Memory fit - How I learnt to exercise my memory | Anastasia Woolmer | TEDxDocklands

Summary

The speaker, once an average memorizer, became Australia's first female memory champion by mastering memory techniques. She shares her journey from struggling with economics in university to excelling through hard work and eventually discovering the power of memory sports. The talk highlights the importance of mental fitness alongside physical fitness, advocating for the use of creativity and imagery in memory techniques to enhance learning and retention, making any subject, from languages to pi digits, more accessible.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Memory Improvement: The speaker transformed from having an average memory to becoming a two-time Australian memory champion through deliberate practice and training in memory techniques.
• 🏆 Memory Sports: Memory sports involve athletes training their memories to achieve remarkable feats, such as recalling hundreds of digits, names, faces, and abstract images quickly and accurately.
• 💪 Physical and Mental Fitness: Just like physical fitness, mental fitness can be enhanced through regular training. Memory techniques can improve cognitive abilities, boost confidence, and enhance learning across various domains.
• 📚 Learning Techniques: Memory techniques focus on converting abstract information into memorable stories using imagery and creativity, which make it easier to remember information that would otherwise be challenging to retain.
• 🎭 Dance and Memory: The speaker, with a background in ballet and contemporary dance, uses movement to remember numbers, creating a sequence of visual and kinetic stories to memorize long sequences such as digits of pi.
• 📝 Practical Applications: Memory techniques are not only for competitions but can be used in everyday life to learn languages, excel in university courses, remember names, or even recall sports statistics, making learning more effective and enjoyable.
• ⏱️ Efficient Learning: Training memory techniques can reduce the amount of time spent studying, enabling individuals to achieve better results in a fraction of the time compared to traditional study methods.
• 👩‍🏫 Overcoming Learning Challenges: The speaker shared her own challenges with learning, emphasizing that hard work alone wasn't enough to excel in academia and that memory techniques provided a significant advantage in quickly assimilating new information.
• 🌐 Universality of Memory Skills: Memory techniques are accessible to everyone, regardless of age or background, and can lead to life-changing improvements in learning and information retention.
• 🔍 Creative Visualization: By associating numbers, words, or concepts with vivid images or familiar locations, individuals can leverage the brain's natural affinity for visual and spatial memory, enhancing their ability to recall and apply information effectively.

Q & A

What was the speaker's memory ability like three years ago?

Three years ago, the speaker had an average memory and struggled to remember names and details from conversations at social events.

How did the speaker's memory transformation begin?

The transformation began when the speaker read a book on memory sports, which inspired her to learn and apply memory techniques.

What is the significance of being a two-time Australian memory champion?

Being a two-time Australian memory champion signifies that the speaker has exceptional memory skills, having won the title twice and setting several Australian records.

What was the speaker's career before becoming a memory athlete?

The speaker was a professional ballet and contemporary dancer, touring across the world before her memory athlete career.

How did the speaker's lack of study skills and memory impact her university experience?

The lack of study skills and average memory made her university experience challenging. She compensated by working much harder than her peers, studying three hours for every one recommended.

What was the speaker's initial perception of her success in university?

The speaker felt like a fraud because she believed her success was due to over-preparation and hard work rather than innate intelligence or memory skills.

What is the world record for remembering a sequence of numbers?

The world record for correctly remembering the exact sequence of numbers read out loud is 456 digits, with only a single error on the 457th digit.

How did the speaker use her dance background to improve her memory?

The speaker used her dance background to associate movements with numbers, creating a sequence of choreography that she could remember due to her experience in dance.

What is the main idea behind memory techniques according to the speaker?

The main idea behind memory techniques is to translate information from something hard to remember into a memorable story using imagery, creativity, and linking information together.

Why are memory techniques not commonly taught in educational institutions?

Memory techniques are an unknown skill and are rarely taught in schools or universities, possibly due to a lack of awareness or integration into traditional educational curricula.

What is the benefit of training memory techniques regularly?

Regular training of memory techniques improves overall memory and learning abilities, much like physical exercise improves muscle strength and fitness.

How can memory techniques be applied to everyday life?

Memory techniques can be applied to various aspects of life such as learning languages, acing exams with less study, remembering names, and enhancing professional performance.

What is the speaker's advice for those who want to improve their memory skills?

The speaker advises finding suitable memory techniques and exercising the mind regularly, emphasizing that it's never too late to learn and improve memory fitness.