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Introduction

Do you have trouble remembering telephone numbers, birthdays and anniversaries? Do you struggle to remember a sequence of more than 7 digits? Most people struggle to recall information because they simply don’t yet understand the power of patterns, imagination and association. It is in fact the fusion of the emotional and logical aspects of the human brain that shapes long-term memory and recall of information.

Why Can’t I Remember that Number?

• How do you go about remembering a telephone number?
• Do you try and repeat the numbers back to yourself over and over again?
• Do you attempt to chunk the numbers together into easily manageable groups?
• Or do you try and look for patterns within the numbers that could potentially stimulate recall?

Many people use the above methods when trying to remember telephone numbers or any sequence of random digits. However in most cases, these methods are very cumbersome, and as a result people struggle to lock the numbers they are trying to remember into their long-term memory.

It seems that we tend to struggle with recalling numbers more today than ever before. After all we are living in a world overrun with electronic personal organizers, computers, and mobile phones that store information with a few simple clicks. No longer must we utilize our memory to remember and recall this type of information. Why would we even bother? It is after all only a click away?

Let’s quickly take a look at 3 strategies for remembering numbers that most people tend to use. These methods include:

• Repetition
• Chunking
• Pattern Associations

Remembering through Repetition

Repetition is a relatively effective technique for remembering lists and numbers, however on the downside it can be quite cumbersome and does require a great deal of concentration, effort, and constant rehearsal. When a piece of information is repeated consistently and persistently over a period of time, it will eventually be transferred over to long-term memory.

Remembering through Chunking

Chunking simply involves grouping numbers together into bigger parts or chunks.

What if I was to ask you to try and remember the following sequence of random numbers: 2 5 2 8 9 9 7 2 7 9 2 9

For most people this is quite a daunting task that overwhelms the mind very quickly. However, what if I was to ask you to try and remember the following CHUNKS of numbers: 252  899  727  929

Which list is easier to remember and recall? If you are like most people you will recall the Chunks of numbers (2nd example) much more readily than trying to remember them individually (1st example). The reason for this is that our brain’s short-term memory is limited in capacity. And therefore the better we are able to group information into related chunks the more information we will be able to remember and recall at any one moment in time.

Remembering through Pattern Associations

Another method for remembering numbers is to look for patterns related to significant numbers, dates, birthdays, and other information.

For instance here is a sequence of random numbers: 2 5 1 9 5 0 2 0 0 9

This sequence of random numbers would be rather difficult to remember for most people. However, if you chunk the numbers into patterns that are of significance to you – you will be able to remember the sequence much more easily. For instance #25 could be your age, #1950 could be the year your Mum was born, and #2009 is the current calendar year. So the patterned sequence looks like this: 25  1950  2009.

Is this easier to remember and recall than the sequence of random numbers presented above?

Many times for obvious reasons the patterns of numbers may not be so easily associated to significant events in your life. In such instances you must use your creativity and imagination to find “association chunks” that work for you. Here are some examples:

• The singlet number of your favorite basketball or football player.
• The date of a famous historical event.
• The number of a friend’s flat or apartment.
• The time of a television show you watch on a weekly basis.
• A time of day related to your work schedule.
• The digits of your bank account.
• The number sequence of a password.
• And so forth.

Each of these “digit associations” will help you to remember and recall a sequence of random numbers much more effectively.

The remainder of this post will focus on Rhyme and Shape associations that you can utilize to recall a sequence of random numbers. These two memory techniques are presented within the IQ Matrix Mind Map shown at the top of this post. Please feel free to download, print and distribute this mind map at your convenience.

Number Rhyme Associations

Imagination and association are both critical components of memory and indispensable tools for remembering random numerical sequences. In fact studies have shown that our memories are dramatically improved when we consciously create storyboards of the information we are trying to remember within our imaginations. These storyboards create associations and deep patterns within our minds, that make recalling information easy and effortless.

Number Rhyme Associations allow you to associate numbers with rhyming words. Here are some examples:

• 0 = Hero
• 1 = Bun
• 2 = Shoe
• 3 = Tree
• 4 = Door
• 5 = Hive
• 6 = Sticks
• 7 = Heaven
• 8 = Skate
• 9 = Vine
• 10 = Hen

Once you have taken the time to memorize the numbers and their associated rhyming words, you will be ready to utilize these patterns to remember and recall sequences of numbers through the use of the Storyboard Picture Technique.

For instance, you are at a party, and end up meeting this wonderful person who you would like to get to know a little better. They give you their phone number, however you don’t have a means of recording it on paper or on a mobile phone. Lucky for you, that you are a skilled Storyboarder

The number you are given is: 35216773

Without even thinking, you create a Storyboard of the number in your mind utilizing the Rhyme Associations discussed above. You imagine in your mind that…

You are walking along a path in the forest when you suddenly see a beautiful big tree (#3). As you look up at the tree you notice a hive of bees (#5). You are feeling a little mischievous and decide to throw your shoe (#2) at the hive. As the hive breaks apart a bun (#1) fall to the ground. The bun looks somewhat unusual, which makes you feel a little cautious and hesitant to touch it with your hand. You therefore decide to poke it with a stick (#6). As you begin to poke 2 heavenly angels appear to come out of the bun (#77) and fly straight up your nostrils. The next thing you notice is that you are growing roots, branches and leaves. Yes how ironic, you are turning into a tree (#3).

Having created the quick storyboard in your mind, you should now be able to remember and recall the telephone number within a matter of a few seconds. This Storyboard will stay with you until you are able to write it down or record it into a phone. In many instances you may find that you remember this story for days, weeks and sometimes months with minimal repetition or thought. The key to this type of recall is to make sure that the story is presented within your imagination as vividly as possible, utilizing as much color, movement, and involving as many of your senses as possible.

You can use this technique to save multiple random number sequences at the same time by creating different settings, time periods, backgrounds, and colors for your stories.

Number Shape Associations

The Number Shape Associations work in exactly the same way. However instead of matching numbers with rhyming words, you are instead matching numbers with shapes that in someway resemble these numbers in visual form. Please view the IQ Matrix Mind Map at the top of this post for a visual representation of the relative associations.

Number Shape Associations allow you to associate numbers with related shapes. Here are some examples:

• 0 = Donut
• 1 = Paint Brush
• 2 = Swan
• 3 = Heart (on its side)
• 4 = Yacht
• 5 = Snake
• 6 = Elephant Trunk
• 7 = Boomerang
• 8 = Snowman
• 9 = Snail
• 10 = Cricket

As an example, you are yet again given the following telephone number: 35216773. However, this time you will create a Storyboard by using Number Shape Associations:

As you are walking along a lake you come across a beautiful golden heart (#3) lying face down on the sand. You are about to reach down and pick up this heart, when all of a sudden a large snake (#5) wiggles out of the water and gobbles it up. The snake swims away into the lake when suddenly a swan (#2) grabs the snake by the tail and flings it in your direction. As the snake flies through the air you notice that it has now turned into a paint brush (#1) and it is leaving streaks of color behind it. The paint brush falls to your feet, when suddenly an elephant’s trunk (#6) reaches over, picks it up off the ground and chews it in its mouth. After chewing for a few moments, the elephant spits out 2 boomerangs (#77); flinging them through the air. The boomerangs soon angle back in your direction and end up hitting you on the heart (#3).

Yet again, this story should be easy to remember and recall. And it should only take you a few seconds to piece together when given a random sequence of numbers to remember.

Final Thoughts

Numbers are relatively easy to remember and recall if we take time to learn and master a few simple techniques that enable us to fuse imagination and association together in creative ways. There are of course other more advanced methods for remembering, storing and recalling numbers, however the techniques presented in this post should be enough to get your memory juices flowing, and will hopefully enable you to recall random number sequences far more effectively.

For further memory strategies and techniques, please read Improving Your Memory in 36 Ways Mind Map.

If you have used these memory techniques or any other methods for remembering random sequences of numbers, than please feel free to share your comments below.

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Introduction

For those of us who are blessed with the gift of sight, it is easy to understand how critical and important it is to our daily life, decisions and actions. Our visual organs bring forth into our conscious mind a world of color, intrigue, movement and depth. We perceive our reality to be real and true based on our personal perceptions and interpretations of this visual and breathtaking world. Not only do we live within a reality of pictures and moving images, but what is even more profound, is that we dream and think in pictures 24/7. In fact, our entire existence revolves around the concept of visual images passing through the recesses of our mind like clouds moving across the sky. So is it really surprising that mind mapping is considered to be the key to Accelerating our Learning Potential?

Today’s discussion will focus around the concept of Mind Mapping and how it can be applied to the process of accelerated learning. The first branch of the IQ Matrix focuses on the benefits of Mind Mapping. We discuss how it can be utilized for business, academic purposes and our daily life undertakings. The second branch of the IQ Matrix delves into describing and expanding a number of visual mapping methods that you can utilize to clarify, learn and expand upon your ideas. The third branch of the IQ Matrix presents you with a number of informative IQ Matrix reading examples. These will help you better understand how to read through the IQ Matrixes available through this site. The final branch of the IQ Matrix provides you with a number of Mind Mapping Study Tips for homework help as well as for examination purposes. By following this process, you will effectively gain an edge on others and drastically reduce your study time and effort, while Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Mind Mapping In Perspective

Mind Mapping is an ideal tool that will help us to Accelerate our Learning Potential in a variety of ways. However, its applications have a far wider reach than one might initially have expected. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will discuss these applications in some detail. You will discover how Mind Mapping can be applied into a business context, into everyday life management, and into academic circles. However, we will begin our discussion with the benefits of Mind Mapping and the consequences that will result from its application into your day-to-day thinking, decisions and actions.

Benefits of Mind Mapping

The benefits of Mind Mapping are far reaching and therefore somewhat difficult to measure accurately. In fact, the benefits of Mind Mapping extend into just about every area of our lives, helping us to think more effectively and grow exponentially as a result of the improved efficiency of thought they bring forth into our daily reality. The discussion that follows will provide you with an introduction to Mind Mapping and how it can be applied to specific life areas. In a future Mind Map we will break down in detail how you can specifically apply Mind Mapping to Problem Solving, Brainstorming, Goal Setting, Organizing Information, Creativity, Critical thinking and much more.

Provides Global Perspective of Ideas & Information

One reason why chunks of information are difficult to understand is that we fail to see these chunks from a global perspective. It’s like trying to piece together that the earth is round from the ground. It’s only when we pan out and into space and view the earth as a whole, do we begin to comprehend the nature of our spherical and magnificent planet. The same is true of the information we are attempting to learn. Many times we get lost within the details and fail to see the larger picture. Hence, if we are able to somehow zoom out and view this information from a global perspective we will then be better able to see all interconnected pieces interacting with each other in a multitude of ways. For instance, even though this post presents you with a lot more information than you will find within the IQ Matrix, it however presents this information in an ordered manner with very little interlocking between topics, thusly making it more difficult to fully comprehend in one reading. On the other hand, simply spending a few moments over-viewing the IQ Matrix will present you with a thorough global perspective of the subject matter.

Improves Problem Solving Ability

The better you are able to manage and organize your problem within a Mind Map, the more connections you will likely find between seemingly disjointed fragments of information. As a result, this will help you to find answers that normally may not have been evident. To learn more about the process of problem solving, have a read of Awaken Your Problem Solver from Within.

Improves Creative & Critical Thinking Ability

Our ability to think Critically and Creatively is built upon the foundation of how effectively we can piece together seemingly unrelated bits of information within our minds. Mind Mapping is one of the best tools and processes you can utilize that will enhance and encourage the development of this type of thinking. To learn more about the process of creativity and critical thinking, have a read of Unlocking Your Creative Genius Potential and Becoming an Outstanding Critical Thinker.

Improves Concentration

Reading or learning information in a linear fashion puts a lot of pressure on our brain. In fact over extended periods of time it can become quite draining on our mental resources, which can further lead to fatigue and cause our concentration levels to suffer as a result. Many times when you read through chunks of linear information, you will forget most of what you have just read because it fails to excite and enliven the mind. Mind Mapping on the other hand presents your brain with an enlivening stimulus filled with interconnecting pieces, colors, images, symbols and words that work together to energize the brain and improve concentration.

Improves Photographic Memory

Because we think, dream and predominantly imagine our world in pictures, it just makes sense that a Mind Map would in fact help us to improve our photographic memory. If I asked you to think of a donkey… actually close your eyes and think of a donkey… do it now… when done continue. Did you see the words “DONKEY” in your mind? Or did you actually envision an image of a donkey? Most people would see the image of a donkey as this is consistent with the process of how we think about the information in our lives. A Mind Map interlocks and associates words with vivid colors, symbols and imaginative images. When it comes time to recall your Mind Map from memory, you normally won’t first see the words come to mind, instead you will envision the colors, symbols and images that created a lasting impression on your long-term memory. And all this works together to help improve your photographic memory and recall of information.

