MonkeyGirl
11-29-07, 04:56 PM
Have any of you tried memory training?
I bought a book by Dominic O'Brien (World Memory Champion) and tried some of his techniques.
It took me 3-4 years before I read it. Even more time before I tried any of the exercises. But when I did, I memorized 8 decks of cards at most! That's 416 cards - 4 different suits with 13 cards each x 8 - recited in 100% correct order. It isn't a gift (trust me!), it's a skill (I'm still very surprised). Of course I lost interest and stopped doing them...
It takes time and effort in the beginning: preparing to remember: memory journeys, turning numbers into initials and people, vitalize your creative side (piece of cake), increase ability to link and associate (knowing a little bit about everything is an advantage...) - which all takes time and effort. But after you've put down the foundation, you are pretty much on vacation.
I had a school assignment once on British history, 0-1200 AD I think, that I were to present before my class. While I was standing up there, I was mentally "walking" through my route; the hospital, the bus station, my gym - the road between home and school. The order of the specific places are always the same. I basically just replayed the (vivid) scenarios I'd created at each stop. Not my strongest sides neither of them, presentation and Anglo-Saxons, but I scored an A. :faint: :)
It's more fun if you can practice with friends. It's definitely worth a thought.
I bought a book by Dominic O'Brien (World Memory Champion) and tried some of his techniques.
It took me 3-4 years before I read it. Even more time before I tried any of the exercises. But when I did, I memorized 8 decks of cards at most! That's 416 cards - 4 different suits with 13 cards each x 8 - recited in 100% correct order. It isn't a gift (trust me!), it's a skill (I'm still very surprised). Of course I lost interest and stopped doing them...
It takes time and effort in the beginning: preparing to remember: memory journeys, turning numbers into initials and people, vitalize your creative side (piece of cake), increase ability to link and associate (knowing a little bit about everything is an advantage...) - which all takes time and effort. But after you've put down the foundation, you are pretty much on vacation.
I had a school assignment once on British history, 0-1200 AD I think, that I were to present before my class. While I was standing up there, I was mentally "walking" through my route; the hospital, the bus station, my gym - the road between home and school. The order of the specific places are always the same. I basically just replayed the (vivid) scenarios I'd created at each stop. Not my strongest sides neither of them, presentation and Anglo-Saxons, but I scored an A. :faint: :)
It's more fun if you can practice with friends. It's definitely worth a thought.