Memorising directions - a simple system to help get you there!

General Memory Chat
1

Hi everyone,

I am interested in practical applications of mnemonics. I think memorising a map is a little beyond me so I decided to come up with a simple way to remember directions.

I toyed with a few prototype systems using binary (that just did not work!) and a major system which allowed me to remember all the streets to take and the ones not to take. This was still a little inefficient so I decided to omit the streets that you do not take and just memorise the ones you do, you with me so far?

okay so here is a link to an example of a set of directions on google maps:

Basically to remember the directions I place the following objects in my memory Journey, on memory pegs or what ever way you want to remember them:
NaiL sNaRe TaiL haMmeR

So what does this tell me, well:
the first letter of the word is the turn number and the 2nd letter is the turn direction

NaiL = 2nd Left
sNaRe = 2nd RIght
TaiL = 1st Left
haMmer = 3rd right

In my other prototypes I had mnemonics for crossroards and up and down etc but I think the system I ended up with works best.

you would probably need to remember the last bit of the direction in long hand such as end of street or beside the old mill or something like that.

I’d be interested if anyone wants to add to the system or has any comments.

you really only need to have images for 12 or so combinations so it is real easy to learn.

regards,

Sea.

Mnemonic for remembering directions to places
Remember routes
2

Good ideas… I usually just put the directions in a memory palace and use Dominic O’Brien’s tips about looking left or right to indicate the direction. Maybe having set images would work better.

3

Depending on the directions I will usually just link my turns together, as I memorize the names of the streets, for Right turns I use any object that does not sound like a street name that starts with an “R” such as Raccoon or Ring. For left turns Things with start with an “L” Such as Lemons or Lizards.

I have thought about only using either L words or R words (objects) and knowing that if I don’t have an object for L that if there is a cross street I need to turn on it will be a left turn because it does not have a R object on that turn.

I normally just make up a system as I need it for the directions (or program the address into my GPS) but I imagine that characters from Seaseme Street could be used for roads that are Streets and something else could be used for Avenues.

The last time I needed to do this I remember using memory for directions I had to turn off at a street called Louisiana I imagined a friend of mine from Louisiana waving me off at the exit… If I didn’t know someone from there I would have probably imagined a Mardi Gras parade or something.

(First post hope I don’t look like an idiot :slight_smile: )