Ways to Memorize Quickly – Jim Kwik’s techniques

Knowing Ways to Memorize Quickly can give you a significant advantage in life over others when studying. We commonly check the IQ score when evaluating someone as intelligent. However, fluid intelligence could be more important than the IQ score, as it is crucial for solving new problems, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. Unlike IQ, fluid intelligence is known to be innate and cannot be increased, but in reality, there are ways to improve it.

1. The necessity of Ways to Memorize Quickly

When studying or learning something, you might wonder about Ways to Memorize Quickly.

There is someone who has pondered and devised various methods related to memorization more than anyone else. His name is Jim Kwik, and it is worthwhile to hear his story.

1) Jim Kwik, who developed memorization techniques

Jim Kwik is a memory improvement expert and brain trainer active in the United States.

Jim Kwik suffered a severe accident in kindergarten that resulted in brain damage and made it difficult for him to study, resulting in very low concentration.

Therefore, he needed a lot of effort to keep up with other friends, and the situation was painful.

In college, he invested all his time in studying to make his family proud, but instead, his grades dropped, and he collapsed from exhaustion.

He abandoned traditional study methods and pondered ways to learn quickly when he suddenly realized that no teacher had ever taught him how to learn.

Eventually, he developed memorization techniques to enhance memory, and through this technology, he was able to receive A grades in all university subjects. This method is called the Fast memorization technique, which we will look into in detail below.

2) Fluid Intelligence

Fluid Intelligence, unlike the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) that evaluates mathematical abilities, spatial recognition, and memory, is the ability to solve new problems or reason and identify patterns.

Fluid intelligence is especially important when dealing with new situations that require quick thinking and flexibility, and the higher the fluid intelligence, the better the ability to memorize quickly can be.

Until now, fluid intelligence was considered innate and undevelopable, but it is now known that fluid intelligence can be increased by improving working memory.

Jim Kwik’s developed FAST memorization techniques and training with the Dual N-back game can enhance working memory and increase fluid intelligence.

Tip) Ways to Memorize Quickly include applying Jim Kwik's FAST memorization techniques or improving working memory through the Dual N-back game.

2. Ways to Memorize Quickly: FAST

Let’s look at the Ways to Memorize Quickly developed by Jim Kwik. Jim Kwik created a memorization method called FAST, known as an efficient and powerful way to learn something.

1) F: Forget

Kwik discovered a phenomenon where people cannot learn something new when they think they already know about a topic.

Also, depending on the limits one sets, it can lower the numbers for memory and intelligence, and the extent of learning can vary depending on concentration.

It is known that humans can only focus on a maximum of seven chunks of information at a time, and if you worry about your children, work, and household chores when learning something, you can only learn four pieces of information besides these three.

Ultimately, when we learn something, we should start with the attitude that we have forgotten everything we learned usually, change the thoughts that set our limits, and focus only on learning.

Tip) Ways to Memorize Quickly ① : When studying, forget all existing knowledge, your thoughts and beliefs, and any distractions or worries.

2) A: Active

Kwik compares learning to strength training. Just as it is more effective to train with 10 kg dumbbells twice a week than to exercise daily with 2 kg dumbbells, it is efficient to achieve results in learning in a short time.

For such high-intensity concentrated learning, an active attitude (an attitude of seeking knowledge on one’s own) is necessary, and actively taking notes and sharing what is learned with others makes it easier to remember.

Kwik recommends the old-fashioned method of holding a pen and taking notes on paper, drawing a line in the middle of the notebook to divide it left and right, and using the left side as a ‘summary note’ where you write down the concepts and ideas you have learned, and the right side as a ‘creative note’ where you write down your feelings, thoughts, and questions.

This method is said to utilize the left and right brain to increase the speed of learning and remember more content.

Tip) Ways to Memorize Quickly ② : When learning, adopt an active attitude to seek knowledge (actively take notes and teach others).

3) S: State

Jim Kwik claims that a human’s state (situations affecting environment, thoughts, and emotions) can be completely controlled.

While most people might feel boredom due to their environment or feel depressed because something bad happened, Jim Kwik does not agree with this viewpoint.

He argues that humans can be thermostats, not thermometers, meaning that we don’t have to react to our surroundings. We can set high standards for ourselves and create or adjust our environment.

Tip) Ways to Memorize Quickly ③ : Train in mindfulness meditation as a representative method to not be swayed by surrounding environment and one's own thoughts and emotions.

4) T: Teach

To quickly acquire new topics or skills, one should teach others and ask oneself how best to teach the material.

If you create opportunities to teach others the knowledge you want to learn, you can acquire that knowledge much faster.

If it’s not possible to teach others, imagining that you have to teach can greatly increase your concentration.

Tip) Ways to Memorize Quickly ④ : Study as if you are teaching someone else.

3. Ways to Memorize Quickly: Dual N-Back Game

In addition to Jim Kwik’s FAST memorization techniques, the Dual N-Back game can enhance fluid intelligence, which can also improve memorization skills.

As mentioned above, enhancing working memory can increase fluid intelligence, which boosts abilities like quick problem-solving and reasoning.

The Dual N-Back game can improve working memory, and we will examine the related experimental results below.

Dual N-Back Experiment)
A 2008 study found that practicing the Dual N-Back test for 30 minutes a day for five weeks improved participants’ fluid intelligence by an average of 40%.

More impressively, subsequent studies have shown that activating working memory not only enhances working memory itself but also improves various cognitive abilities like reading comprehension and mathematical skills.

However, it’s known that many people give up on the Dual N-Back game because it can be boring and challenging, so it might not be suitable for everyone.

But if you want to upgrade your brain and master Ways to Memorize Quickly, consistently trying the Dual N-Back game is recommended.

Tip) A way to upgrade your brain and increase memorization skills: Play the Dual N-Back game daily.

4. Author’s Thoughts

We’ve explored Jim Kwik’s memorization techniques and the Dual N-Back game regarding Ways to Memorize Quickly. Essentially, we should consider why it’s crucial for humans to master Ways to Memorize Quickly.

First, I believe there’s an attitude to avoid when learning to memorize. It’s the belief that you need to be perfect and pressure yourself to achieve results no matter what.

Such thoughts, often acquired from parents and environment during childhood, can stress you out and are not good for mental health.

If you decide to try to acquire memorization skills with such a mindset, it’s worth reconsidering.

Secondly, I’ll share some thoughts and experiences related to memorization techniques.

Growing up, I perceived memorization as something not to be done, mainly because my parents had a negative view of memorization in education.

Along with my parents’ thoughts, I too disliked memorizing, finding it particularly hard and challenging during subjects that required memorization.

I enjoyed subjects involving principles or interpreting texts, but unknowingly came to dislike memorization.

However, living life, I’ve felt that without the ability to memorize, it’s tough and limits my potential. So, if possible, I think it’s better to train in memorization techniques to make life easier!

► References and Additional Reading Materials

^{[Book] “Game Changer” – Dave Asprey / Business Books Publishing}

– Be the Titan Brain

For further reading