Memory workshop at home
Eight weeks of everyday memory methods, one a week. Each week has a short method, practices at set levels and one thing to use in your day.
Every week is done
That includes both return weeks. You can take any week again whenever you like.
How the course works
Pace
One session of 25 to 30 minutes a week, and 5 minutes with the sheet during the week. One or two sessions a week, never more than three. The days in between are for using the method in your day.
Three ways to take part
- Alone, at your own pace.
- With one other person, who reads the method aloud.
- In a group, with one person reading each step aloud.
Six steps each week
- Look back
- Warm-up
- The method
- Practice
- Use it this week
- Closing
The weeks
One week at a time, in order. You can take a week again whenever you like.
- 1
Notice and name
Look, say it, give it a fixed place, write it down.
See the six steps
Look back
There is no sheet yet. Think of one thing you sometimes misplace or forget, such as your keys or a name.
Warm-up
Look around the room for ten seconds. Close your eyes and name three things you saw.
The method
Things often go missing because we did not quite notice where we put them. When you put something down, look at it and say out loud what and where: “Glasses, on the hall shelf.” Give everyday things one fixed place, and write down what you must not lose.
Practice
- Picture detailsLevel 1
- What changed?Level 1
Use it this week
Choose one fixed place for your keys and glasses, and use it all week.
Closing
Say one thing you liked today. Next week: Group it.
What you type stays on this device. It is never sent.
- 2
Group it
Sort things into a few groups, then remember the groups.
See the six steps
Look back
Look at last week’s sheet. What did you try, and how did it go?
Warm-up
Name five fruits. Then say which of them are red.
The method
A long list is easier to hold as a few small groups. Put things that belong together side by side: milk and cheese, apples and pears, bread and rolls. Count the groups and how many things are in each. To recall, go one group at a time.
- Lesson: Remember patterns in groups 3 min read
Practice
- Visual memoryEasy · Unlimited study time
- Sort into groupsLevel 2
Use it this week
Write this week’s shopping list in groups, by the aisles of your shop.
Closing
Say one thing you liked today. Next week: Link it.
What you type stays on this device. It is never sent.
- 3
Link it
Join two things with a picture or a short story.
See the six steps
Look back
Look at last week’s sheet. What did you try, and how did it go?
Warm-up
Picture a cup sitting on top of a bus. Make the picture clear, and a little silly.
The method
To remember two things together, join them in one picture: a key hanging from the clock, a letter in the fruit bowl. For a short list, make a story that goes from one thing to the next. Picture each step clearly, then tell the story again from the start.
- Lesson: Remember a card and its place 3 min read
Practice
- List recallLevel 1 · 5 items
- Card memoryShort rows · Easy
Use it this week
Link three errands into one short story, and tell it to yourself before you go out.
Closing
Say one thing you liked today. Next week: Give it a place.
What you type stays on this device. It is never sent.
- 4
Give it a place
Put each thing at a stop on a route you know.
See the six steps
Look back
Look at last week’s sheet. What did you try, and how did it go?
Warm-up
In your mind, walk in through your front door. Name the first three things you pass.
The method
Choose a route you know well, like the way through your home. Put each thing you want to remember at one stop on the route, as a clear picture. To recall, walk the route again in your mind and look at each stop. Use the same route every time.
- Lesson: Place, then retrieve 3 min read
Practice
- Memory Palace5 objects · Your set returns after 1, 3 and 7 days
Use it this week
Pick five stops on a route through your home, and walk it in your mind once a day.
Closing
Say one thing you liked today. Next week: Names and faces.
What you type stays on this device. It is never sent.
- 5
Names and faces
Say the name back and link it to one detail.
See the six steps
Look back
Look at last week’s sheet. What did you try, and how did it go?
Warm-up
Say the names of three people you saw or spoke to this week.
The method
When you meet someone, say their name back: “Nice to meet you, Maria.” Then link the name to one thing about them, such as where you met or what they told you. Use the name once more before you part, and think of it again later that day.
- Lesson: Link a name to a face 2 min read
Practice
- Names and faces4 people
Use it this week
Use the method with two people you meet this week.
Closing
Say one thing you liked today. Next week: Remember to do it later.
What you type stays on this device. It is never sent.
- 6
Remember to do it later
Tie a plan to a cue: when this happens, I will do that.
See the six steps
Look back
Look at last week’s sheet. What did you try, and how did it go?
Warm-up
Plan one small thing for the end of this session: when you close the page, stand up and stretch.
The method
To remember to do something later, tie it to a cue you will meet anyway. Say it as one sentence: “When I make tea, I will water the plants.” Picture the cue and the action together, once, clearly.
The practice teaches this method step by step.
Practice
- Remember to do it laterEasy, then Standard
Use it this week
Write two plans like “When I make tea, I will water the plants”, and use them this week.
Closing
Say one thing you liked today. Next week: What you read and hear.
What you type stays on this device. It is never sent.
- 7
What you read and hear
Pick out the main ideas and how they connect.
See the six steps
Look back
Look at last week’s sheet. What did you try, and how did it go?
Warm-up
In one sentence, say what you did yesterday morning.
The method
After you read or hear something, pick out three main points. Then ask how they connect: which one leads to another, which one is an example. Say the points and the links aloud without looking, then check what you missed.
- Lesson: Recall the connections 3 min read
Practice
- Recall Map5 ideas · Saved for later reviews
- Listen and actEasy
Use it this week
After the news or a radio program, tell someone three points and how they connect.
Closing
Say one thing you liked today. Next week: Choose your method.
What you type stays on this device. It is never sent.
- 8
Choose your method
Which method for which job.
