Where to find this idea:
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer
To write it down or to remember it?
Having a good note-taking system is a great way to declutter our brains. However, as we increasingly rely on our devices for efficiency, our memory capacity suffers. Plus, even if we diligently note everything down, chances are we’ll still forget to write something down at times.
We believe that a little memory exercise is beneficial (just like in the old days when we played memory games). You might find yourself in situations where writing down information isn’t feasible, where you wish to stretch that memory muscle, or simply want to have fun memorizing stuff (life is not about efficiency all the time).
One technique that we love is the mental palace technique — a mnemonic technique used to improve memory retention and recall. It involves visualizing a familiar place, such as a building or a street, and placing items or information you want to remember in specific locations within that space. This technique enhances memory by using the brain’s natural ability to remember visuals and spatial information.
Here’s how it works in practice:
Imagine it’s Monday morning, and as you leave home for work, you realize you need to stop at the grocery store after work to pick up a few items you forgot to buy on Sunday. Typically, you would either jot them down or attempt to remember them.
If you choose to rely on memory — or if writing them down isn’t an option, or if you want to strengthen your brain — you can employ the mental palace technique. For example, if your mental palace is your route to work and you need to remember to buy bread, you might visualize that bread waiting at a traffic light on your route. You can apply this method to all the items on your shopping list.
The key is to visualize a place that you are extremely familiar with, whether it’s your closet or an entire neighborhood. Once you have your location established, assign the items you want to remember into specific spots within that space. Using exaggeration and humor (for example what the items might be doing at that location) can make this visualization even more effective and enjoyable. A mental palace is a fun space and you get to decide how it’s organized.
Then, when you’re in the grocery store, you mentally walk through your palace and retrieve information you placed there.
And don’t forget to have fun!