Improves Flow of Ideas

When we are able to understand the associations, connections and interaction between different pieces of information, this naturally brings forth a spurt of creative and unique ideas that we normally would not have been able to piece together by utilizing a linear process of thinking. This is the primary reason why Mind Mapping is one of the most effective tools for brainstorming ideas.

Improves Ability to Manage Information

It is easy to become overwhelmed with the amount of information that we are required to assimilate into our psyche these days. Have you ever attended a seminar where they provided you with a wealth of information that completely overloaded your brain? I have personally been in that situation. It’s not a pleasant place to be, as it makes you feel inadequate, incapable and extremely frustrated. The solution for this is to utilize Mind Maps to better manage all kinds of information in your life. Undertaking this process consistently from the very beginning, will provide you with a sense of control and confidence, helping to improve your effectiveness and efficiency at school, at work and in life. We will discuss specific Mind Mapping strategies on how to go about this process of information management at another time.

Improves Confidence

When you are able to effectively utilize Mind Mapping for all the above, than you will naturally radiate confidence that will further help you to excel with your management of information as you move into the future.

Business Applications of Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping will help you to improve your effectiveness and efficiency in the day-to-day management of your business activities in surprising ways. Not only will it help you to clarify your thinking, but it will also save you time and reduce the overwhelm that we can experience when too much information is thrown our way. Some of these concepts will be broken down in much more detail in a future post.

Communicating Message & Ideas

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping when you are finding it difficult to explain a concept or idea to one of your workmates.

Planning Time

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping to better manage, overview and structure your time around your important and urgent activities and priorities. When you have a global perspective of where you need to spend your most important time, than you will feel more in control and secure in the knowledge that time is relative – it’s what you make of it that counts.

Planning Meeting Agenda

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping to better structure, plan and organize your meetings. Sometimes we come into a meeting a little unprepared and as a result fail to discuss relevant matters that were critical to the meeting. However, when you take the time to draw up a Mind Map of the agenda, you will effectively piece together a comprehensive picture of the issues that need to by addressed and discussed throughout the meeting. This Mind Map may also help others to draw unique insights and ideas that will further enhance the effectiveness of the meeting.

Planning Company Trainings

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping to organize and prepare company trainings. When you are training someone for the first time about specific topics, it is easy to skip over important pieces of information that are necessary for the trainees understanding. By following along with a Mind Map, not only will you be better able to present your knowledge to your recruits, but they will also be better prepared to understand the concepts from a global perspective.

Planning Speeches & Presentations

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping to prepare and present your speeches and presentations. Sometimes we rush, skip-over or forget to present critical components of our presentations due to a variety of factors. Mind Mapping will help you to piece together your speech or presentation in a structured and focused manner.

Planning Negotiations

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping before and throughout the negotiation process. As you are negotiating a deal, simply doodle a diagram of the deal in a Mind Map format on paper. This will help you to gather a global perspective of the issues under negotiation, which may likewise provide you with unique insights and answers that will assist you to pull the deal off to your satisfaction.

Academic Applications of Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping is best known for its application within Academic circles for Accelerating Learning and dramatically enhancing photographic memory. Let’s take a closer look at some of these benefits and how they apply to Academia. Some of these concepts will be broken down in much more detail in a future post.

Used as Revision Tool

Mind Mapping can be utilized as an effective revision tool for class notes. Because Mind Mapping provides a global perspective about a topic, it helps students to build the foundations of strong associations between interconnecting chunks of the subject matter. More about this in the forth branch of the IQ Matrix.

Used for Exam Preparation

When it comes to preparing for examinations, there is no better tool than Mind Mapping. We will discuss the process of how to study and prepare for your examinations within the forth branch of the IQ Matrix.

Used for Improving Memorization of Information

Because Mind Mapping naturally mimics the brains cognitive processes, this makes it an ideal tool for memorizing large chunks of information. When something you are studying is consistent with your patterns of thinking and remembering, it becomes easy to learn and recall.

Used for Overviewing Links & Connections

Mind Mapping interlocks, links together and associates seemingly unrelated fragments of information in a way that makes them easy to remember and recall at a later time. It is therefore the most comprehensive and ideal tool that will help you to gather a global perspective and overview about the subject under study. More about this a little later on.

Used for Accelerated Learning Purposes

Mind Mapping is one of many tools that are critical for accelerated learning. To learn more about the process of accelerated learning have a read of the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning, Accelerated Speed Reading Study Skills and Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Skills.

Life Applications of Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping and daily life management practices don’t usually go hand-in-hand for most people. We understand how it can be applied to Academics and for Business purposes, however we struggle to comprehend how we can implement and utilize it within our day-to-day lives. Moreover, we struggle to see how it could potentially enhance our lives through a process of simplification and better organization. Hopefully this section will assist you in overcoming some of these misconceptions, and will provide you with a few simple guidelines that will help you to apply the process of Mind Mapping into your day-to-day undertakings. Some of these concepts will be broken down in much more detail in a future post.

Used as a Brainstorming Tool

Do you have a sudden problem? Do you need immediate inspiration? Are you trying to work out how to manage a task or activity more effectively? Simply break out some crayons and a piece of paper and Mind Map your thoughts and ideas in magnificent ways.

Used to Organize Lists

Do you have a long list of things that you must accomplish? Do you become easily overwhelmed with all the things that you must remember to do throughout your day? If the answer is “Yes”, than you might find it helpful Mind Mapping your lists on paper in a way that will better organize, arrange and structure them in your mind. Once things are organized and arranged, you will feel a great burden lift off your chest. This new found clarity of thought will enhance your memory and ability to think more effectively about the tasks at hand.

Used to Organize Events

Planning and organizing events can fatigue even the most hardy of souls. It’s sometimes difficult to predict everything that is required, who must be invited, and what must be accomplished at any one moment in time. All of these responsibilities can easily overwhelm and overload our minds. However, with the help of a simple Mind Map you will more effectively be able to manage, plan and organize your event the way you envisioned it within the recesses of your mind.

Used for Lifelong Rapid Learning

I hope that this discussion about Mind Mapping has helped you realize that Mind Mapping isn’t a skill that one learns and utilizes occasionally. It is rather a lifelong commitment you make to yourself that will help you to increase the speed and effectiveness of all your learning as you progress through the transitional cycles of life. With it, the world is your oyster. Without it… well let’s say that there are no pearls if we remain ignorant of this accelerated learning process

Visual Mapping Types and Methods

Mind Mapping is just one of several methods of mapping out information and ideas that one can utilize. Our brains think in unique and exponential ways. Each and every piece of information is best studied and memorized through a structured process of learning that assimilates each chunk of information in the most effective and efficient manner that naturally mimics the brain’s cognitive thinking patterns. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will discuss some of these types of maps and their purpose. We will also delve into the computer generated and hand drawn methods of Mind Mapping that you can utilize on a daily basis.

Visual Mapping Types

The following is a quick break down of 7 unique mapping types that can be utilized to effectively represent the information you are learning. How you apply these maps will vary in accordance to the structure of the information you are learning, and upon your purpose, objectives and goals. See the IQ Matrix for visual examples of each of these map types.

• Cyclical Maps – Are used to represent key terms within stages in a cyclic process.
• Radial Maps – Are Mind Map type structures with sub-topics radiating from a central image or word.
• Converging Maps – Are used to represent causes that lead to a single effect.
• Hierarchical Maps – Are used to represent key terms as smaller and smaller parts of a larger topic.
• Interacting Maps – Are Concept Map type structures that interlink with each other in a variety of ways.
• Comparison Maps – Are used to compare two or more things with each other. The central interlocking part represents the object’s shared components or characteristics.
• Linear Maps – Are Flowchart type structures that represent linear stages of a process that has a beginning and an ending.

Mind Mapping Methods

The following is a break down of two popular Mind Mapping methods you can utilize to represent your ideas and the information you are learning. There are benefits and drawbacks to each method, so it is important that you take into account your purpose, goals and objectives before deciding upon the method that you would like to utilize for your learning. However, keep in mind that in some instances one method will be more effective than the other. Therefore sometimes it is best to choose the method you will utilize based on the time you have available, the information you are learning, and the resources you have on hand.

Hand Drawn Mind Maps

Personally, I have been creating hand drawn Mind Maps for years since my University days. I found them to be of great benefit, as they allowed me to expand my thinking and understanding about the topics I was learning in exponential ways.  However, throughout my experimentations with hand drawn Mind Maps I did come across a number of drawbacks that eventually convinced me to make the switch to computer generated mind mapping for specific purposes. Here is a break down of some of the benefits and drawbacks pertaining to this method of Mind Mapping.

Benefits

Hand drawn Mind Maps are flexible in nature allowing you to bend, squiggle and flex the map any way you wish. This enhances the Mind Map’s organic structure making it far easier to remember and utilize as an accelerated learning tool. Another benefit of a hand drawn Mind Map is that it is personal in nature. You physically design it utilizing your gifted artistic talents It is this personal touch corresponding to your natural thinking patterns that will help you to assimilate the information you are mapping out far more easily.

Drawbacks

Hand drawn Mind Maps are limited to the amount of space that is available on the sheet of paper you are working from. Personally I used to always cram the information I was mapping out right near the edges of the page I was working from. Another drawback is that it is time consuming. Hand drawing your Mind Maps with appropriate pictures, symbols and colors can take a great deal of time depending on how thoroughly you design you maps. Within the same period of time you could have potentially created a handful of computer generated Mind Maps.

Examples

Some profound examples of superbly and meticulously hand drawn Mind Maps are available from the Mind Map Inspiration Website. Paul Foreman is one of the most gifted Mind Map artists you will find. His website is chock full of quality Mind Maps about spiritual transformation, personal development, effective thinking, inspiration and health. A couple of months ago he wrote an interesting guest post on the IQ Matrix blog about De-Cluttering Your Life, Environment and Mind. He has recently pieced together a collection of his 60 greatest Mind Maps, which are now available in an eBook format from his website. Please be patient with the loading time of his web page. The welcome page takes a few seconds to load.

Computer Generated Mind Maps

This method of Mind Mapping has generated a lot of interest over the past 5 years. Today there are more software applications for Mind Mapping available than ever before. And it seems that almost every single month there is a new player on the market. Each piece of software or online application has their own benefits and drawbacks. However, for the purpose of this discussion let’s take a quick look at the overall picture, and compare how today’s Mind Mapping software stacks up against hand drawn Mind Maps.

Benefits

Computer generated Mind Maps are collapsible, expandable, structured, multi-dimensional and quick to put together.

Drawbacks

Computer generated Mind Maps are impersonal and rigid. Meaning that you cannot always do what you envision in your mind.

Mind Mapping / Concept Mapping Software Leaders

The following is a list of the Mind Mapping Software market leaders (the first 3 are the major players in the marketplace). Every software package has a number of drawbacks and benefits. Your best option is to try these software packages out for a few weeks (depending on their trial period) and decide for yourself if they serve your purposes.

• Mindjet MindManager – 30 day free trial available
• NovaMind -  30 day free trial available
• iMindMap – 7 day free trial available
• FreeMind – Completely free to download and use
• ConceptDraw Mind Map – 30 day free trial available
• Visual Mind – 30 day free trial available
• Inspiration – 30 day free trial period
• OpenMind – Free trial period available
• Xmind – Free trial period available
• MindMapper – Free trial period available
• SmartDraw – Free trial period available

3D Mind Mapping

The following is a list of 3D Mind Mapping software that is available on the internet. The 3D packages absorb you into the world of your content, and help you to understand the information from an insider’s perspective. You really have to download the trial version of the software to truly grasp a comprehensive idea of what these packages can do.

• Topicscape – 30 day free trial available. Student Edition is Free.
• Nelements – Free paid versions available

Online Mind Mapping Applications

The following is a list of online Mind Mapping and Flowcharting applications that you can utilize to create your own Maps, or to collaborate with others. Each of them have slightly different features, so it is important that you settle on an online software package that best fits your needs.

• MindMeister – Free and Premium versions available
• Bubbl.us – Free
• Mindomo – Free and Premium versions available
• CoMapping – 30 day free trial available
• Mind42 – Free trial period available
• Mapul – Free trial period available
• FlowChart – Online flowcharting in your browser
• Gliffy – Free online diagramming software

Lesser Known Mapping Applications

The following are some of the lesser known Mind Mapping and Concept Mapping software packages available online. Some of these packages are new and have a number of interesting and revolutionary features. While others have been around for a few years and haven’t quite been able to get a foothold within the Mind Mapping Market. However, please don’t discount these software packages. Some of them do have interesting features and may well be worth checking out.

