Improving my memory
With the new year kicking off, I’ve decided it’s time to get back into reading. Initially, my goal was simple: finally finish the books that have been sitting on my bookshelf—an assortment ranging from beginner Python coding, to philosophy, to learning Spanish.
However, my experience has always been the same. I read, I move slowly, and I often walk away feeling like I’ve wasted time because very little actually sticks. That frustration led me to wonder whether I could be doing something differently—something better.
So, the first topic I’ve decided to dive into is how to strengthen memory.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be reading several books on memory and learning techniques. My goal is not just to understand these tools, but to actually apply them—so I can read more efficiently and retain what I learn across other subjects. I’ll be sharing takeaways, small experiments, and honest reflections as I go.
Unbeknownst to me until I started researching, the United States has Grand Masters of Memory. These are individuals you might assume were gifted from birth, but when you look more closely at their achievements, you’ll see they often started from very ordinary beginnings. The majority of these remarkably memorable people trained their brains—intentionally and consistently—into what they are today.
Some of them can memorize 230 numbers in three minutes. I can barely remember a ten-digit code.
As someone who’s accepted that memory is something I need to improve, I’ve decided to learn directly from those who’ve done it successfully.
The first book I’ll be reading is Remember It! by Nelson Dellis, a six-time USA Memory Champion and the most decorated competitor in the event’s history. What drew me to his work isn’t just his achievements, but his belief that memory is a skill—one that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened over time.
This post marks the beginning of that process. I don’t expect instant results, but I’m curious to see what changes when I slow down, apply techniques deliberately, and approach reading as an active practice rather than a passive one.
I’ll be updating this series as I go.
