Improve Your Memory by Building a Memory Palace

A memory palace is a mnemonic technique used to improve memory retention and recall. It involves mentally placing information to be remembered in specific locations within an imagined physical space, such as a palace or building, and then mentally "walking" through that space to retrieve the information when needed.

While the invention of the internet has brought endless amounts of information to our fingertips, many professions require us to remember related details. Many of us rely on our memories while taking exams, completing projects and job-related tasks, or even swinging by the supermarket. 

While making lists and writing physical reminders can be useful, written text is not always accessible. For example, if you were studying for a professional certification exam, you likely could not bring in notes or reminders. Memory techniques like a memory palace can help you keep important information close.

Continue reading to learn about memory palaces, why they are powerful memory techniques, and how to use them in your everyday life.

What is a memory palace? 

A memory palace is a memory technique that associates items or topics with locations within a room, route, or other specified location. Memory palaces help speed recall, and simple words or phrases can represent complex concepts or higher volumes of information. For example, you may associate “blue” with your blue bedding, which helps you remember the phrase, “In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”  

This technique goes by many names, such as the Roman Room system, the journey method, and the method of loci. You may have even heard it referenced in popular media, such as the “mind palaces” in the Sherlock Holmes story "A Study in Scarlet." 

Why should you create a memory palace? 

Memory palaces are a powerful memorisation practice that has been shown to improve information recall significantly. By learning this technique, you may be able to “encode” information more quickly into your long-term memory. This can help you master professional skills more rapidly and give you the potential to expand your knowledge base and learn new skills. 

One great attribute of the memory palace method is that you can use it for several types of information. For example, a medical student could build a memory palace for a different topic in each room of their home or workplace. This helps to organise high volumes of information. In one study, researchers found that students introduced to the memory palace technique performed better on assessments and better understood the material [1]. 

How to build a memory palace: Step-by-step guide 

You can build a memory palace in several ways, but the key is to develop spatial associations between information pieces and physical locations. When creating a memory palace, follow these key steps:

1. Decide what you want to memorise. 

First, determine what you would like to memorise. Before starting, consider how you would like to split concepts or information into separate entities to associate with different locations.

2. Choose a place. 

The location you choose for your memory palace should be somewhere you are very familiar with. You will not usually construct a new location but instead associate ideas and words with an existing place. Somewhere you often go, such as your house and garden, may be an ideal first choice. Other options include a set of your favourite TV show, a workplace, a video game setting, or another scene you can see clearly in your mind.

3. Plan a route. 

You will plan a route around the room or space in your memory palace location. You can revise this later, but pick an order of locations that makes sense. For example, you might start at the door to your living room and move clockwise around the room. If you follow a routine frequently, such as making a cup of coffee in your kitchen, you can also choose to follow this route in your mind.

4. Assign the information to locations. 

It is time to assign the information after you have your location and route. Creating clever mnemonics—patterns of words or ideas to help you remember information—can increase the efficacy of your memory palace. 

Making overly exaggerated mental images in your mind can help to improve recall. For example, let’s say you are trying to remember the items you need to pack in your suitcase and are creating a memory palace with your kitchen. You could start at the sink and associate the sink with your T-shirts. You could imagine washing your T-shirts in the sink and lying them on the side to dry. Try to make the image vivid, and imagine small details such as using washing detergent to wash the shirts and wringing them out to remove the excess water. 

You can also create silly and strange associations. For example, let’s say the next item you are remembering to pack is your toothbrush. If you associate it with the fridge, imagine it coming to life with a big smile and brushing its teeth like a cartoon character. Or use similar-sounding words, like associating your spice rack or saucepan with your shoes and socks. The more detail you put into your mental image, the more likely you will remember it later.

5. Visit your palace regularly. 

A key to making your memory palace work is repetition. If you visit your memory palace often, you give more time for the information to solidify in your memory. Try spaced repetition, which means you will gradually increase the intervals between visiting your memory palace. It is okay if you consult your notes a few times, and you may notice that your route slightly changes. Be flexible with your memory palace to find the best way for you.

Next steps

Creating a memory palace can aid you in recalling and retaining information. In turn, it can support you in both personal and professional endeavours.

Develop your capacity to learn with Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects from Deep Teaching Solutions. If you want to learn more about memory and memory techniques, dive into the scientific study of human memory with Understanding Memory: Explaining the Psychology of Memory through Movies from Wesleyan University on Coursera.