• Cayra – Free trial period available. Concept Mapping software.
• TheBrain – Free and Professional versions available
• Mind Visualizer – Free trial period available
• Pocket Mindmap – Mind Mapping on your pocket PC
• Mind Genius – 7 to 21 day free trial available on 3 versions.
• Cornerstone – 21 day free trial available
• MYmap – Free trial period available
• MindPlan – Combines Mind Mapping and Project Management
• HeadCase – 28 Day free trial period
• MindPad – 30 day free trial period
• BrainMine – Free trial period available
• SparkSpace – 30 day free trial available
• MindCad – Free trial period available
• i2Brain – Free trial period available

IQ Matrix Reading Guidelines

I have somewhat described the process of how to go about reading a IQ Matrix within IQ Matrix 101 – Advanced Mind Mapping Strategies. However, I feel that there are a number of things that I should still clarify and expand upon. Hence, this branch of the IQ Matrix will focus on expanding your understanding about the IQ Matrix reading process. I am hopeful that by reading through this section you will be better able to follow and comprehensively understand each branch of a IQ Matrix more thoroughly. I will not bog you down with details here, but rather just provide you with the critical components that will help you to read each IQ Matrix more effectively and efficiently.

Blockers

At times on a IQ Matrix you will notice small RED DOTS placed onto branches. These are known as “Blockers”. They basically work as punctuation fullstops. Whenever you reach one of these “Blockers” it is important to pause and then continue reading along the branches as though you have started a new sentence.

Colors

Colors are utilized to segregate key chunks or topics of a IQ Matrix from other chunks and topics. They help to distinguish segments of each IQ Matrix making it far more easier to remember and recall.

Images

Images are utilized as a tool to enhance your photographic memory and awareness of key words and pieces of content. I endeavor to include as many pictures as I can within each IQ Matrix without overloading it too extensively. Each and every image utilized within a IQ Matrix is linked to and associated with a key piece of content within its proximity. The images can represent the content either literally or metaphorically. Let’s take a look at the screen-shot above to describe how some these images are used:

• Blockers - An image of a hand is seen as though in the process of halting traffic. Hence, it represents the word “blocking”.

• Colors – An image of a cartoon figure holding a paint pallet filled with different colors represents the word “colors”.

• Distinguish – This one is a little trickier to understand. A cartoon figure of what appears to be a distinguished gentleman is utilized to represent the word “distinguish”.

• Branches – An image of a twig with leaves is used as a representation of the word “branches”.

• Hierarchical – An image of a business woman standing high on podium with others looking up at her is utilized to represent the word “hierarchical”.

• Structure – An image of a pyramid type donut structure is utilized to represent the word “structure”.

• Read – An image of a child reading a book represents the word “read”.

• Following – An image of man (could be the Pide Piper) with a flute. Behind him are three sacks of money following his lead. Hence the image represents the word “following”.

• Arrows – An image of an arrow representing the word “arrows”.

• Path of Branches – An image of a man sitting on and trying to chop off a long branch. The image represents a combination of words “path of branches”. The branches make a path that the man is sitting on.

Think of each image as a landmark on a road. You are traveling in a foreign country by car. You have no idea what the street signs say, however you do have exceptional perceptive abilities and take instructions well. You ask a local for directions (thankfully they speak English). They tell you that in order to reach your destination you must continue down this road until you reach the color pallet. From here you must turn left. When you reach the distinguished gentleman you must take a right turn and continue until you hit the branches, and so forth. By simply remembering the images (landmarks) and the “right” and “left” directions you will be able to reach your destination without any problems. The same is true when it comes to our thinking. As you learn from an IQ Matrix you will discover that you will far more easily recall the images rather than the words. Yet, the images (because they are associated with the words) will help trigger the content of the IQ Matrix as a whole. 

Guidelines for Reading an IQ Matrix

Reading an IQ Matrix is relatively simple and easy to do if you follow a few simple rules. First of all you must begin reading out from the central image into one of the external branches. As you read along the BLACK branches, gently glide your eyes over them as though moving your eyes down a water slide. When you reach a word or phrase just wash over it with your eyes taking into account any associating images, connector words (the white words posted on the branches) or symbols within it’s proximity. Continue reading down the branch into the thinner branches until you reach an ending, and stop. Also be sure to follow the arrows. They will lead you in the right direction if you are confused at any time. As a general rule you should not jump over broken branches otherwise you could lose the meaning of the information. Another important general rule is to move your eyes from thicker branches to thinner branches and not the other way around. There are however some exceptions to this rule that we will discuss another time. For further information about this reading process, please download the free IQ Matrix Beginner’s Guide from the IQ Matrix Store.

Mind Mapping Study Tips

While I was at University, I managed to perfect a method of studying from a Mind Map that dramatically Accelerated my Learning Potential. My learning became easier, was more effective, efficient and for the first time ever, I developed my capacity to achieve photographic memory. This branch of the IQ Matrix details the Mind Mapping methods I utilized using Mindjet MindManager software. I would have loved to show all of you the Mind Maps I created back then, unfortunately I don’t have those files any longer. However, as an alternative I would like to draw your attention to the Litemind website.  Luciano regularly creates some absolutely breathtaking Mindjet MindManager Mind Maps summarizing best selling personal development and business books. Please download his latest Mind Map in order to get a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the capabilities of this software package.

Mind Mapping Software for Homework Help

As discussed above, for the purpose of this example and the discussion that follows I will refer to Mindjet MindManager. However, please bear in mind that there are alternatives available to this software package that are equally as effective and will likewise help you to structure your Mind Maps in a similar fashion. A few other leading examples are NovaMind, Xmind and FreeMind.

Homework Help Mind Mapping Study Tips

The following process represents the Mind Mapping and note taking methods I utilized on an ongoing basis each semester that effectively prepared my mind for photographic memory and recall. This steps outlined here require that you take your laptop (notebook) with you into class.

Before Class Preparation

Find out what topic you will be discussing in your upcoming class and which textbook chapters you are required to read. Once this has been established, spend some time Speed Reading through the chapters picking up on major heading and important pieces of information that standout in your mind. When finished, begin preparing your Mind Map utilizing your Mind Mapping software package. All you are doing at this stage is mapping out the Major Headings, Sub-Headings and the Keywords that standout in your mind. Be sure to organize and arrange them in a way that helps you to better understand the topic you are about to study.

During Class Expansion

Take your laptop / notebook into class and add notes, expand the branches of your Mind Map even further based on the topics discussed within class.

After Class Assimilation

This should be accomplished the very same day if possible. Simply begin by thoroughly reading through the topic chapter within your textbook and handouts. As you read update your Mind Map with additional notes, headings, sub-headings, keywords and personal opinions. Once you have meticulously pieced this Mind Map together, you are now ready to enhance your memory of this Mind Map to another level. Simply begin by adding the following information to your Mind Map:

Memorable images to your keyword, major headings and sub-headings.

Links to relevant computer files such as Word Docs, Excel Spreadsheets, and PowerPoints.

Links to relevant websites and other information.

Links to your calendar and tasks (if required).

Transform your Mind Map by adding different colors to the branches.

Add relevant symbols that will help you to better identify specific pieces of content.

Add highlights to specific sections to indicate their relationship or importance.

Add font differentiations by altering the size, style, look and feel of words. Use Bold, Underlines & Italics.

Modify the thickness of the lines and give them an organic look and feel.

Modify the structure of the “word boxes” by changing them into circles, rectangles, etc, as appropriate.

When you are done you might get something looking like this:

This Mind Map is take from the Medici Effect, available as a free download from the Litemind website.

General Guidelines

It is important that you do not follow the content structure of the lecture notes or textbook you are summarizing within your Mind Map. The purpose of a Mind Map is not to simply regurgitate what your lecturer said or the information that the textbook outlined. Instead, your objective is to organize this information in a way that is easy for you to remember and recall. Hence, you might feel the need to connect topics of different chapters in a way on the Mind Map that makes most sense to you. Other times you might in fact decide to copy the same topic into two sections of your Mind Map because this will help you to better understand and comprehend what you are learning.

It is also important that you combine your entire semester’s work (including your lecture notes, assignments, essays, tests, and textbook notes) into one Mind Map. By having all this information in one place, will encourage greater memory and recall of information. However, don’t just settle on throwing this information together every which way. Actually take time to piece it together, to combine seemingly unrelated pieces, and to structure it in a way that is best suited to how you understand the topic. Hence, your final Mind Map should in essence be a reflection of your thoughts and the process of how you think about this subject, and not a regurgitation of what your lecturer said or your textbook presented.

If you are finding this process difficult to understand than please feel free to ask me further questions about it within the comments section of this post.

Mind Map Examination Study Tips

Having thoroughly prepared your Mind Map based on the instructions presented above, you are now ready to begin the process of revision and study for your examinations. At this stage, you should have everything you need meticulously presented within your Mind Map. All it takes now is to thoroughly go through each of the branches and absorb the content into your long-term memory.

Read through Mind Map Thoroughly

Your first step is to read through your Mind Map thoroughly and meticulously. Go through each branch and follow a similar reading process as was discussed above when I presented you with reading guidelines pertaining to a IQ Matrix.

Introduction to the 3R+T Mind Mapping Study Process

The 3R+T Photographic Memory Mind Map Study Process will help you to thoroughly piece together each branch of your Mind Map in the most effective and efficient manner possible. As you work your way through this process you will slowly but surely (for some people it will be quite rapid) develop the capacity for a photographic memory. As a result, when it comes time to take your examination, you may be pleasantly surprised how proficient you have become at remembering everything you needed to know to excel within this subject area. Let’s break down this process step-by-step, and guide you through its application.

Read

Select one branch of your Mind Map and read it in it’s entirety. As you are reading pay attention to the colors, highlights, symbols, font size, images, etc. Your goal is to associate as much of the content as possible to these physical landmarks on your Mind Map. The more thoroughly you focus and concentrate upon this process, the more effective your results will become. It is also helpful here to set a time limit for this step of the 3R+T Process. This is after all an accelerated learning method, and time constraints are important as they will force your brain to think more efficiently about the material you are studying.

Recall

Now that you have thoroughly read through the first branch of the Mind Map, your next step is to recall it from memory. Simply close your eyes, and picture within your minds-eye the branch you just read through in all its glory. Picture all the landmarks along this branch (images, colors, symbols, highlights, font sizes, etc) that make it standout clearly within the recesses of your mind. Approach this mental journey as though you are walking along a familiar comforting path in a relaxed manner. As you are mentally gliding along this branch see it vividly in your mind and begin describing this journey to yourself out loud. The more emotion you integrate into this process through your mental images and words, the greater amount of neural associations you will stimulate within the recesses of your mind. Again, it is important to set a time limit for this process so that you can move through the entire Mind Map in good time.

Review

Once you have completed your mental journey, simply return to your Mind Map branch and glaze over it with your eyes taking into consideration the segments and sub-branches that you had the most trouble remembering. You may find it helpful at this stage to highlight the sub-branches or words that you found difficult in a vivid and memorable color. This will help these ideas standout in your mind the next time you move through this branch. Take a little time to ponder the branch as a whole before moving into the “Test” phase. Again it is important to set a time limit for this stage.

Test

Once you have reviewed your Mind Map branch, you are now ready to test your knowledge. Testing your knowledge can be accomplished in three ways:

Answering Questions – Here you ask yourself a set of questions about the branch and test to see if you can remember the answer. If you are finding an answer difficult to recall, than simply search for it within your Mind Map, read it over and answer it in your own words. By following this method you will be better able to recall where this answer lies within your Mind Map the next time you transition through this process.

Sketching Mind Map Branch – You can quickly sketch out your Mind Map branch on a piece of paper. This method will help you to stimulate your kinesthetic or physical intelligence, thusly assisting you with far more rapid assimilation of the material you are learning. While you are sketching out your Mind Map pay attention to images, symbols, font differentiations, branch thickness, colors, etc. It is also important that you keep stimulating your auditory senses by talking through your sketch out loud (use a big, emotional and memorable voice). Again, please set a time limit for this process.

Expanding Mind Map Branch – This can only be achieved by utilizing your Mind Mapping software. Most software packages allow you to expand and collapse each of the branch levels. To begin with, collapse all the branch levels so that you can only read the very first major heading. Now recall from memory the sub-headings branching off this major heading. Once recalled, expand the second level or layer of this branch and recall from memory what sub-headings and chunks of information lie within the third layer. Continue this process through the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, etc layer until you have expanded all of the branches successfully. In conclusion, as you are moving through this process, it is okay to go back and forth to try and remember difficult chunks. But be sure to highlight these difficult to remember sub-branches so that you can return to them at a later time.

Repeat 3R+T Process

Once you have completed one branch, simply continue rotating through all the other branches of your Mind Map moving in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction that same day. Repeat the process for a period of 7 days until fully assimilated – making sure to shorten the “learning time intervals” for each section every day. From personal experience I can confidently say that you can effectively assimilate an entire 500 page textbook (achieving 80% to 99% perfect recall) within a few days of implementing the 3R+T process. If my explanation of this process hasn’t been thorough enough, than please forward me your questions in the comments section below.

