Unlimited Memory: How to Use Advanced Learning Strategies to Learn Faster

Kevin Horsley

In this book, Kevin Horsley talks about harnessing the power of our memory. Forgetfulness is something a large portion of the population struggles with. In this book, there are tips and tricks that one can follow to overcome this hurdle.

One of the first things to do to harness the power of one’s memory to improve our concentration. To improve concentration we should take the necessary steps to stop distractions in our work. Doing away with multitasking helps us get rid of conflicts that distract us. Multitasking slows us down by 50% and increases the chance of mistakes by 50%. We should also find a purpose to the work we do to remain focused on it. 

The PIC rule can be used to achieve this. Apart from finding a Purpose, we should also ask ourselves questions that will keep us Interested and Curious about what we are doing. It will ensure that we stay focused on our work.

While concentration helps us take in the needed information better, it is also equally important to retain this information. Bringing information to life makes this easier. In the case of words, larger words can be broken down into smaller ones. These words can then be made to sound funny or be associated with absurd images. This association will make the words more memorable. This is particularly useful when it comes to learning foreign words.

The SEE method helps us remember words better. Remembering a word is not only about the letters composition but also about the Senses we associate with the word. Take note of the senses related to the object, like the smell or sound, and Exaggerate the image associated with the word. Logic has little to do with making a word easy to remember. The next step is to Energise the image. An active image or information is easier to recall than a stable one. We should use our imagination to bring information to life which will only become easier with time and practice.

Organizing the images in our minds is just as important as creating these images. The Loci Method or the route method is the best way to do this. It combines new information with already existing familiar information. Horsley gives the example of trying to remember the order of a speech to illustrate this method. This can be done by mapping a route inside our house where each room holds a handful of absurd memorable images that form a part of our speech. This route is easier to follow as it is associated with a location that we know well.

People also find it difficult to recall mathematical facts and historical dates easily. But transforming numbers into images will help them stick in our minds. For this, the first thing required is a system that changes numbers into letters based on how they look or sound. For example, the number six can be represented by the sh/ch sound. He illustrates this by showing how the year 1969 when man first landed on the moon can be remembered by the word ‘bishop’, wherein b stands for the first 9, sh stands for 6, and p stands for the second 9. This is then followed by making up an active image that corresponds to the event we are trying to remember, using the SEE principle. In this case, it could be the image of a bishop dancing on the moon.

The next trick Horsley puts forward is to help remember names. Forgetting names can often land us in awkward social and professional situations, but the four Cs: concentrate, create, connect, and continuous use will help us remember them better.

Concentrating on the name and repeating it out loud will help us retain it in our memory. Getting the spelling also helps if the name is a tricky one. The second step is to create a memorable image in our head for a word that can be associated with the name. Then this image should be connected to the person’s face so that the next we see them we will immediately recall it. Taking note of a person’s striking feature, and connecting it to the name also contributes to this cause. 

Horsley also answers the problem of knowing two or more people with the same name. Comparing the new face to the older, familiar face will help us form a distinction between the two people. 

Above all these, revisiting the newly learned names is very important in order to remember them. Using them continuously or keeping a list of new names will also work towards retaining them in our minds.

Horsley also stresses the fact that all these tips and tricks will be useless if we do not review them constantly. Every time we review the newly gathered information, it will create a deeper impact on our minds. Leaving more time between reviews also will ensure that our brain doesn’t forget the information. Our brain tends to forget knowledge left unreviewed for too long.

A sure way to retain information in our memory is to make it come alive and to connect with it. Making use of these tools to gather knowledge and consistent reviewing of this knowledge will prevent us from losing it.

#IAS Academy in Chennai
#IAS Coaching in Chennai
#Best IAS Academy in Chennai
#Best IAS Coaching in Chennai
#IAS Coaching Centre in Chennai
#UPSC Coaching in Chennai