Hacker News Reader

Comment by billsmithaustin | Hacker News Reader

“Moonwalking with Einstein”, a book by Joshua Foer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonwalking_with_Einstein), is all about memorization techniques and memorization competitions. It’s a great read. He found that while practicing with specific techniques allowed him to win competitions, he still tended to forget where he put his car keys.

View on HN

I have a trick that works for such things (at least for me).

When I'm leaving keys I imagine myself going back and searching for them and remembering that I left them there.

Then when I really am in this situation I remember the false memory and find them :)

Same thing works with remembering to buy something when going back from work and other "do THIS when THAT". When I decide I have to buy X I imagine myself stepping out of the bus, going up the stairs, remembering to go to the shop, turning and going there.

Then when I really do this I remember to turn :) What's funny is that a few times I then decided to go out on the next stop (a little longer walk but less mud when it's raining) - and I haven't remembered because the trigger didn't happen :)

This trick loosely reminds me of Neal Stephenson's excellent Anathem; by imagining a narrative in which you've solved the problem you're trying to solve, you actually create that narrative with the solved problem; then it's just a matter of merging that narrative with your own.

This has helped me, I've also noticed it calms you down and you get a fresh focus, which is what's desperately needed in those times of panic.

> he still tended to forget where he put his car keys.

I find it just easier to develop a protocol on where the keys go. In fact, I organize my entire space so that everything has a place and as soon as I am done with it I put it back in the place. Reduces cognitive load. Since a thing is in a place every time, eventually my brain builds a detailed map of exactly where everything lives, even down to the inch within a shelf, drawer, etc. At this point I could almost operate blind.

I've heard a similar technique: always picture the keys as "living on that shelf" or "sleeping in that bowl".

I do this, but I live with people who don't.

Therein lies the rub...

Ah yeah. Things moving behind your back. It's functionally equivalent to the house being haunted.

I get the same feeling working on a shared codebase...where'd I put that dang function now...

Yes great book. I highly recommend as well it if you want to learn more about memorization techniques or just for an entertaining read about the memorization community and history of memorization techniques.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com