Below you will find a jpg file of the rough draft I created about this topic in Mindjet MindManager. The draft doesn’t always reflect or mirror the completed IQ Matrix, however it will provide you with the pattern of thinking that I went through during the creation process. If you have any questions about this, than please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Final Thoughts

Mind Mapping is an extraordinary journey of awakening that can dramatically transform the way we manage and process information on a daily basis. It will enhance your photographic memory, recall and dramatically improve your chances of Accelerating your Learning Potential. However, having said that, there is no doubt that Mind Mapping isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. If for instance you have a preference for auditory learning (see Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Skills for further information), than Mind Mapping will seem very tedious and somewhat difficult to manage and understanding. That’s completely fine. It just means that your brain has been hardwired somewhat differently. You may like to create your Mind Maps and then talk about them aloud as though conducting a presentation. This will help with the integration process of the information you are learning.

For kinesthetically inclined people who like to utilize their hands and get involved in their learning – computer generated Mind Mapping may not be your best and most ideal solution. However, hand drawn Mind Maps may provide a better and far more absorbing alternative that will help you Accelerated your Learning Potential. And as for the rest of us who are visual learners – Mind Mapping is the key to our continued growth, development and progress as we move through the complexities of daily life. Cultivate these principles and assimilate them into your daily habits and patterns of thinking, and you too will benefit as I have from the extraordinary process of Mind Mapping.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Please feel free to share your questions, comments or experiences about Mind Mapping below. I would be interested to hear your insights and perspectives about Mind Mapping and how you utilize it on a daily basis in life, business and academically.

Spotlight on the MasterMind Matrix

The process of Mind Mapping for Accelerated Learning is an important and indispensable component of the MasterMind Matrix.

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The MasterMind Matrix is a Psychological Chart of Personal Success and Achievement. It is used as an effective Self-Coaching tool that will help guide you through the personal obstacles, setbacks and limitations that may stand in your way as you progress towards the attainment of your goals and objectives in the field of academics, business, career, sports, or life in general.

Each IQ Matrix Mind Map that is available through this website represents a single cell fragment of the MasterMind Matrix. For more information and images, visit the MasterMind Matrix page.

How to Mind Map | Tony Buzan

Click here to view the embedded video.

Free Articles & Online Resources

Here are a number of highly recommended free articles and online resources that will further help expand your understanding about this topic:

• What is Mind Mapping? (and How to Get Started Immediately) @ Litemind
• How to Mind Map @ JCU
• Using Mind Maps Effectively @ Illumine Training
• How to Mind Map for Study Success @ Learning Fundamentals
• Solve Problems, Study, and Brainstorm Using Mind Maps @ WiseBread
• How to Use a Genius Tool for Writers: Mind Maps @ Write to Done
• Mind Map Directory @ Topicscape
• Mind Map Director @ Mappio
• Mind Map Search Directory @ Mind Map Search
• Mindjet MindManager Map Directory @ BiggerPlate
• Mindjet MindManager Enthusiasts Network @ Ning
• Hand Drawn Mind Map Directory @ Mind Map Inspiration
• Software vs Hand Drawn Mind Maps @ Mind Mapping Software Blog
• Business Decision Making Software @ Bcisive
• Mind Mapping for Productive research & Writing @ Geekpreneur
• Using Mind Maps to Solve Maths Problems @ Visual Mapping
• Mind Map Organic Study Technique @ DT Creative Support & Training Services
• Combining iMindMap & Artwork @ DT Creative Support & Training Services
• Learning Mind Mapping Linkfest @ Alec Satin
• WikIT: The Mind Mapping Wiki @ Topicscape
• Using Mind Maps to Learn a Niche @ Geekpreneur
• How to Make a Mind Map at WikIT @ Topicscape
• Mind Mapping with Wikipedia @ Mind Map Blog
• Making it All Work with MindManager @ Mindjet Blog
• Getting Projects Done with MindManager 8 and Google Docs @ Mindjet Blog
• 7 Mind Mapping Examples in 1 Map @ Timeless Information
• 50 Useful Mind Mapping Tools for College Students @ Associate Degree
• For more Mind Map resources, please see the links on the sidebar

Recommended Mind Mapping Software

Feel free to try out this software to see if it suits your needs. All of these companies offer a free trial period.

• Mindjet MindManager – Mind Mapping Software with 30 Day Free Trial Period.
• Topicscape – 3D Mind Mapping Software with 30 Day Free Trial Period.
• iMindMap – Tony Buzan’s Mind Mapping Software with 7 Day Free Trial Period.
• NovaMind – Mind Mapping Software with 30 Day Free Trial Period.
• Xmind – Mind Mapping Software with Free Trial Period.
• FreeMind – Free Mind Mapping Software.

Recommended Books

• The Mind Map Book: How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain’s Untapped Potential by Tony Buzan & Barry Buzan
• Mapping Inner Space: Learning & Teaching Visual Mapping by Nancy Marqulies & Nusa Maal
• Idea Mapping: How to Access Your Hidden Brain Power, Learn Faster, Remember More, and Achieve Success in Business by Jamie Nast
• Mindmapping: Your Personal Guide to Exploring Creativity & Problem-Solving by Joyce Wycoff
• Mind Maps at Work: How to Be the Best at Your Job & Still Have Time to Play by Tony Buzan
• Visual Thinking: Tools for Mapping Your Ideas by Nancy Marqulies & Christine Valenza
• Thinking Visually: Business Applications of 14 Core Diagrams by Malcolm Craig

If you would like to download a copy of this IQ Matrix, it is available from the IQ Matrix Shop.

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Introduction

Accelerated Learning is a method of learning that helps you to organize, arrange and assimilate information at rapid speeds. If you have read through the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning and the Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Skills, than you already understand how important it is to learn new chunks of information utilizing a variety of sensory cues and creative learning strategies that stimulate all 7 of our Intelligences.

Ever since the creation of the printing press, it’s hard to argue with the fact, that most of the information we are exposed to on a daily basis is presented to us in the “written word”. With the ever increasing influence and expansion of web multimedia services, the “written word” is somewhat losing a little ground, however it is still the most prevalent and popular way of presenting information in the modern era. Moreover, it is also the number #1 culprit of the societal epidemic known to us as “information overload”. This epidemic is sweeping the world and putting extensive pressure on information gatherers who are doing their very best to try and make sense of the world around them. Given this, it is critical that we learn to collect, absorb and completely assimilate the “written word” in a way that will save us time, energy and most importantly keep us “sane” within the ever expanding world of information.

This IQ Matrix will delve into the intricate details of the reading process, and help to identify its importance in relation to Accelerating our Learning Potential. Secondly, the IQ Matrix will break down the Speed Reading process of Accelerated Learning, including a step-by-step explanation on how to utilize a combination of Speed Reading and complimentary study skills to obtain a thorough and comprehensive understanding of an entire text book in rapid succession. Thirdly, we take a closer look at a subconscious method of Photo Reading, which can enhance your learning and understanding of information at a profoundly deep unconscious level of awareness. And finally, the IQ Matrix will present you with some examination, study tips and strategies that incorporate the Photo and Speed Reading Accelerated Learning principles.

Reading Facts, Stats, Methods and Benefits

From a very young age, we are conditioned and trained to assimilate the “written word” in a variety of different ways. The vast majority of us are first taught the methods of pronunciation one letter of the alphabet at a time. Next, we are introduced to short words and instructed to pronounce each letter of the word as an individual character – before verbalizing the word as a whole. As we grow older, and gain more experience with reading, we naturally progress to larger words and learn to verbalize them in “whole” chunks, which essentially enhances and improves our speed of reading. However for the vast majority of the population, this is where our reading progression essentially stops in its tracks, and this sets up a lifelong pattern of inefficient reading habits that present us with ineffective strategies for assimilating large amounts of information into our psyche.

Key Reading Facts & Stats

Here are some interesting statistics about reading which are relevant to the discussions that will follow further down this post:

• The average reader only reads 150 words per minute (wpm).
• Only 5% of readers read more than 400 wpm.
• Most of us can only assimilate what we hear when it is presented at 250 wpm.
• Most of us can assimilate what we see at 2,000 to 10,000 wpm.
• 4% to 11% of the text you read carries 80% of the meaning.

Two Methods of Accelerated Reading

Within this post we will be discussing two methods of Accelerated Reading that will help you to improve your assimilation, comprehension and understanding of the information you are studying. Here is a quick look at the two principles of Photo Reading and Speed Reading.

Speed Reading Principles

Speed Reading involves the process of skimming, chunking, identifying and filtering specific pieces of information in order to Accelerate Learning. You skim over information in a way that will allow you to acquire an overall picture of the topic without losing yourself within the meticulous details. You would chunk relevant aspects of this information together, following the same process you utilize when chunking individual letters into words. This helps to absorb sentences and paragraphs in quick succession. And you would likewise identify or filter out aspects of the information you are reading that aren’t relevant or necessary to further your understanding of the topic. Given all this, it is important to understand that Speed Reading isn’t just about reading quickly. It rather involves an analysis process of information assimilation that will Accelerate Your Learning Potential. We will discuss this in further detail in the next section.

PhotoReading Principles

PhotoReading involves a pre-conscious level of awareness that naturally stimulates creativity, rapid information assimilation while opening the doors to non-judgmental learning. While Photo Reading, you are essentially shutting-off the conscious “critical mind” from the learning cycle. Even though the conscious mind is essential for stimulating your short and long-term memory, it however can become a hindrance due to its habitual preconceived ideas and notions about the information you are learning. More about this a little later on.

Benefits of Accelerated Reading

Learning to read at an accelerated and rapid speed utilizing the methods described within this IQ Matrix, can dramatically reduce your study time and efforts, while enhancing your speed of comprehension and assimilation of new information.

Principles of Speed Reading

Speed Reading is far more than just a process of rapid reading. It rather involves an intricate method of learning that will help you to become a smarter and more effective learner. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will break down the Speed Reading process in detail, providing you with essential guidelines that will help you to rapidly assimilate this method of learning into your study regime. We will conclude our discussion with an overview of two processes of learning that incorporate the methods of Speed Reading to help you assimilate information at a faster rate.

Speed Reading Uses

As previously mentioned, Speed Reading is a conscious process of Accelerated Learning that is best utilized for skimming large chunks of information in a structured and proactive manner.

Speed Reading Guidelines

There are some simple yet fundamental rules for Speed Reading that we must abide by if we seek to rapidly Accelerate Our Learning Potential and get the most out of this study technique. Learn to utilize and apply each of these methods progressively and you will begin to rapidly accelerate your speed of reading to ever higher levels. The key however is to be patient. You will not learn these skills overnight. Years of reading and learning from an early age have conditioned you into specific patterns and habits of information assimilation that you will progressively need to breakaway from. It simply takes time and diligent effort. However, if you commit yourself to your desired results and objectives, than you will no doubt be rewarded for your efforts.

Read in Chunks & Blocks

As kids we learned to chunk letters into whole words. As a Speed Reader we must now take this process to the next level and begin chunking individual words into “multiple word blocks” that must be read as a whole. These “word blocks” can then be chunked further into larger “word blocks”, “sentence blocks”, and later whole “paragraph chunks” that can be read and comprehended within a single glance. If you are not familiar with this process, than it might at first seem like a daunting task. However, you must remember that when you were a child, chunking letters into words at first seemed rather difficult, however you persisted and learned how to read more proficiently. Simply begin by reading chunks of 2 words at one time. Once you become comfortable with this method of reading, take it to the next level and read in 3 or 4 word chunks. Over time, your conscious brain will adjust to this process and you will see a rapid increase in the speed of you reading. Every time you progress to a larger chunk, you are effectively accelerating your reading speed anywhere from 50% to 75%.

Utilize Incomplete Sentence Scanning Method

This method assumes that the first and last 2 to 3 words of every sentence are not significant or important to the underlying meaning of the entire sentence. You can therefore simply skim over these words without reading them, and you will still acquire a comprehensive understanding of the content. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 10% to 20%.

Only Move Eyes while Reading

Have you ever seen a typewriter in action? It moves from left to right, and when it reaches the edge of the page, it is pushed left once again. This is in essence how some people read. They are in effect suffering from the “Typewriter Reading Syndrome”, moving their head left to right then right to left as though their book stretched across the entire horizon Did you know that any movement of your head will slow down the reading process quite dramatically? This is why it is suggested that you only move and rotate your eyes back and forth across the page while you are reading. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 20% to 30%. You can further accelerate your reading speeds by incorporating your peripheral vision into your reading strategy. Your peripheral vision will allow you to see more of the page in one glance without having to move your eyes across the page left to right. In fact, the most proficient speed readers actually only move their eyes down the center of a page, while incorporating their peripheral vision to capture words and phrases that lie off-center.

