The Mind Palace [How to Sharpen Your Memory]

Greetings all!

Every day we are bombarded with information - seemingly endless stream of news, data, facts, gossip... How can we keep our memory sharp to remember the things we do need to remember? Here are some tips from Caroline McKenzie as read in the March-2019 issue of Real Simple magazine!

1) Get Moving

Medical research suggests that short, brisk walks might be good for short-term memory, whereas regular moderate exercise helps with forming long-term memories.

Doing an uncommon gesture before certain tasks might also jog your memory. For example, hopping on one foot before placing your keys on the desk might help you remember their location.

2) Visit the “Palace”

Image from https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018ttws

The memory palace is a visualization technique where you mentally place objects in an imaginary path. If you are going to run multiple errands, imagine the dry cleaning by the door, checks to be cashed on the desk, etc. Then you mentally go through this path and pick up images you laid there earlier. 

MY NOTE: I think the memory palace is a great technique to learn another language and in general to keep our brain active. This method is also known as the mind palace, memory journey or the method of loci. Sherlock in the Sherlock BBC series favors this technique and there was a great episode in which a blackmailer stored juicy tidbits in his mind palace, without putting anything on paper! 

3) Make It Weird

Turn your day-to-day essentials that you need to remember into bizarre pictures in your brain. If you need to pick up milk, imagine “your car stuffed to the gills with cartons and milk gushing out the windows.” Your brain might remember unusual images better. 

MY NOTE: OK, I think I will continue with making lists for errands but I can see how this might help with remembering the name of a person you just met or enhancing your vocabulary! 

4) Put It on Repeat

Repetition is great for learning a language or, in the author’s article, remembering a recipe.

5) Catch Some Z’s

A good night’s sleep is essential for our health, including brain health and memory retention. Research shows that napping might also bolster memories.

Many of these ideas come from “Remember It!” book by Nelson Dellis, which is going on my library list - I think my mind palace is busy enough without adding another book to it!

Which one is your favorite? Drop me a line!