes as “creative innovation.”

But in the case of competition, you need your mnemonic systems set up and well-practiced in advance for competition purposes. Learning life is usually – though not always – more forgiving. 

Mind Maps For Memory Training & Memory Improvement?

One of my favorite parts of How to Train Your Memory involves the limitations mind mapping has for memory improvement. 

Phil explains the ins-and-outs clearly and continues giving incredible tips.

And the best part is this:

The book includes a number of his own mind maps that explain the memory techniques taught in the book. It’s also a great supplement to Tony Buzan’s Mind Map Mastery.

In sum, Phil gives you a decision matrix for knowing when to use mind maps for memory and when to go to more dedicated techniques and strategies. 

More and more, I’ve been thinking about what I’ve learned from him about mind mapping and often impose a “mnemonic clock” on the page built from the Major so that each position has a ready made image. 

For example, 12 is Tin Tin, 13 (one-o-clock) is J. Edgar Hoover vacuuming the Hoover Damn with a Hoover vacuum, etc. 

Although this approach is a bit rigid, as Tony Buzan said while I trained with this Dynamic Duo of memory improvement, “The Rules Will Set You Free.”

And as Phil makes clear, the context in which you choose the rules you will follow matters the most above all. 

Why You Need To Read How To Train Your Memory

Memory training is a bit of an odd world. 

On the one hand, there are many books you can read and be set for life. You just need to keep using the techniques you’ve learned.

On the other hand, there’s always more to learn and top performers in every field constantly revisit old ideas and scour the world for new angles. 

Plus, we simply don’t know what we don’t know. 

That’s why I’ve was delighted to re-experience some familiar concepts through a new lens in How To Train Your Memory and learn things I didn’t know before. 

I highly recommend you do the same. 

Oh, and about that issue with people forgetting things bigger than their car or their house. 

It’s this: 

People forget to pursue their passions. 

That’s even stranger than forgetting where you parked. 

And if your passion involves the need for better memory (how could it not?), make sure you read How To Train Your Memory by Phil Chambers.

The post How To Train Your Memory By Phil Chambers [Memory Improvement Book Review] appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Nelson Dellis On Remember It! And Visual Memory Techniques

Looking for visual memory techniques?

And I mean truly visual.

In this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, Nelson Dellis takes us behind the scenes of his new book, Remember It!

No kidding:

It is the most visual memory improvement book I have ever seen.

Even better, Nelson shares his unique way of using the Memory Palace technique to get the best results for both competition and learning.

All on an incredibly visual basis unlike anything we’ve seen since Bruno’s On the Shadows of the Ideas (and then some).

I really appreciate the visual memory techniques in Nelson’s new book for the way it will help so many people who get lost in the technical details involved in memory techniques.

No one is to blame for that. It does have it’s “cerebral” aspects and we’ve needed people who can teach that.

But never before has someone both exposed the need for visual training we all need and taken so much care and attention into making mnemonic examples truly visual.

Seriously, Remember It! is almost like a visual mnemonics dictionary.

But you might be asking yourself…

Who is This Nelson Dellis Anyway?

Some Kind Of Memory Champion?  

 

As a matter of fact, yes.

And he’s got some of the best memory improvement tips in town. Here’s a quick summary of some of the best:

You see? Nelson’s even inspired me to up my game and get more visual too. Hence this infographic summary. Thanks Nelson!

More Reasons I Find Nelson Dellis Inspiring And Influential

For The Life-Long Study Of Mnemonics

Nelson Dellis is a 4x USA Memory Champion, Memory Athlete, Memory Consultant, Published Author and highly sought-after Keynote Speaker.

Nelson is also the Founder & CEO of Climb For Memory, a non-profit charity that aims to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s disease research. He does this through mountain climbs all around the world.

Nelson approaches memory techniques scientifically and as part of living a good and healthy life.

If you’d like to learn more of the memory techniques Nelson has crafted for himself and how imagination can play a big role in your memory improvement, download this podcast now.

No. Wait. First do this:

Order a copy of Nelson’s new book, Remember It!

Oh okay… still not convinced?

Press play now and you’ll discover:

Exactly what inspired Nelson to write down his approach to championship-level memory techniques
How the visual memory techniques illustrated in Remember It can help you better understand memory techniques
How to make use of all your senses for memory improvement
The importance of establishing and keeping trust in your memory
How physical objects can help your memory
Different ways of managing Memory Palaces and making sure they are truly visual
The true meaning of “Multiple Memory Palaces” and why you must create a number of them (never rely on just one)
How to use the “Body Peg List” in an interesting way
How the alphabet can help in remembering
Tips on quick memorization for when you just have to Remember It!

If you want to see Remember It and just how visual it is, check out this video:

 

3 Reasons Nelson’s Visual Memory Techniques Are The Best So Far

Let’s face it:

1. There are thousands of books and programs on memory improvement.

But never before has anyone gone to any great length to make their mnemonic examples leap from the page.

Nelson does.

And this is very powerful because you sense through your eyes what needs to be happening in your mind.

2. Even if you have aphantasia, Nelson’s book will help.

This is because Nelson makes it clear that memory techniques are always visual for all people, and all people are visual. Yes, no matter what.

But he also makes it clear that you need to make your approach multi-sensory.

And he gives you great ways to dive in and experience memory techniques. The visual prompts make it difficult not to want to give them a try.

3. Nelson is aware of the real value of memorization techniques.

It’s not just about winning prizes, learning languages or conquering your exams at school.

It’s about conquering life itself.

And to do that, you’ve got to bring the body and the mind together.

 

Should You Buy Remember It?

In a word, “yes!”

Remember It will become your go-to book for ideas, inspiration, guidance and strategic know-how.

You’ll discover the best mix of scientifically proven visual memory techniques with practical application in both memory competition and in life.

Grab it from your favorite local or online bookseller now and then reach out and let Nelson know loud and clear that you appreciate with a review on Amazon and a follow across his presence on the web.

Well… What are you waiting for!?!

Get started with these resources now!