Psychology, behavior, cognition, memory, decision-making and the science of the mind.
Most people think being productive means cramming more into the day—longer hours, fewer breaks, more coffee. But research tells a different story. Scientists have been studying how our brains and bodies handle focus, decision-making, and fatigue, and the truth is both surprising and useful. It turns out, we’re not wired to go full-speed all day….
If someone came up to you and said, “If you remember my name a week from now, I’ll give you a million dollars,” would you remember that name? You probably would, right? I know that I would. Many people believe that it’s difficult to remember names and faces. It’s a limiting belief that prevents many…
Can adults still learn new things? Three common myths Yes: adults can learn new skills and form new memories throughout life. Some mental abilities change with age, while experience, knowledge and vocabulary may remain strong or improve. There is no fixed age at which learning stops, and there is also no credible promise that practice…
How to remember historical dates with the month, day and year For a complete date, use three separate memory cues: one for the month, one for the day and one for the year. Then link those cues to the historical event in the same order every time. This article uses month images and the Major…
What is the body memory system? The body memory system is a variation of the method of loci: instead of using rooms in a building, you use body parts in a fixed order as memory locations. To remember a shopping list, imagine bananas bouncing on your forehead, a fish on your nose, and a tin…
How to memorize a deck of cards: quick start To remember the order of a shuffled 52-card deck, give each card a distinct image and place those images, one by one, at 52 familiar locations in a memory palace. Then mentally walk the route and translate each image back into its card. Beginners should practice…
Spaced repetition: how to use it and when to review Spaced repetition means reviewing information at intervals rather than cramming all your practice into one session. An easy starting plan is to recall the material today, tomorrow, three days later, a week later and a few weeks later. Those are example intervals, not a scientifically…
How to memorize poetry word for word: a practical approach For verbatim poetry, lines from a play or a literary quotation, a memory journey can help you remember the sequence of images, but it does not preserve every exact word on its own. Learn the passage’s meaning and rhythm, divide it into short sections, and…
Memory journey technique: a ten-stop example A memory journey uses familiar landmarks in a fixed order as prompts for information. It is a form of the method of loci, just like a memory palace; the main difference is that your route may travel through streets, a park or a commute rather than rooms in one…
How to memorize a speech without reading it: quick plan For most presentations, the easiest starting point is to memorize the order of your main ideas rather than every sentence. Create a short outline, assign each section to a familiar place, and rehearse out loud while mentally moving through those places. Learn exact quotations, numerical…