Q&A for How to Build a Memory Palace

Of course, your mind palace is designed and created by you, so you decide what to put in it. Just be careful if you decide to put similar items in different mind palaces, because you might get confused or mixed up.

Don't memorise every word; instead, memorise the key points. Then walk around your memory palace in the specific order of the things in your speech, so that you go through front door and see the first thing, etc.

Most people forget things from time to time, but if you keep reminding yourself of details, you can remember as much as you want.

Of course. Find a way that the information can be visualised or imagined and then apply it. You can use this trick for memorising equations and formulas for your exams; then turn them into something you find amusing and memorable whilst linked to the information. After giving it a location, you can remember it. Also, if you give your memory palace some interesting items or things that make you laugh, this can help if the lesson if it is a little boring!

It might be harder to separate your memories if you're storing them in the same palace -- a new palace is preferable if you don't want to get rid of the memories in the old palace as of yet.

Just place certain words in locations where they belong. For example, you could put the word, "gato," next to a picture of a cat.

Have them all linked to a room. When you go into the room you will see them, perhaps talk to them, maybe they are holding an item to jog your memory.

With enough practice you could visualize the actual map as a big painting in your entrance hall and since you will always "walk" next to it when entering your palace. That way, you will remember it better and better.

Yes it can be used for anything.

Yes, your memory palace can be an outdoor space.

They're quite similar and might not work well. Perhaps place distinct items on them all.

Correct. Building a memory palace is not a "quick fix." However, it does train your brain to memorize better which could make you faster, too.

Let us say you have to learn a year: 1926 and an important event corresponding with that year. What I would do is create an object that makes you remember that specific historic item. I usually create something that is so different that it instantly makes me remember. For example, a modern room, entirely white, with a black piece of obsidian on the table will instantly make you remember what that was.

If you do not want to keep your memories then simply make a temporary room with closets. If something in there is worthy of keeping, move it into the main room. If you no longer need it, replace it with another item. The key factor to wiping/renewing mind maps is uniqueness. A unique item tells a tale. The crazier/more unique the better.

Sure! Why not put the different categories of the menu into separate rooms and then the dishes as furniture and the ingredients as accessories on the furniture? For example, the living room might be appetizers, the couch would be potato skins and a pillow would be cheese sauce.

Creating a memory palace is instant, once you've picked one. It takes time to review the route. The more stations/locations you have in the route, the more time it takes to review. The goal is to know your memory palace really well so you can access every location/station and link/view information instantly.

No. Anyone can create a memory palace.

Focus on an actual place, like your house. If you close your eyes and walk through the rooms, you will see them with your "mind's eyes", also known as photographic memory.

Yep. Using people in your memory palace actually helps you remember things even better.

Aren't rooms physical places? So long as it makes sense to you, then it can be anything you like, including (but not limited to) a bunch of rooms. The technique mentioned in this article uses a palace - so yes, you may imagine a palace. Whatever helps you remember.

Yes, just place certain words where they belong. For example, you could place the word "pomme" next to an apple.

It will be much easier if you do. But if you want to, your mind palace could just have words scrawled across the walls.

Place key vocabulary words or phrases throughout your memory palace. For example, "Bonjour" could be at the front door since that's where you'd say hello. And "bonne nuit" could be in the bedroom for "goodnight."

The more you practice retrieving information, the easier it gets. When you're first starting out, you might have to walk the entire palace to find a piece of information but once you get used to it, you'll be able to start in the middle.

Yes! A memory palace can be used to remember any topic or information. It's a great study tool.

You got it! Memory palaces work best when they're places you're familiar with and have separate rooms and such. Good luck!

Sure! If you can easily imagine your desktop in your head, that would work. You can use anything as a memory palace.

You can use this technique to remember whatever you want to keep. When applying this technique to anything you read, it is more effective if you first write what you understand in your own words (write notes while reading your lesson). Then place your notes into your memory palace. The more you practice this technique, the less you will need to write notes first.

It all depends on how complicated or big your mind palace is. Smaller mind palaces can be built in a couple of hours.

As long as you know the layout of the entire movie and visualize it as a structure or route, you can create a movie-based mind palace.