How To Build A Mind Palace

Okay, first questions first: what is a mind palace? Also called a "memory palace" or the "method of loci", it's a way of remembering information by storing it in a "palace" inside your head. It was made popular by Sherlock Holmes in the BBC show Sherlock, but it actually dates back to the philosophers of ancient Rome and Greece. It's a very effective technique for remembering things, and it's also a good cure for boredom.

So, how does one make a mind palace? That's what this post seeks to explain.

1. Remove all distractions.
You want peace and quiet to build your mind palace, as it will be fragile and hard to maintain at first. It also helps to close your eyes.

2. Decide what your palace will look like.
You can make it look however you want, but it's best to start with something you are very familiar with. For example, your mind palace might be your bedroom. Whatever location you choose, make sure it's one you can visualize completely. You may choose to have multiple rooms, but it's best to start with one. Practice to make sure you know exactly what it looks like before you move on.

3. Figure out where everything is and what route you will take.
It's important to keep rooms in the same place, or else you will get lost and have difficulty remembering information. This is especially true if you need to remember things in a certain order.

4. Figure out where you will store information.
What places make the most sense to put your facts in? If your mind palace is a library, you may wish to store information in the books. Or if your mind palace is your bedroom, maybe you shove things under the bed. Or maybe you're organized and have a desk. Whatever works for you. Just keep it the same, so you remember where everything is.

5. Take some more time to memorize your mind palace.
Make sure you remember where everything is and won't forget easily before you go on. You wouldn't want to go to all the trouble of making a mind palace only to have it disappear because you can't remember it well enough.

6. Start storing information.
Now you can finally put in those facts you've been waiting to store in your mind palace. To avoid taking up to much space, it's a good idea to use abbreviations and symbols that make sense to you. You just need something that will jog your memory. Often, strange or shocking things help you remember best. For example, if you need to remember that the first president of the US was George Washington, you could imagine a 1-ton weight in a bathtub. Have fun with this step. Just do whatever helps you remember.

7. Create interactive objects/people.
Often, it's helpful to put things in your mind palace that you can interact with. Maybe instead of imagining the weight in the bathtub, you just walk up to George Washington and he tells you "I was the first president of the US." Or maybe you have a secret passage in your mind palace, just for fun. After all, having fun helps you remember things.

8. Explore your mind palace.
Go on, have a look around. Examine everything and everyone so that you can remember it all later. Make sure you know your mind palace inside and out.

9. Visit often.
If you don't, you will forget the information and your mind palace will disappear. If that happens, you can try to rebuild it, or just make a new one.

10. Have fun!
This is primarily a tool for remembering stuff, but it can be a place to hang out, too. Maybe you'd like to play a game of wizard chess with a Ravenclaw. Do whatever you want; it's your mind palace.

Thanks! I hope you liked that. If you want to know what my mind palace is like, click here. If you'd like to know more about how to build a mind palace, check out this website, this website, this website, or this website.

If you already have a mind palace, tell me about it in the comments below. Bye!