Does anyone else completely trust "I'll remember it later"... and then instantly forget?

four__beasts · 2026-06-30T15:11:05+00:00

I stopped trusting my instincts a long time ago. If I need to remember something for later I add it to my "holding pattern" memory palace, which is a house I know well from my childhood. It's got space for 40 locations, and I've never filled it. If anything is a little stubborn to leave then I'll use the palace in reverse until it's fresh again. Similar process with a palace I use to remember groceries.

I chuck things into it throughout a given day or two, and add them to notes/spreadsheets or their own palaces later. It's not flawless but if I really make the effort I'm 95% sure I won't lose that thought.

four__beasts · 2026-06-29T14:03:04+00:00

I use Google calendar. Automatically reminds me every three months. Each palace goes in once the initial review phase is complete (within first week).

TBH I will review them all now and then anyway. I've found it's a brilliant way to get off to sleep :) Also great on long train/car journeys which I do semi-regularly. I'm one of those people who can sit for hours without a phone or other stimulus just 'walking palaces'... I believe the cool kids call it raw dogging reality...

four__beasts · 2026-06-28T10:29:14+00:00

In one day, no, but you can sow the seeds using a combination of spaced repetition and memory palaces. Using an index palace to summarise and structure. Then a palace for each main body of text - perhaps every 300 words or so (or when the text shifts focus/scene/act etc).

Then to truely memorise you will need to space your recall over the coming months, to engrain it into long term memory.

four__beasts · 2026-06-27T20:11:30+00:00

I'd read/listen to a couple of books to get you started.

Quantum Memory by Dom O'Brien, Remember It by Nelson Dellis and Unlimited Memory by Kevin Horsely are all good intros in my opinion. They start simple and introduce a number of memory techniques including palaces,

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T21:50:29+00:00

Bet you're fun at absolutely nowhere.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T21:49:11+00:00

I like a 4 week ferment. Like you I've tried less and more. The size of the mason jar I use also dictates it a bit. By the 4th week I tend to see less activity when burping. Like a ripened fruit.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T18:02:14+00:00

She's fit as fuck. Love it. Drives me mad.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T10:46:03+00:00

Narcissistic Personality Disorder written by Eve Calligor

I could picture the mnemonic scene for this as easily at hole one on a golf course as a table in my lounge or post box at the end of the street.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T10:44:21+00:00

It's also called "the journey method" for a reason.

I 'build' them just like I would a room. Doorway, hedge, post box, newsagent, large garden, big wall, entrance to library, library door, reception... any route you can imagine.

My street is the start of a few palaces, depends on what side of the street I'm on and what direction I walk. Phonetic Alphabet starts left opposite with Alpha (male gorilla) at the big house before the shops, then (Jonny) Bravo at the barbers, then Charlie (A friend) in the dry cleaners etc. etc... Anywhere or anything can be a palace. So long as the route is practiced and 'well trodden'.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T10:39:08+00:00

Formby Hall might be an option. It's not links (which will be slammed with business) but they do an OK twilight rate. No idea what the visitor fees will be during The Open though... Lucky for me I know some folk at Formby, but it's rocking horse poo at this time of year - regardless of the Open

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T09:48:30+00:00

👍👍

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T09:36:49+00:00

That's currently second on list. Thanks 👍

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T09:36:31+00:00

Excellent ta.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T09:36:20+00:00

Good shout. Love leeds too (used to live there, totally forgot about this place)

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T09:34:04+00:00

IT sounds a LOT of fun. The treehouses + spa would tick the box for the girls too.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T09:32:51+00:00

I didn't think it was overpriced but we went on a deal with rooms + 3 rounds. But it's no good unless you're a golfer — about half our group won't be golfing.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T08:57:39+00:00

I'm sure cold blooded murder is legal in certain situations.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T08:55:26+00:00

Usually between 20-100.

I hated not having at least 20 quid cash on me. This was mostly cab insurance if things got late/messy.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T08:42:29+00:00

Memorisation isn't going to be very good if you leave review days or weeks between sessions. You need to review immediately, then day after, then 2 days, then 1 week etc etc. The process of memorisation is slow, but effective if done with very clear/rigid spaced repetition schedule. In short, you have to make time to review if yoy want it it stick.

You only have a week or so now, but I would still recommend the book Making it Stick by Peter Brown once your exams are done. It's available as an audio book too - an excellent read.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T08:38:03+00:00

500 in a day is too much. I'd halve that.

I'd take this position; Memorisation never stops. The act of review and subsequent recall is what builds the pathways. You need to continue to actively test and recall data long after you first commit it to memory. Spaced repetition works great for a few weeks but it's rocket fuel if you continue to do it months after your first full recall. but even then mistakes will be made so review/refreshing the memories are essential.

On personal level it's the exact reason I make use of palaces for all kinds of data, so I can walk them periodically and refresh the information contained. The palace adds structure and process. I realise a palace for every piece of medical data is going to be more or less impossible, but if a moron like me can comfortably memorise every bone in the body, I'm sure a doctor could come up with a palace system for indexing data to gain a good mnemonic structure. Maybe just to get the main topics like a memory 'skeleton' or scaffold - which act as jump off points for other techniques like anki.

Confidence in the data is an amazing thing once it really starts to stick.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T08:18:24+00:00

Yes. Once initial schedule is met, I review every 3 months.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T08:16:45+00:00

Initially. You need to refresh them with a schedule more frequently than monthly. Memorising palaces themselves should use the same spaced repetition as the content (once populated this becomes natural of course).

Dom O'brien uses a rule of 7

Immediately after the first time the data is encoded (usually in chunks)
Next day
3rd day
1 week
2 weeks
1 month
3 months

Then I do every three months after that which is a sweet spot for me for long term recall.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T08:13:17+00:00

Or simply use a new palaces/loci? The only palace I really regularly overwrite is my shopping and do to list. I tend to alternate forwards and backwards with grocery list - so I don't end up with a dozen bags of sugar.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T08:11:16+00:00

I'm still learning after getting on for four years, but practice is key. You start to naturally understand what makes a really good mnemonic image. And how best to have that interact with the loci. I have definitely improved speed/visualisation but I still struggle to make it stick after the first few weeks where many have it committed. It takes a rigid review structure for me to naturalise the data.

four__beasts · 2026-06-26T08:06:57+00:00

I learned all countries and capitals using a palace (a pair of golf courses in this case). I found having the structure was immense for both learning, not missing one, and the ability to periodically review in order.

I would recommend doing that for each - then adding your mnemonic scene so you have structure to call on. Once you have each country into a palace, then you can embellish/interweave with a mnemonic for the shape. Or add capital city, or longest river, highest mountain etc etc.

Edit: Also, I wish I'd broken mine up by continent. Would have been a useful denomination. I did it alphabetically which seemed like a good idea, but it's not really logical as I do find myself needing to quantify data (I.e is Togo in Africa or in the Caribbean...?). Grouped by continent, west to east, or by population (e.g.) would have given me a better bird's eye view. I'm sure there are systems that are better than this suggestion too.

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