Sweep Hand Across Page while Reading

When it comes to Speed Reading, it is important to guide your eyes across and down a page at a patterned speed and rhythm. The best way to do this is to utilize your hand as a “guiding pointer” progressively leading your eyes down the page. Think of your hand as a guide dog leading a blind person down the street. Wherever the guide dog points, that is where your eyes must follow. Establishing a rhythm is also very important here, as it will allow you to progressively increase your reading speed over time. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 10% to 100%, depending on how effective you become in assimilating yourself into the rhythm of your hand motion.

Reduce Amount of Skip-backs

We naturally slowdown our speed of reading because of simple skip-backs, which involves rereading words and sentences over and over again. Many of us partake in this time wasting habit, because as children we were told by our teachers that we must go back and reread words that were mispronounced. As adults, even though we don’t normally verbalize these words aloud, we nevertheless still utilize skip-backs as an unconscious way of righting the wrongs of incorrect word pronunciations. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 25% to 50%.

Reduce Fixation Time

Throughout the reading process, many of us have an unfortunate habit of staying fixated upon a word for an extended period of time. This was okay when we were children learning to read and recognize word patterns. However, as adults, this habit dramatically slows down the reading process. The next time while reading a book, identify if you have a habit of staying fixated upon certain words for longer than is necessary. Only once you have become aware of this habit, can you make the necessary changes to overcome it successfully. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 10% to 50%.

Don’t Move Lips or Make Noises while Reading

When we were kids, we were taught to read and say our words aloud so that our teachers could hear our pronunciations clearly and make the necessary corrections accordingly. This was fine, as it taught us language skills that have since become indispensable to our ongoing growth as social connectors. However, the downside of this method of teaching is that we continue to pronounce our words internally, or through simple methods of moving our lips, while we are reading. Our eyes can recognize words and sentence structures far more quickly than we can articulate them aloud. Hence, if you are verbalizing the words you are reading inside your head or through the process of just moving your lips, than you are dramatically slowing down your speed of reading. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 50% to 250%.

Don’t Read “Filler” Words

“Filler” words are essentially meaningless words that add very little substance to the overall sentence you are reading. These words can include “the”, “and”, “is”, “that”, “this”, “what”, “a”, and many others. Through practice and over time, you can teach yourself to quickly skim over these words without ever consciously reading them. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 50% to 100%.

Alternate Your Reading Speed

As you progress forward with these Speed Reading guidelines, it is important to test and move out of your comfort zone by progressively challenging yourself to read at faster accelerated speeds. All of us have a natural comfort level of reading that feels just right. Once we go beyond these comfort levels our comprehension and understanding of the information we are reading naturally begins to plummet. However, we must come to understand that this is only temporary, as our brain takes some time to adjust to these increased speeds of reading and comprehension. When you were a child your initial reading speeds weren’t very impressive, in fact it might have taken you a whole 30 seconds to read a short sentence from a book. However, at the time, this felt comfortable and it allowed you to fully grasp and comprehend the information you were reading. In time, you accelerated your speed of reading to a new level of comfort that you experience today. And there is nothing stopping you from transitioning to the next level by testing and challenging your reading speeds on an ongoing basis. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 10% to 1,000% or more.

Form Mental Visual Mind Maps while Reading

In order to improve your comprehension of the information you are reading, it is important to form ongoing visual mind map images of each sentence, paragraph, topic and chapter throughout the reading process. This topic is beyond the scope of our discussion here as it doesn’t specifically relate to the process of Speed Reading. However as a general rule, it is important to incorporate as many methods and strategies for comprehension into your Speed Reading regime.

Practice, Practice and Practice

Finally, you will not improve your reading speed by thinking about these techniques and strategies. The key is to practice, practice and practice each and everyday. Through consistent practice over time you will progressively accelerate your reading speed beyond its present capabilities and limitations.

SQ3R Process of Learning

This is a simple method of learning that will help you to assimilate the information you are studying in a more structured and effective manner. I have presented it here, because a part of this process requires you to Speed Read through the information you are learning. We will discuss the methods presented here in greater depth and detail another time, however for the purpose of this discussion, here is a quick introduction to each stage of this learning process:

Survey Stage

This stage involves taking in a thorough overview of the material you are about to learn. Here you must make sure that you have all your necessary tools and resources on hand before you begin moving through the Survey Stage. Begin by overviewing your material, taking into consideration key words, topics, headings, chapters and other important pieces of information that will be relevant to your understanding of this topic.

Question Stage

This stage involves questioning the material you are about to read and learn in a way that will expand your perspective and awareness about the topics in unexpected ways. The better and more insightful questions you ask, the more thoroughly you will prepare your mind to understand the topic under question.  At this stage, it doesn’t matter if you cannot answer these questions, all that matters is that you open your mind to the possibilities that these questions will need to be answered as you move through your learning regime. Essentially your questions must highlight important unanswered aspects of the information that are critical to your understanding of each topic.

Reading Stage

Here you will spend time Speed Reading through the material by following the guidelines discussed above and by utilizing the methods and strategies that will be mentioned within the sections that follow. As you are Speed Reading it is important to keep in mind the questions you posed yourself in the previous stage. You should essentially be looking for answers to these questions while you read through the material.

Reciting Stage

This stage involves answering any outstanding questions and organizing the information you have read in a way that will help you to further your understanding of the topic or book.

Review Stage

The final stage helps you to lock the information you have been learning into your long-term memory. Simply spend time reviewing the information you have collected utilizing your 7 intelligences or multi-sensory strategies in order to lock everything away for future recall.

Speed Reading Book Analysis Process

Finally, let’s quickly touch on a simple method you can utilize in order to rapidly assimilate the content of a single book in quick succession using Speed Reading strategies as well as other accelerated learning tactics of information scanning. It is important as you move through this process that you stick with the time constraints presented below. They are there to guide you through an accelerated form of learning that moves through time specific stages that must be adhered to for best results. This is in fact a great method for cramming before examinations, as it will assist you in assimilating large chunks of content in much less time than you normally would by reading a book from cover-to-cover.

Index Analysis Stage

Your first objective is to gather an overview of what the content of this book is about. Hence take your book and spend 2 to 3 minutes just scanning the index pages. Keep an eye out for unfamiliar words and word patterns that signify specific themes and issues that will be discussed in further detail throughout the text. As a general guideline, keep in mind that the more unfamiliar words you identify through the Index Analysis Stage, the longer it will naturally take you to thoroughly learn and grasp the topics presented within the book. It may also be a good idea to highlight some key unfamiliar words and “word theme patterns” as you move through this process.

Overview Information Stage

Your next objective is to quickly overview the contents of the book in order to grasp a thorough understanding of the information and difficulty of the material you are about to learn. This stage will also assist you in identifying important patterns within the information, thusly allowing you to take study shortcuts as you progress through the learning cycle. You should effectively spending 5 to 10 minutes quickly perusing the book from cover-to-cover. As you are moving through each page of the book, keep an eye out (even make a few notes) for key diagrams, pictures, graphs, major headings, subheadings, bolded text, bullet points, patterns within the information and its overall structure. The more thoroughly you are able to comprehend all of these elements, the quicker you will be able to assimilate all of this information into your long-term memory.

Quick Scanning Stage

Here you should spend about 7 seconds per page just scanning the content and material of each chapter in a little more detail. As you are undertaking this process ask yourself “How…? When…? What…? Why…? Who…? questions to help you to further clarify the relevance and importance of the information you are about to learn. In fact, jot down some important questions that come to mind on a piece of paper as you are progressing through this stage. The better quality of questions you are able to bring to mind about this material, the more thoroughly you will prepare your mind for the Speed Reading and learning stages that follow.

Sketching Analysis Stage

Having now overviewed the content of the book utilizing three different methods, you are now ready to begin sketching out your knowledge about the material through the use of diagrams, pictures, and mind maps. Throughout this Sketching Analysis Stage, it is still very important to keep asking insightful and thought provoking questions about the material in order to stimulate your thinking and creativity. Approach the book one chapter at a time and begin sketching out your knowledge and understanding of the material in 3 minute intervals per chapter. By the end of this stage you will have quite a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the topics presented within the book. Moreover, the ongoing associations you are forming will enhance your ability to piece the information together far more thoroughly than you normally would by simply reading the book.

Speed Reading Stage

I suppose this stage doesn’t require any explanation as we have already discussed the process in detail. As a general rule though, you should spend about 30 seconds per page reading through the chapters of the book. You will find that your understanding of the material is quite extensive at this point because you have already gone through the book four prior times utilizing different comprehension methods. Stick to the time limits, however focus a little more time on areas that are difficult to understand or comprehend. At the conclusion of each chapter you may also like to add a little more information to the diagrams and mind maps you created within the Sketching Analysis Stage.

Review & Learning Stage

The final stage simply involves reviewing what you have learned in a way that will allow you to lock the information away into your long-term memory. This method is best achieved through utilizing your 7 Intelligences and Multi-Sensory Study Skills.

Principles of PhotoReading

PhotoReading is an Accelerated Learning method first presented by Paul Scheele. It involves a somewhat mysterious method of learning that taps into the unlimited powers and resources of our unconscious minds to help Accelerate our Learning Potential by improving our memory and recall of information. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will just briefly introduce you to the methods and principles behind the process of PhotoReading. This is by no means intended to be a thorough analysis, but rather an overview of an intriguing method of learning that is rapidly growing in popularity. On a personal level, I have utilized this process to some extent and have experienced some rather surprising and welcoming results. It is best not to judge the process, but rather partake within this method of learning for a few weeks or months without any preconceived expectations. The PhotoReading process only works if you let go of your inhibitions and step into it wholeheartedly with an open mind.

Before proceeding, it is important to understand that our unconscious mind remembers absolutely every single visual experience that we have ever perceived. Because we cannot remember something, does not mean that it never existed. Your unconscious mind is essentially a storehouse of all the sensory stimuli that ever touched your life experience. This is why within a deep hypnotic trance people are able to remember incredible details from their past that they never actually took the time to consciously acknowledge. This unconscious information lies dormant within our brains until it is brought forward into our conscious mind through life triggers that stimulate associative memories about people, events and circumstances. PhotoReading works on the same principles by instilling a deep learning state of unconscious awareness that can later be brought into the forefront of our minds on the conscious level. Let’s now take a look at it in a little more detail.

PhotoReading Uses

PhotoReading is best utilized for rapid unconscious level learning that expands creativity and assists with problem solving.

PhotoReading Guidelines

Before undergoing the PhotoReading process it is important to keep in mind the following set of guidelines:

Gain Clarity on Goals & Objectives

For PhotoReading to be successful you must first clarify the goals and objectives that you seek to obtain as you undergo the PhotoReading process. Only once you are clear on your primary goals and objectives, should you move forward.

Stay Focused & Relaxed

Focus and relaxation are the two key fundamental aspects of the PhotoReading process that will help you to sink into a deep state of unconscious awareness that is necessary for accelerated learning. This essentially requires shutting out all external sounds and distractions, while slowly moving beyond conscious repetitive thoughts that tend to sweep through the recesses of our minds. We will discuss strategies, techniques and methods on how to achieve deep states of relaxation in a future Mind Map.

Hold Book at 45 Degree Angle

Before beginning the PhotoReading process you must sink yourself into a comfortable seating position and hold the text book you will be PhotoReading at a 45 degree angle in front of you at a comfortable reading distance.

Utilize Photo Focus

Getting into a Photo Focus State is explained in great depth and detail within Paul Scheele’s Photo Reading audio course. However, for the purpose of this discussion it basically involves centering your focus and attention on the middle groove of the open text book you are about to PhotoRead. By “groove” I mean the middle central margin that connects all of the pages of the book together – only visible when the book is open in front of you. While your focus and attention is directed upon this groove, you must work on creating a “fuzzy vision” of sorts, while expanding your peripheral awareness of the two pages that are laid out in front of you. It is important to understand, that you will not at any time be consciously reading specific words from a page. Instead, you will be reading at an unconscious level of awareness, thusly the reason for the “fuzzy vision”. For best results, the Photo Focus State also requires that you fix your attention on the top back part of your head while you are PhotoReading.

Utilizing Affirmations

In order to help you to develop the right frame of mind, it is important to utilize a few powerful affirmations to assist you to get into a deep PhotoReading state:

As I PhotoRead my concentration is absolute.

All that I PhotoRead makes a lasting impression on my inner mind.

I desire this book to help me accomplish my purpose of…

I am fully absorbing and assimilating this material into my being.

Stick to Time Constraints

Within the next section, I will briefly touch upon the PhotoReading process. Please be aware, that some of these steps are time specific, and that it is highly recommended that you stay within these time constraints for best results.

Do Not Judge or Rationalize

Finally, the biggest drawback to standard “conscious levels” of learning is that it is riddled with rationalizations and judgments. Because we have a tendency to judge and rationalize the information we are learning, this indirectly influences our beliefs, values, self concept and the decisions we make about our learning in unexpected ways, that could essentially do us more harm than good. This drawback likewise tends to inhibit our natural learning abilities and creative expression. This is why it is very important and critical that throughout the PhotoReading process that you do not rationalize or judge the method or the potential results for even a split second.

