Thu, 23 March 2017
Hey, it happens. We’ve all forgotten a name. Where we left our keys. Whether or not we locked the front door. But there’s a difference between mild forgetfulness and more serious memory problems like memory loss. And mild forgetfulness is particularly vicious because it can creep up on you. In fact, it could be biting up parts of your brain as we speak. But it’s not the same as memory loss, which is what we really need to focus on curing. And to help you out, here are five signs of serious memory loss problems you need to take seriously:
1. Asking The Same Questions Over And Over Again
This is a big warning sign that you have memory loss problems. You might even be suffering from one of the big memory loss diseases like Alzheimer’s or Dementia. It’s not just that you’ve forgotten the answers to the questions. You’ve even forgotten that you asked the question before. If this happens to you or someone points out that you’ve been asking the same question multiple times, please get it checked out. No shame in having the problem. Just something that needs attention.
2. Getting Lost In Well-Known Places
This problem can occur at any age. It’s not necessarily a sign of Alzheimer’s or dementia, either. It could be a sign of fatigue, dietary problems or thyroid issues. But if you find yourself getting lost in places you’ve been in many times before (including your home), you know that it’s more than well-warranted to get yourself to the doctor.
3. Inability To Follow Directions
No, I’m not talking about rebellion. I’m talking about literally not being able to understand and execute. We all have this from time to time. Sometimes, the instructions are to blame. But other times, it’s a sign of serious memory loss.
4. Experiencing Confusion About Time
It’s normal to forget the day of the week every once in awhile. But if it becomes a common occurrence, you need to do something about it. Not only that, but you can use a Memory Palace to help ensure that you always know what day of the week it is. Here’s how: Look at the wall nearest your bed. Imagine it has seven quadrants. In each quadrant, place an image. For example: Monday = the moon Tuesday = a can of Tuna Wednesday = a weathervane Etc … Having a mnemonic calendar like this will make the days of the week more memorable for you as such. But to know for sure, you can imagine crossing out a huge X over the can of tuna before going to bed on a Tuesday. Or you can do something even more imaginative, like seeing it smashed by the weathervane that represents Wednesday. In this way, when you wake up, you can think of what happened before you went to sleep on your mnemonic calendar. That will instantly remind you of the current day. And this works just as well for young people as it does for people coping with age related memory loss. Having a mnemonic calendar is also one of many great brain exercises that will help you keep sharp.
5. Not Taking Care Of Yourself
Seriously. Some people forget to eat, bathe and otherwise take care of themselves. I know this problem well from the periods when depression has crushed my memory so heavily my hygiene went down the drain. It sucks and if it happens to you, get it checked out.
8 Simple Cures For Memory Loss And Forgetfulness
The good news is that people are winning the battle against memory loss and forgetfulness. Here are 8 things you can do starting today that will give you the upper edge in the battle against these critical memory problems.
1. Learn A New Skill
Seriously. Juggling, piano, simple sketching. Anything you can find will help. I’m currently learning more about video production and photography while learning Chinese. The improvements to my memory are noticeable on a daily basis.
2. Volunteer
It could be at a school, community service office or church. It really doesn’t matter what, so long as it’s with other people and you genuinely feel happy about helping others. These kinds of experiences create powerful new memories that will last a lifetime while exercising your brain.
3. Spend More Time With Friends & Family
Be honest. You’re not getting enough face time with the people that matter. And it’s killing your memory. Get out your calendar and cell phone now. Make the call. Book a time. Your memory will thank you for it.
4. Put Your Wallet, Keys & Glasses |
Wed, 15 March 2017
Ever hear that crazy phrase, “knowledge is power”? Sounds kind of cool, right? But have you ever asked yourself …
What The Heck Does That Silly Cliche Mean?
Well, “power,” it turns out, is an interesting concept. Especially when it comes to memory and memory improvement. To begin, understand this: People have defined it thousands of different ways throughout history. Ever since I discovered it in university, I’ve always liked Michel Foucault’s definition. He’s a philosopher who you should check out sometime. Don’t worry if you think philosophy is boring. Foucault didn’t dally around. He gets right down to defining it in many books. For Foucault, power amounts to “the ability to conduct the conduct of others.” Now, let’s be honest:
Who In Their Right Mind Wouldn’t Want A Taste Of That?
And let’s be clear: When it comes to memory improvement and using memory techniques as a way of life, that’s what we going for: Power. Exactly as Michel Foucault defined. Why? Because if you’re using memory techniques to help you learn a language, guess what? Speaking a language “controls” what others think. Just like my words are controlling what you think now. Controlling what you’re thinking, feeling, deciding to do next. And more than that …
Power Is Productive
It produces the next action in line. When it comes to the power that using memory techniques creates, think of it this way: If you’re using memory techniques for numbers so that you can quote SKU numbers at work or cite aspects of the law, you’re instantly better at controlling how your colleagues work with you. Pretty neat, huh? Well, hold on now, because it gets even better. Because there are a lot of things about memory you probably don’t know. And all of them will give you more power. Which equals more control. Particularly over the most important person in your life you need better control over. You. So with all that in mind, let’s get started: 1. Memory Loss Starts At A Much |
Wed, 8 March 2017
Guest post and podcast narration by Lukas Van Vyve. Have you ever wished you had the ability to memorize information in real time? Believe it or not, you can. Interpreters do it all the time. They listen, understand, memorize, translate and speak – all at the same time. Impressive, right? Conference interpreting is certainly not for the faint-hearted. In fact, research shows that conference interpreting is one of the most stressful jobs in the world. One study put the stress levels experienced during interpreting on about the same level as those of an air traffic controller! Go figure.