See the six steps
Look back
Look at last week’s sheet. What did you try, and how did it go?
Warm-up
Name the method from this course you liked best.
The method
Each method suits a different job: a fixed place for things you put down, groups for a list, a picture or a story to link things, a route for things in order, saying a name back, a cue for a plan, and links for what you read and hear. Keep the ones that fit your days.
Practice
- Memory PalaceYour saved set comes back
- Card memoryShort rows · Standard · Use any method
Use it this week
Fill in your method card and keep it where you will see it.
Closing
Say one thing you liked today. In one month, come back for the first return week.
What you type stays on this device. It is never sent.
Return weeks
One month and three months after your last week, come back for one short session. Each one brings two methods back once more.
The dates appear here when you finish the last week. They are kept on this device only, with no reminders.
- 1
One month on
Back to places and names.
See the six steps
Look back
Look at your sheets from the course. Which methods do you still use?
Warm-up
Without looking, name three methods from the course.
The method
Walk your memory palace route again and see what is still there. Then use the name method: say the name back, and link it to one detail.
Practice
- Memory PalaceA saved set, or a new one
- Names and faces4 people
Use it this week
Update your method card: write when you used each method.
Closing
Say one thing you liked today. The last return week comes two months from now.
What you type stays on this device. It is never sent.
- 2
Three months on
Back to ideas and plans.
See the six steps
Look back
Look at your sheets from the course. Which methods do you still use?
Warm-up
Name one method you used this week, and where.
The method
After you read something, pick out three points and how they connect. Then make one plan with a cue: “When I …, I will …”.
Practice
- Recall MapA saved set, or a new one
- Remember to do it laterStandard
Use it this week
Update your method card, and keep the methods that work for you.
Closing
Say one thing you liked today. That is the whole course: keep what works for you.
What you type stays on this device. It is never sent.
Memory workshop at home · Week 1 of 8
Notice and name
The method
Things often go missing because we did not quite notice where we put them. When you put something down, look at it and say out loud what and where: “Glasses, on the hall shelf.” Give everyday things one fixed place, and write down what you must not lose.
This week’s task
Choose one fixed place for your keys and glasses, and use it all week.
Room to write
What did you try, and how did it go?
Memory workshop at home · Week 2 of 8
Group it
The method
A long list is easier to hold as a few small groups. Put things that belong together side by side: milk and cheese, apples and pears, bread and rolls. Count the groups and how many things are in each. To recall, go one group at a time.
This week’s task
Write this week’s shopping list in groups, by the aisles of your shop.
Room to write
What did you try, and how did it go?
Memory workshop at home · Week 3 of 8
Link it
The method
To remember two things together, join them in one picture: a key hanging from the clock, a letter in the fruit bowl. For a short list, make a story that goes from one thing to the next. Picture each step clearly, then tell the story again from the start.
This week’s task
Link three errands into one short story, and tell it to yourself before you go out.
Room to write
What did you try, and how did it go?
Memory workshop at home · Week 4 of 8
Give it a place
The method
Choose a route you know well, like the way through your home. Put each thing you want to remember at one stop on the route, as a clear picture. To recall, walk the route again in your mind and look at each stop. Use the same route every time.
This week’s task
Pick five stops on a route through your home, and walk it in your mind once a day.
Room to write
What did you try, and how did it go?
Memory workshop at home · Week 5 of 8
Names and faces
The method
When you meet someone, say their name back: “Nice to meet you, Maria.” Then link the name to one thing about them, such as where you met or what they told you. Use the name once more before you part, and think of it again later that day.
This week’s task
Use the method with two people you meet this week.
Room to write
What did you try, and how did it go?
Memory workshop at home · Week 6 of 8
Remember to do it later
The method
To remember to do something later, tie it to a cue you will meet anyway. Say it as one sentence: “When I make tea, I will water the plants.” Picture the cue and the action together, once, clearly.
This week’s task
Write two plans like “When I make tea, I will water the plants”, and use them this week.
Room to write
What did you try, and how did it go?
Memory workshop at home · Week 7 of 8
What you read and hear
The method
After you read or hear something, pick out three main points. Then ask how they connect: which one leads to another, which one is an example. Say the points and the links aloud without looking, then check what you missed.
This week’s task
After the news or a radio program, tell someone three points and how they connect.
Room to write
What did you try, and how did it go?
Memory workshop at home · Week 8 of 8
Choose your method
The method
Each method suits a different job: a fixed place for things you put down, groups for a list, a picture or a story to link things, a route for things in order, saying a name back, a cue for a plan, and links for what you read and hear. Keep the ones that fit your days.
This week’s task
Fill in your method card and keep it where you will see it.
Your method card
| When I use it | |
|---|---|
| Notice and name | |
| Group it | |
| Link it | |
| Give it a place | |
| Names and faces | |
| Remember to do it later | |
| What you read and hear |
Memory workshop at home · Return week 1
One month on
The method
Walk your memory palace route again and see what is still there. Then use the name method: say the name back, and link it to one detail.
This week’s task
Update your method card: write when you used each method.
Your method card
| When I use it | |
|---|---|
| Notice and name | |
| Group it | |
| Link it | |
| Give it a place | |
| Names and faces | |
| Remember to do it later | |
| What you read and hear |
Memory workshop at home · Return week 2
Three months on
The method
After you read something, pick out three points and how they connect. Then make one plan with a cue: “When I …, I will …”.
This week’s task
Update your method card, and keep the methods that work for you.
Your method card
| When I use it | |
|---|---|
| Notice and name | |
| Group it | |
| Link it | |
| Give it a place | |
| Names and faces | |
| Remember to do it later | |
| What you read and hear |