PhotoReading Book Analysis Process

The following is an abbreviated overview of the PhotoReading process:

Preparation Stage

Before undertaking PhotoReading one must become clear on the goals and objectives one seeks to obtain by undergoing this process. You must essentially gain clarity on your most important learning objectives. Ask yourself the following set of questions:

What do I expect to know or do differently after PhotoReading this material?

How important is this information to me?

What specific value does this information have for me?

What level of detail am I seeking to gain from this material?

How much time am I willing to commit to accomplish my purpose?

Preview Stage

This stage basically incorporates the Overview and Scanning Stages described within the Speed Reading branch of the IQ Matrix. Your most important objective here is to ask insightful questions that expand your understanding and awareness about this material, while identifying 20 to 25 key “trigger” words that are essential to your comprehension of this information. Spend about 5 to 10 minutes moving through this stage. Once complete ask yourself the following three questions:

What is this information really about?

Does this information fit my current purpose and outcomes?

In what ways must I further clarify my purpose and outcome to better fit the content I am about to PhotoRead?

PhotoReading Stage

Follow the PhotoReading guidelines presented above and begin to PhotoRead through the book at a rate of 2 seconds per page. It is suggested that you PhotoRead from the front cover to the back cover, and then from the back cover to the front cover, while chanting a mantra that will put you into a deeper state of relaxation. A good relaxing mantra to begin with involves a simple yet continuous “Hmmm…” or “Ahhh…”. More about this another time in a future Mind Map when we will discuss the process of meditation in further detail.

Incubation & Activation Stage

This stage involves the process of fully assimilating the information you have just taken into your unconscious mind through the PhotoReading process. In order to encourage incubation of the material it is suggested that you sleep or meditate on the information. Utilizing affirmations that will assist you in triggering future insights and understandings are also of importance here. Here are a few examples:

I acknowledge the feelings I have used within this book.

I release this information for my body and inner mind to process.

I am curious how many ways my mind can demonstrate that this information is available to me.

I found through personal experience that activation is triggered when one enters a deep and relaxed state of meditation the very next day, and asks questions of the material one PhotoRead the day before:

What is important to me about this information?

What are the main points that I must know?

What is in here that can help me regarding…?

What must I know in relation to…?

The depth of your questions will help you to unlock deeper and more meaningful insights from the information you PhotoRead the previous day. Patience is the key, and it is critical that you also do not expect to receive immediate answers. At other times I found it helpful to ask a question and then simply physically scan the book for an answer. I was pleasantly surprised with the results.

Questioning Stage

The final stage basically involves an analysis of the PhotoReading process. Here you would ask yourself a set of question that will help you to improve your PhotoReading methods the next time around.

In conclusion, please understand that there is a lot more to the PhotoReading process than what has been presented within this branch of the IQ Matrix. It is a rather extensive and interesting topic that we may give more time and attention to in a future IQ Matrix. However, for the time being, if you would like to learn more about this Accelerated Reading Study Skill, than please visit the Learning Strategies website for further information.

Accelerated Learning Study Strategies

To finish off this post, I thought it might be appropriate to briefly discuss how you can incorporate these Accelerated Reading Study Skills into examinations and for class preparation purposes. We will be discussing this topic in great length and detail another time. However, for now here is a brief overview:

Examination Study Strategies

The way you approach your examinations must be structured utilizing methods presented within this post. You should effectively be looking for patterns within the information you are reading. Patterns will reveal hints and snippets of information that will help you to answer questions more efficiently and effectively. However, more about this another time. For now, before you begin your examination you should essentially move yourself into a deep relaxing learning state similar to the one that was presented within the PhotoReading branch of the IQ Matrix.

The second step is to begin PhotoReading your examination paper from front to back and then from back to front, all the while following the methods presented within the PhotoReading branch of the IQ Matrix. Once PhotoReading has been completed, apply the Speed Reading principles discussed within this post. At the same time, keep your eyes out for key pieces of information, word and question patterns that could give you an edge in answering these questions. Remember that in many instances the answers to many of the questions within your examinations can be obtained from other questions presented on your examination paper. You must essentially expand your awareness and understanding that this possibility could exists, and work from there.

Finally, once you have completed the Speed Reading process, “regular read” through your examination paper one question at a time, continuously looking for specific patterns within the information.

Before Class Preparation Strategies

Before heading into a lecture it is important to prepare your brain as well as your physical notes accordingly, so that you are completely within the “right thinking frame of mind” about the topic your lecturer or tutor will be discussing. Your first objective is to move through the PhotoReading process focusing in on the chapters your teacher will be discussing in class. Secondly, Speed Read through the appropriate chapters utilizing the Speed Reading strategies discussed within this IQ Matrix. Finally, create a Mind Map representing the main chapter headings and subheadings of the topics under discussion. For further information, please read Advanced Mind Mapping Study Skills IQ Matrix.

During Class Learning Strategies

As a general rule, you should always record your lectures just in case you need to clarify the information that was discussed at a later time. Also bring your mind map into class and expand on the headings and subheadings in further detail creating new interlinking pieces of information that will help you to gather a more thorough understanding of the topic under discussion. During class, your number #1 objective is to do all you possibly can to chunk information into related – easily manageable – categories that will help you to remember and recall the topic readily at a later time.

After Class Assimilation Strategies

That evening after class, schedule time to overview your recording of the lecture and expand on your mind map accordingly, integrating all the disconnected pieces of information together into a comprehensive “learner friendly” guide that leads to rapid assimilation of the information you are studying. Finally, conclude your studies by applying some of the learning strategies presented within the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning and within the Multi-Sensory Study Skills IQ Matrix.

Final Thoughts

Accelerated Reading Study Skills are far more than just a set of effective learning strategies that will help you to become a better student or academic. They are in fact indispensable survival techniques and methods of information assimilation that will help us to better deal with the ever growing amount of written content that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Without effectively applying these tools, we might as well resign ourselves to a life of mediocrity and ignorance, however with them, the world is our oyster and the impossibilities of tomorrow become the possibilities of today.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have used any of these photo reading or speed reading principles and would like to share your learning experiences, than please feel free to comment below.

Spotlight on the MasterMind Matrix

The process of Accelerated Speed Reading is an important and indispensable component of the MasterMind Matrix.

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The MasterMind Matrix is a Psychological Chart of Personal Success and Achievement. It is used as an effective Self-Coaching tool that will help guide you through the personal obstacles, setbacks and limitations that may stand in your way as you progress towards the attainment of your goals and objectives in the field of academics, business, career, sports, or life in general.

Each IQ Matrix Mind Map that is available through this website represents a single cell fragment of the MasterMind Matrix. For more information and images, visit the MasterMind Matrix page.

Accelerate Learning Using Mind Maps

Click here to view the embedded video.

Free Articles & Online Resources

Here are a number of highly recommended free articles and online resources that will further help expand your understanding about this topic:

• How to Recall an Entire Book in 5 Minutes of Less @ Litemind
• 7 Pleasurable Ways to Improve Your Reading Ability @ Pick the Brain
• Process Information 3 Times Faster with PhotoReading @ Pick the Brain
• How to Start Remembering Everything Your Read @ Student Hacks
• Web Based Speed Reading Program @ Zap Reader
• 7 Ways to Remember What You Read @ Schaefer’s Blog
• Learn to Speed Read in Just a Few Hours @ Learn This
• Speed Reading Successfully: A Starting Point @ Life Hack

Recommended Products

Howard Berg’s Maximum Speed Reading – Absorb all of the material you need to read with unbelievable speed, comprehension, and recall! Are you overwhelmed by the amount of written material you’re faced with each day? Do you find you spend most of your day slogging through the memos, reports, articles, books, and websites that are critical to your success, but that drain away your time and energy? Maximum Speed Reading is an incredible new program that will help you to read and comprehend massive amounts of written information – in any subject area – with unbelievable speed and remarkable retention and recall.

Recommended Books

• Breakthrough Rapid Reading by Peter Kump
• 10 Days to Faster Reading by Abby Marks-Beale
• Power Reading Course Book with Audio Coundown Timing CD: The Best, Fastest, Easiest, Most Effective Course on Speed Reading and Comprehension Ever Developed by Rick Ostrov
• PhotoReading 4th Edition by Paul R. Scheele
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Speed Reading by Abby Marks Beale

If you would like to download a copy of this IQ Matrix, it is available from the IQ Matrix Shop.

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Introduction

Procrastination is something that many of us struggle with every single day. We simply fail to find the motivation to undertake a specific type of task or activity because of a myriad of excuses, habits, thoughts and fears that absorb our daily ritualistic behavior. Yet, procrastination can easily be overcome if we simply take time to understand the intricate dynamics of this common ritual. Moreover, by learning some simple yet effective strategies – assisting us to step into a passionate motivated state – will likewise help us create the momentum we need to pursue our goals and objectives with renewed energy and vigor.

Within this IQ Matrix, we will first breakdown our habitual procrastination cycle including the myriad of reasons that tend to trigger this unproductive state of being. Secondly, we will turn out attention to the theory behind motivation. Within this analysis we will break down the evolution of motivation, and how you can utilize it today to help break you out of your procrastinating habits. Thirdly, the IQ Matrix will take a deeper and more reflective look at the specific process of motivation that will guide us to breakout of limiting procrastinating behaviors. And finally, we will quickly identify some key ongoing motivational maintenance strategies, characteristics, skills and tools that you must cultivate in order to keep you on track and moving towards the attainment of your goals and objectives.

Reasons for Our Procrastination Habits

For every action there is a cause – a trigger of sorts that instantly brings forth decisions and behaviors that lead to daily and lifelong consequences that many of us simply choose to live with and accept. For those of us who are not aware of these triggers, life can be very difficult to deal with and manage. On the other hand, those of us who are successfully able to identify these triggers – as a cause of their procrastinating habits – can indeed begin to take steps that will help them to break free of these unproductive habitual cycles. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will break down many possible intrinsic and extrinsic triggers that can bring forth our procrastinating habits and behaviors into the forefront of our lives. As you read through this branch of the IQ Matrix, progressively tick off which of these triggers are currently leading you down the procrastination spiral.

Fear Driven Procrastinations

Our fears are in many ways seemingly uncontrollable aspects of our lives that cause us a lot of discomfort and pain. For the purpose of this discussion, we will take a look at the 5 most prevalent fears that tend to lead to the habits of procrastination. We will not break down methods on how to overcome these fears, as this has already been covered in a previous IQ Matrix. Instead, we will just overview and garner an understanding of these fears, while the motivational strategies – discussed a little further down the post – will help provide you with tools and techniques you can use to move through them successfully.

Fear of Success

Procrastination is most commonly associated with the fear of success. In this instance you tend to put as many roadblocks, problems and challenges ahead on your path because of your internal fear of the change that will be associated with possible success. The fear of success naturally expands into the habits of disorganization and an overall lack of productivity. Essentially if you catch yourself “keeping busy” trying to get your life in order rather than focusing on the most important tasks that you must complete, than this is a clear sign of the fear of success manifesting in your behavior.

Fear of Failure

The fear of failure instead manifests within the behavior of perfectionism and unresourceful emotions that tend to send you down an uncontrollable spiral deeper into the habit of procrastination. When you fear failure, you struggle with the idea of being inadequate and not living up to the high standards you set for yourself. This naturally leads to hesitancy which either breeds inaction (due to overwhelming emotions) or promotes perfectionism where you tend to spend more time on activities than is necessary. When you catch yourself being overwhelmed with negative emotions while in the act of overdoing the little things, than you are at that very moment in the process of manifesting the fear of failure.

Fear of Conflict

Sometimes we simply sink into the procrastination cycle because we fear the possible conflict that awaits us if we undertake the specific task or activity under question. Now, this conflict can be external – having to do with other people – or internal, specifically related to conflicting interests fighting for power within your mind. Either one may well stop you in your tracks and lead you down the spiral of procrastination. We will discuss this in further detail a little further down the post.

Fear of Judgment

Related to the fear of conflict is the fear of judgment. Here you procrastinate because you worry about what other people might think of you, your behaviors, decisions or actions. If you catch yourself thinking more about what others “think”, rather than actually undertaking the task at hand, than you are manifesting the fear of judgment.

Fear of the Unknown

This fear is intrinsically connected to all the above mentioned fears. What all the above fears have in common has very much to do with the “unknown”. Not knowing what will eventuate from our daily decisions and actions tomorrow, or within the next moment, has a tendency to hold people back from taking the necessary steps that will move them forward towards the attainment of their goals and objectives. When we suffer from a Fear of the Unknown, we tend to be very hesitant in our approach and with our actions. In many instances we will attempt every strategy in the book to try and distract ourselves from the task at hand. Our unconscious goal is to gain certainty within the moment (which is accomplished through small irrelevant comfort seeking activities) in order to counter the uncertainty of the next moment – which is unknown.

