How to Memorize Anything with Ultimate Memory Magic

Today’s episode is an interview with Jim Karol, author of the audiobook Ultimate Memory Magic. We’ll be exploring how to memorize anything and everything ... quickly. Listen to the podcast episode to hear the actual interview, and find Jim’s book at getitdoneguy.com/memory.

Jim starts with a memory ‘peg system.’ In a peg system, you memorize a set of distinct peg images that correspond to numbers.

For example, your pegs might be:

1 = Arnold Schwartzenegger

2 = Gwyneth Paltrow

3 = Ben Platt

4 = Zac Efron

5 = Taylor Swift 

You memorize those associations until they’re automatic. Then, to memorize any list, you combine the peg images with the things you’re memorizing.

Let's say you want to memorize a list of tasks, and the tasks are:

A. Clean the car

B. Fold laundry

C. Buy a holiday gift for the office party

You would create an image of peg 1, Arnold Schwartzenegger, cleaning a fabulously expensive car. Then you would imagine Gwyneth Paltrow directing a small army of servants to fold her laundry. Third, you'd imagine Ben Platt in a Santa costume purchasing a gigantic box in wrapping paper with a bow.

Now to remember your to-do list, you run through your pegs and retrieve the new image. Number one is Arnold. The image of Arnold and his car come to mind, so you remember you need to clean the car. Two is Gwyneth and her army of laundry folders, and you remember you need to fold the laundry. Three is Ben and his gigantic box.

Use emotional anchors for the pegs

You always use the same pegs, and those tell you where in the list you are. Remembering your peg images is the key to this technique. Often, peg memory techniques simply choose an arbitrary set of peg images and have you memorize them verbatim.

Don’t use arbitrary peg images. Instead, create your initial peg images so they have strong emotional meaning for you.

Jim adds an important twist. Don’t use arbitrary peg images. Instead, create your initial peg images so they have strong emotional meaning for you. That will make them much easier to remember.

If you’re a movie buff, you can use your favorite (and not-so-favorite) actors. That’s what I did above. Or you could use all of the cast from one show. If you love collecting matchbox cars, you could use models of cars. If you're a foodie, each peg image could be a different dish, or a restaurant where you’ve eaten.

Do whatever it takes for you to create a set of peg images that...

Keep reading on Quick and Dirty Tips