How To Succeed In Conference Interpreting |
Wed, 1 March 2017
No question about learning and memory enters my inbox more often than than “why aren’t these memory techniques taught in schools?” The question reeks of conspiracy. It creates pictures of entire nations hoping to keep their children in ignorance so they will become mindless slaves working for the state. But worse than all of that paranoia … The question is …
Completely Irrelevant!First off, memory techniques are taught in schools. I recognize this simple fact even if once upon a time I dropped out without a high school degree (part one of this three-part series) and mercifully figured out what to go back to school for (part two). How are memory techniques already used in schools? How about the song we teach children to help them remember the alphabet? Its melody is a memory technique, loud and clear. Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge for music is a memory technique. We have simple mnemonics for astronomy, art, math, biology, geography and chemistry. Heck, just search Wikipedia for “list of mnemonics” and you’ll find more than you can shake a stick at. But Are Simple Mnemonics Enough?That’s the real question at hand. Because the problem is that a lot of the images and word play you’ll find on that Wikipedia page are useless. Worse than useless, they create a ton of overwhelm. Why? Because they don’t come with any understanding. They’re not loaded with strategy … They Have No Method …And that’s why the Magnetic Memory Method is such a roaring success. No, not for everyone. Not everyone wants to learn how to think about memory. Many people want formulas, gimmicks and “systems.” I’m sorry, but that’s not reality. And it’s not what we do in the Magnetic Memory Method Family. Far from it. Instead of pretending that there’s some kind of fix all system that will magically improve your memory for all things forever and ever amen … We Break Memory Techniques Down To The Basics
And once that’s done, we understand the how, the why and the what. So that it doesn’t hurt so much to learn. Here’s why you feel pain with learning, by the way (thanks to Miklós in the SuperLearner community for bringing it to our attention): It’s even easier to stop the pain than the video suggests. How so? By making sure that you understand how to really get results from the techniques by aligning them with your real reasons for learning, remembering and recalling information. It’s often not what it seems. Because here’s the deal … At the Magnetic Memory Method Headquarters, I strive to achieve just one thing: Mastery. Mastery over your memory. Mastery over your concentration. Mastery over the rate at which you learn. Mastery over the pain of forgetfulness. So That You Never Have To Feel That Pain Again!But it’s not going to happen without study. It’s not going to happen without effort. It’s not going to happen without creating and using Memory Palaces. Above all, it’s not going to happen without consistency of effort. And that’s what’s so cool about the Magnetic Memory Method. If you’ve been following the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, you’ve heard the stories of success. Just one for today: These success stories with learning and memory techniques all boil down to one thing: Learning the techniques. Using the techniques. Analyzing your results and then improving your abilities using them. The best part? I’ve had the chance to teach the Magnetic Memory Method to some of the finest students on the planet. And guess what? Success Leaves CluesAll of the most successful students share one thing in common. They don’t wait around waiting for success to happen! They invest in themselves. They study the material they’ve invested in. They take action. They experiment, explore and when they’re done, they experiment and explore some more! Having The Humility To Learn Is A SkillWhat I’ve learned from all of the Magnetic Memory Method success stories is that everything begins with a decision. It’s a decision to set aside time to learn. To really learn. I’ve done it myself. After years of success with my own memory and as a memory trainer, I went to learn from one of the best on the planet. Not just to collect data and “spy” on the competition. To Truly LearnAs a result, I’m better for it. In fact, I still buy books and courses from people. Some are from authors who help only a fraction of the audience the Magnetic Memory Method has gathered. Some are from towering figures who practically rule the memory world. I’m talking about taking some courses that cost 4x the amount of the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass and Mastermind combined. Yes! Memory improvement courses that expensive really do exist! The Best Always Invest In ThemselvesHere’s the thing: Even when you get to the top – which is incredibly rare – you still have to keep learning. And let’s not beat around the bush: The ones who sail past the obstacles in life are the ones who are in motion to begin with. Wouldn’t you like to be in motion? Of course you would. You just need to get started with learning and memory techniques. And the best part about them is that learning can be fun. Seriously. Learning how to learn doesn’t have to be the horrid and depressing playground of the school system where everyone winds up asking, “Why don’t they teach the most important skills in the world in school?” Again, that isn’t the real question. Let’s Ask The Really Important Questions |