Action Driven Procrastinations

Some forms of procrastination are driven and evolve through our daily – seemingly disciplined – actions. If we first come to understand, and later learn to undertake these actions from an alternative angle and perspective, than this will help us to successfully penetrate the procrastination cycle that dominates our current behaviors. Let’s take a look at some of these actions in a little more detail.

Seeking Perfectionism & Micromanaging

Perfectionism involves the process of meticulous irrelevant actions that will not make a significant difference to the end goal. In many ways perfectionism is a disease of the mind similar to how a person suffering from anorexia sees themselves in front of a mirror. This person looks into a mirror and labels themselves as being overweight. They therefore starve themselves in order to lose the extra pounds they see bulging out from their waist. However, as we know this is only an illusion of their mind. The same is true in respect to perfectionism. A person who seeks perfectionism is never quite satisfied that anything they do is ever good or adequate enough to be fully implemented. They will redo the same activity or task over and over again in an attempt to attain perfection. Yet, they completely don’t realize or understand that perfectionism is actually in the eyes of the beholder. What may indeed seem quite imperfect for them, may in fact be ideal for someone else. When it comes to perfectionism, we must also come to understand that 20% of our activities will usually always produce 80% of our results. But more about this another time.

Over Planning

Here you overwhelm yourself with “planning how to do things” instead of “actioning” those plans. There is no doubt that planning is a very important aspect of goal setting and achievement. However, if all you are doing is planning, than you must realize that it is a deadly form of procrastination that will subtly push your goals and objectives away and out of reach. Essentially you should schedule a time and place where you will plan out a specific list of steps and actions. After your plan has been laid out, you must not look back but rather look forward concentrating on the process of your daily tasks and activities. It is actually the act of looking back at your plans again and again, that stifles motivation and manifests procrastination.

Overworking

Sometimes procrastination can get a hold of us simply because we overwork ourselves. Our bodies are biological mechanisms that are programmed and conditioned to have set limitations. When we overwork we deplete our resources and thusly experience a period of withdrawal where no matter what we do, we simply fail to unleash the motivation we need to continue pursuing our goals and objectives. The key here is to schedule regular breaks. More about that a little further down this post.

Habit Driven Procrastinations

Our procrastinations can also form ritualistic habits of behavior that tend to go unnoticed as their patterns are so very deeply ingrained into our psyche.  These self-sabotaging habits can lead to uncontrollable spirals of procrastination that are difficult to understand; as the behavior causing these actions is hidden away within the recesses of our unconscious minds. There are in essence many habits that can trigger this unresourceful state, however for the purpose of this discussion, let’s just take a look at 3 of the most common habits of procrastination.

The Impossible Expectations

Our expectations manifest the possibilities that we allow to settle and grow within our life experience. Our expectations are like barometers that determine where we will be tomorrow, next week, next month, and so forth. Many of us have a habit of setting the “expectation bar” so high up into the stratosphere that we simply have no hope of ever living up to these expectations. This tends to lead us down a spiral of deflating emotional experiences that settle down to earth as procrastinating habits that pull us in the opposite direction from our end goal and objective. The solution here is to set SMART Goals.

Guilt Driven Self-Talk & Criticism

The language we use is intrinsically connected to our emotional patterns of behavior, which are likewise intrinsically connected to our emotions and thusly manifest in the actions we partake in on a daily basis. Some of us have a habit of regularly talking ourselves into a state of procrastination through guilt driven self-talk and criticism that deflates our motivation and leads to deep feelings of inadequacy. Within this state, we simply fail to find the answers that we need in order to help us work through the procrastination cycle in an effective and efficient manner.

Low Self-Esteem

The guilt driven self-talk and criticism naturally leads to regular habitual bouts of low self-esteem. Living within this state presents one of life’s greatest challenges, where everything becomes an arduous chore and an uphill battle that never seems to end. All of this cycles down through to procrastination, and may even lead to far more severe repercussions that we will look at in more depth and detail another time.

Feeling Driven Procrastinations

Due to the changing events and circumstances of our lives, some procrastinations are triggered through deep emotional experiences that we tend to slip into throughout our day. Many of these feelings are brought about by common challenges we face that we simply fail to manage in an effective and efficient manner. Unable to control these external events, we naturally experience common emotions that dig us deeper into the depths of procrastination.

Feelings of Overwhelm

When we tackle too many tasks or chunks of information at one time, than this can naturally trigger feelings of overwhelm. As this feeling begins to take control, we are naturally tempted to remove ourselves from the overwhelming tasks or activities under question. This naturally leads to ongoing bouts of procrastination that will continue until we learn to more effectively manage, organize and arrange the tasks and information that initially triggered this state.

Feelings of Inadequacy

We feel inadequate when we find ourselves incapable of dealing with the challenges, problems and obstacles that life throws our way. This may lead to bouts of procrastination that focus us on insignificant “keeping busy” tasks and activities, or dishearten us altogether from our goals and objectives.

Feelings of Frustration

We become frustrated when confronted with tasks and challenges we believe are within our capabilities, yet we struggle to manage them effectively, thusly manifest the feeling of frustration within our psyche. As an isolated state, frustration is a good place to be; as long as we don’t allow it to get the better of us. The moment it spirals out of control, is the moment our frustrations can manifest into fears of failure that can ravage our actions in indescribable ways.

Feelings of Boredom

The final “state of being” that regularly leads to bouts of procrastination, is boredom. We tend to procrastinate when we are bored. This is essentially triggered when we undertake easy repetitive tasks and activities for extended periods of time. To overcome this spiral, we simply need to think creatively and spice up our activities by adding a little more “brain” and emotional stimulation to our tasks and actions. When things are fun, they always get done!

Procrastination Triggered through Lack

Some forms of procrastination come about because we simply “lack” something specific in our lives. These “lacks” can be very simple things that we take for granted, or they can in fact be linked to deeper psychological tendencies that we must learn to control and work through in an effective and efficient manner.

Lack of Focus

We tend to procrastinate because of a lack of focus and attention. This comes about when we focus on too many things at once, when there are a myriad of distractions drawing our attentions away, and when our goals and objectives haven’t been clearly defined.

Lack of Confidence

We tend to procrastinate because of a lack of confidence in ourselves, our abilities, skills, knowledge, experience, or simply through a lack of confidence in bringing the task to fruition. Yet, confidence is essentially a state of mind. Identify the areas that you are not feeling confident about, and draw up a plan of action to build confidence within these segments of your life. We will discuss more about building confidence in an upcoming Mind Map.

Lack of Adequate Resources

We tend to procrastinate because of a lack of adequate resources that will help us to complete the task at hand. If you find yourself procrastinating because of a lack of resources, than simply spend some time to go out into the world and collect the resources you require to get the task completed successfully. Whether this means tools, skills, support from others, or maybe gaining further experience in a specific area – simply go out there and bring back what you need in order to fulfill the promise of your tasks and objectives.

Lack of Purpose & Direction

We tend to procrastinate because of a lack of purpose and direction. When we have no specific direction, we struggle to find our way, and we also tend to focus our time on irrelevant activities that provide us with very minimalistic results. This can lead to periods of ”busyness” that waste our precious energy on procrastinating activities that have no real purpose or value. To avoid the pitfalls here, read the Keys to SMART Goals Setting.

Unfulfilling Life Experiences & Circumstances

When we are unfulfilled with certain aspects of our lives, this can naturally lead to uncharacteristic self-sabotaging behaviors that lead us down the procrastination spiral. Being unfulfilled in our relationships, with our career’s, or just with life in general can distract us from many actions that would further our success in these areas. If you are finding yourself overwhelmed with feelings of dissatisfaction in any specific area of your life, than you must work through and focus on finding happiness and fulfillment within each area, or remove yourself mentally from these experiences and focus on the tasks at hand.  We will discuss this in further detail another time.

Childhood Programming

Finally, procrastination can also evolve through a set of interlinking childhood experiences that we naturally accepted into our psyche at an age and time when we knew no better. This very much involves unconscious experiences that we struggle with on a constant basis throughout our lives. The breadth of this topic is quite extensive and beyond the scope of this discussion. Hence, we will devote an entire IQ Matrix to process of childhood conditioning and effective parenting strategies in a future Mind Map.

Creating Unstoppable Motivation

Like procrastination, motivation is likewise triggered through a specific means and process that can help you to break out of unproductive states and into a new cycle of momentum that will assist you to move forward towards the attainment of your goals and objectives. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will attempt to thoroughly piece together the intrinsic and extrinsic triggers of motivation. Moreover, we will identify how you can put these theories of motivation to use immediately to help you break out of your procrastination cycle.

Motivational Types

There are essentially two types of motivation that can inspire us into proactive action. It is important to get a thorough understanding of these two types of motivation in order to fully grasp the motivational strategies presented further down this post. Let’s now take a look at each of them in a little more detail.

Intrinsic Motivation

This is a state of motivation that is internally generated stemming from either personal enjoyment or from a sense of obligation. You motivate yourself intrinsically by finding personal benefit, enjoyment or significance within the task or activity you are undertaking.

Extrinsic Motivation

This is a state of motivation that is externally generated stemming from objects, other people and the environment. You become motivated extrinsically when your task or activity benefits others, results in material possessions or favored circumstances.

Reward Created Motivation

Over the past hundred years, psychological studies have shown us time and again that rewards utilized as tools for reinforcing resourceful behaviors, do indeed help to build high levels of motivation. The rewards must however be consistently reinforced and within close proximity to the action you are rewarding. So how does this apply to long-term motivation? It basically means that you must setup a process that will reward you – consistently and persistently – as you attain specific tasks and objectives along your journey towards attaining your goals.

Goal Created Motivation

SMART and effective goal setting is a critical and indispensable component of our lives that is absolutely necessary if you seek to build high levels of motivation that will propel you forward towards the attainment of your objectives. This topic has already been discussed in great length in a previous post, however as a refresher, your goals must be specific, measurable, moderate in difficulty, close in time, and you must work on attaining them by taking small, consistent and steady steps.

“Human Need” Created Motivation

Our Human Needs are essentially deeply ingrained psychological aspects of our lives that we seek to satisfy and fulfill as we go about our daily decisions and actions. When our actions fulfill each and everyone of these Human Needs, than we naturally feel motivated and moved into even deeper and more profound levels of behavior. On the other hand, when these Human Needs are left unfulfilled by our daily actions and behaviors, than we simply struggle to find the motivation we need to get us through our days. Moreover, this can lead us down the spiral of procrastination and low self-esteem. We will discuss the Human Needs in much greater depth in a future Mind Map. However, for the purpose of this discussion let’s break down each of these Human Needs in a little detail to help you incorporate them into your life, and enhance your levels of motivation. As you are reading through this section, keep in mind that in order to instill high levels of motivation, you MUST integrate as many of the Human Needs as possible into each and every one of your tasks and activities.

Satisfying the Need for Certainty

When we are certain about our outcome, we naturally find the motivation to persist despite the obstacles and challenges that may stand in our way. Because our objective is within our reach, this provides us with a sense of confidence that all will be well in the end. In order to instill this feeling of certainty, you must work on clarifying your goals and objectives, and build upon your weaknesses, skills and resources to help you gain a greater sense of confidence while undertaking the task at hand.

Does the task or activity you are procrastinating about provide you with a sense of certainty? If not, than you must find ways to instill a sense of “certainty” into the goal or objective you are working towards, otherwise fear might overwhelm you.

Satisfying the Need for Uncertainty

When we are somewhat uncertain about our outcome, this naturally creates intrigue, excitement and motivation to persist despite the obstacles and challenges that may stand in our way. This is in some ways contradictory to the first Human Need, however a deeper analysis reveals that we do indeed require some uncertainty within each of our actions, otherwise boredom can ensue, which is a natural trigger for procrastination. In order to instill this feeling of uncertainty, you must work on spicing up your task or activity in unexpected ways that will bring a sense of excitement into your everyday actions.

Does the task or activity you are procrastinating about provide you with a sense of uncertainty and excitement? If not, than you must find ways to instill a sense of “uncertainty” into the goal or objective you are working towards, otherwise boredom might overwhelm you.

Satisfying the Need for Connection

When we have an intrinsic connection with our outcome, this naturally builds upon our levels of motivation despite the obstacles and challenges that may stand in our way. Connecting to your outcome means finding a meaning and purpose behind every step and action you take. In order to instill this feeling of connection, you must build on your WHY reasons for attaining your end goals and objectives. The more WHY reasons you create, the greater sense of connection and motivation you will build around this task or activity.

Does the task or activity you are procrastinating about provide you with a sense of connection? If not, than you must find ways to instill a sense of “connection” into the goal or objective you are working towards, otherwise your disconnected feelings and emotions will lead to a lack of focus and direction.

Satisfying the Need for Significance

When we feel that our outcome is significant and important to us, than this naturally builds upon our levels of motivation despite the obstacles and challenges that may stand in our way. In order to build significance you must have a driving purpose, goal, vision and objective behind every task and activity that naturally makes you feel important and proud. The bigger the objective and vision, and the more significant and important it makes you feel, the deeper the levels of motivation you are likely to experience.

Does the task or activity you are procrastinating about provide you with a sense of significance? If not, than you must find ways to instill a sense of “significance” into the goal and objective you are working towards, otherwise procrastinating feelings of inadequacy might overwhelm you.

Satisfying the Need for Growth

When we feel that our outcome provides us with a sense of growth, than this naturally builds upon our levels of motivation despite the obstacles and challenges that may stand in our way. In order to build a sense of growth you must commit yourself towards looking at your current tasks and objectives from a long-term perspective. You must essentially gather every learning experience you can from even the most mundane tasks, and projecting into the future seeing how you will be able to utilize this new found experience and information to further your long-term goals and objectives. This might be difficult at first, however if you focus, you will indeed find significant learning experiences and growth opportunities in every single activity you undertake.

Does the task or activity you are procrastinating about provide you with a sense of growth? If not, than you must find ways to instill a sense of “growth” into the goal or objective you are working towards, otherwise you may completely lose focus of the bigger picture and objective, which could very well lead to distractions and procrastinating actions.

Satisfying the Need for Contribution

When we feel that our outcome leads to a sense of contribution to others and the world around us, than this naturally builds upon our levels of motivation despite the obstacles and challenges that may stand in our way. In order to build a sense of contribution you must extend your perspective and peripheral vision outwards and into the external world beyond your mind. Here you must ascertain how this specific task or activity benefits others and the world around you in immeasurable ways. This may be difficult to perceive as you are undertaking seemingly small and insignificant tasks. However, with a little effort, even the seemingly insignificant effects the world in unexpected ways. This theory is known as The Butterfly Effect.

Does the task or activity you are procrastinating about provide you with a sense of contribution? If not, than you must find ways to instill a sense of “contribution” into the goal or objective you are working towards, otherwise the habit of procrastination may overwhelm you.

Satisfying the Need for Fun

When we feel that our outcome leads to a sense of fun and laughter, than this naturally builds upon our levels of motivation despite the obstacles and challenges that may stand in our way. In order to build a sense of fun and laughter, simply brainstorm ideas on how to instill a little more entertainment into your tasks and activities. This is in someways related to the Need for Uncertainty.

Does the task or activity you are procrastinating about provide you with a sense of fun? If not, than you must find ways to instill a sense of “fun” into the goal or objective you are working towards, otherwise boredom may lead you down the spiral of procrastination.

Satisfying the Need for Freedom

When we feel that our outcome leads to a sense of freedom, than this naturally builds upon our levels of motivation despite the obstacles and challenges that may stand in our way. In order to build a sense of freedom, you mustn’t allow yourself to get too absorbed, “chained to” or overwhelmed by your daily tasks and activities. Otherwise your sense of freedom will dissipate and you will suffer the consequences of procrastination. Essentially you would focus on scheduling regular breaks, learning new skills that will help you to better manage your time, tasks and activities, and so forth.

Does the task or activity you are procrastinating about provide you with a sense of freedom? If not, than you must find ways to instill a sense of “freedom” into the goal or objective you are working towards, otherwise the feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, frustration and stress will chain you up like a prisoner to the habit of procrastination.

Satisfying the Need for Power

The need for power is very closely tied into the need for significance and doesn’t require further explanation.

The Conflicting Interests of the Mind

Finally, the conflicting interests of our conscious and unconscious minds can in many instances create contradictory motivations for our behaviors – which can send us down the spiral of procrastination at one moment, and up the elevator of motivation the very next moment. This has more to do with how our mind has been conditioned to think and deal with events and circumstances over time. It essentially also has to to with identifying “conditioned triggers” that bring about both behaviors of motivation and procrastination into the forefront of our daily actions and behaviors. We will discuss this in a little more detail within the next branch of the IQ Matrix. However, stay tuned as a future IQ Matrix will break down the thought process and explain these types of conditioned behaviors in much more detail.

Step-by-Step to Instant Motivation

Having already identified how motivation is triggered, let’s now take a closer look at the motivation process, and how you can best put it to use to help you break out of your procrastinating habits of thinking and behaving. This branch of the IQ Matrix will provide you with a step-by-step guided tour of a tried and tested process that will help you take control of your thoughts, decisions, actions and behaviors, thusly helping to inspire a sense of motivation and purpose that will drive you forward towards the attainment of your goals and objectives.

Analysis Stage

The primary purpose of this stage centers around identifying the psychological and real world triggers that send you down the spiral of procrastination or up the elevator of motivation. This stage essentially boils down to the process of creating a thorough Time Log that will help you to grasp a complete understanding of your habitual patterns of behavior.

Create a Time Log

Essentially your time log should consist of an analysis of 4 key variables that you must initially measure over a period of a week. The first is self-explanatory, as it simply requires you to keep track of the activities you undertake every 15 minutes throughout your day. Secondly, beside each activity you should be identifying the strength of your energy resources. This simply means indicating with a high, moderate or low label, how much energy you are feeling at every moment of your day. Thirdly, pay attention to any procrastination triggers or periods of the day when you found it difficult to motivate yourself. Once you have identified them, jot them down on your time log. Finally, do the same for your motivation triggers. These could simply be random feelings, people, actions or events that provided you with the rush of energy you needed to inspire your behaviors.

Once you have compiled your weekly time log report, spend some time analyzing the data and identify the habitual patterns of behavior that lead to the time specific actions you took. You should then utilize the results of this analysis to help you move through the remaining steps of the motivational process.

Thinking Stage

Initially as you are working your way through the procrastination cycle, it is important to give this stage its due time, diligence and effort. Long-term, as you become a more proficient thinker you can move through this stage far more rapidly. However, if you are doing this for the first time it is critical that you undertake each step of this process as it is presented below. Every sub-stage works and builds upon the sub-stages before it to help present you with a thorough and comprehensive process that will build upon your strengthening levels of motivation.

Set Goals on Paper

Setting motivating and inspiring goals that are written out on paper, is one of the key fundamental processes that will help you to build lasting long-term motivation. The process of goal setting actually involves some specific principles that one should follow in order to trigger deep states of passion and momentum. For a full descriptive analysis of this process please read the Keys to SMART Goal Setting.

Visualize Goals

Visualization brings forth the power of our imaginations in extraordinary ways that can trigger deep levels of motivation, thusly helping you to muster the momentum you need to propel you forward towards the attainment of your goals and objectives. Psychological studies have consistently shown us that the human brain cannot tell the difference between an object that is visualized within the mind when compared to an object that is physically seen within the real world. By simply visualizing your outcome in advance, you will essentially be planting the seeds of lasting motivation within your psyche, before you even take a single physical step into that direction. We will discuss the process of visualization in a future Mind Map.

Do NOT Rationalize

While progressively moving through the Thinking Stage it is important that you hold back from rationalizing or thinking in unproductive ways that naturally place roadblocks along your path towards your objectives. We tend to procrastinate on many tasks and activities simply because our rationalizing tends to get the better of us. We must come to understand that the excuses we make on a consistent basis are in actuality irrational projections of our mind that have no place within the physical world. Just let them go, and project forward onto the things you want. Here are a few examples of someone’s irrational thoughts and projections that lead them into the habit of procrastination:

It’s not that important right now…

Do I really need this anyway?

I don’t know what to do…

I’m just simply too tired right now…

It’s too difficult because…

It takes too long because…

I will do it tomorrow because…

Ask Effective Questions

Ask effective questions focused on solutions, benefits and proactive actions that will help to clarify your goal, tasks, activities and objectives. Questions are essentially beacons allowing you to direct your mind in ways that will promote deeper and longer lasting levels of motivation. Look at your solution focused questions as a food source that helps you to maintain peak levels of motivation. If you continuously ask solution focused questions, they will inspire and move you forward towards the attainment of your goals and objectives. If on the other hand, you ask questions focused on procrastination and problems, than this will likewise deplete you of your reservoirs of motivation.

Gain Leverage through Pleasure & Pain

The pleasure and pain principle behind motivation will help you to gain the leverage that will propel you forward and beyond your habits of procrastination. In fact, pleasure and pain actually determines how you conduct yourself each and every day of your life. We essentially take action because of the short or long-term pleasure that this action could potentially bring into our experience. On the other hand, we act or refrain from acting due to the short or long-term pain that we associate to an experience. The pain and pleasure principle is a large and extensive topic that will be broken down in detail in a future Mind Map. However, for the purpose of motivation, you have to find ways to associate pleasure and “gains” to the actions that you know you must take in order to move you forward in life, and associate a great deal of pain and “loss” to the habit of procrastination. This essentially all boils down to asking the right kinds of questions and then visualizing the potential outcomes associated to these experiences. But we will discuss this in further detail another time.

Preparation Stage

Unless you prepare yourself adequately for the actions you are about to take, than you may suffer from indecision, which could in essence trigger states of procrastination and deflated motivation. Before any action is taken, make sure you have the necessary tools, skills, support and resources that are required to get the job done. These are important as they will help you to build long-term confidence by preparing you for the possible obstacles and challenges that may lie on the journey that you are about to take.

Your Tools

Sometimes we procrastinate because we simply haven’t taken the time to prepare the tools we need in order to effectively deal with the task at hand. Therefore, project yourself forward and figure out exactly what type of tools you will need in order to ensure that you keep the momentum going once you begin working on the task at hand. By tools, I essentially mean physical objects that will assist and motivate you to get the task done in quick succession without a single thought of procrastination crossing your mind.

Your Skills

Sometimes we procrastinate because we simply have not taken the time to learn or acquire the skills we need in order to effectively deal with the task at hand. If you suffer from uncertainty, a simple lack of confidence, or low self-esteem, than this could possibly mean that you are lacking some type of skill that could essentially help you to work through this task in a more effective and efficient manner. Take some time and break down the task that you are procrastinating on. Ask yourself what type of skills you may need to develop within yourself in order to help you gain a little more confidence. Once you have identified what is required, go out there and spend a little time building up your skill levels. However, please understand that you do not have to become an expert in any specific area before returning back to your task. All that may be required is a little knowledge and experience, and this will effectively help you to gain the confidence and belief, in your ability to break out of the procrastination cycle.

Your Support Network

Sometimes we procrastinate because we simply do not have an adequate support network that will help us to stay motivated over the long-term. If you take the time to setup a strong and reliable support network of people, communities, family and friends, than you can utilize them in times of need when you require a little motivation and direction. We all tend to lose focus and get distracted from our goals and objectives at times. Throughout these periods, if we simply do not have a strong and reliable support network behind us, than periods of procrastination may get the better of us. Essentially during this stage of the motivational process, you must identify the types of people or communities you need in order to help you get through your tasks successfully. Identify those who are strong where you are weak, or those who have knowledge about areas that are unfamiliar to you, and ascertain their help and assistance with the areas you are struggling with.

Sometimes it could be as simple as having a motivational partner who just keeps reminding you about the reasons why this goal or task is important and necessary for your ongoing happiness and fulfillment. At other times, all you may need is a soundboard – someone who can listen to you and provide you with a different line of thinking and perspective that will open your eyes to new experiences and understandings. This is where Life Coaches come into the picture. We will discuss strategies on how to build a strong and reliable support network in a future Mind Map.

Other Resources Required

Finally, identify any other resources you might need that will help you to move from procrastination and into lasting motivation.

Motivation Stage

You must utilize the myriad of tools, techniques and strategies – discussed throughout this post – to motivate yourself during this stage of the motivational process. Action without motivation is fruitless and will be quite ineffective in helping you build the momentum you seek to reach your goals and objectives in quick succession. Think of your “action” as a bowling ball. Without motivation you will be unable to provide it with the force it needs to knock down the tenpins. However, with enough motivation behind your actions, it will have the necessary momentum, focus and force to knock down the tenpins upon your very first try.

Action Stage

The final stage requires you to take action and move forward towards achieving your laid out plans and objectives. On the surface, this process seems pretty straightforward, however having been a sufferer of procrastination, it is easy to fall prey to inaction if we go about our daily tasks, responsibilities and goals in an inappropriate manner. The following 7 suggestions will hopefully provide you with the groundwork and understanding you need to assist you to move through the Action Stage without a second thought about procrastination.

Imperfect Actions

Your actions must be imperfect. This may be very difficult for someone whose self-concept is built around perfectionism, however if you seek to break out of the procrastination cycle than you must in essence be less thorough and approach each situation in an imperfect manner. Being “imperfect” doesn’t mean being careless. It rather means being thorough with your planning and actions to the extent that it doesn’t interfere with the achievement of the task or goal you initially laid out on paper. If you ever find yourself nitpicking on silly little things that others simply will not notice, than you are at that moment sinking into perfectionism, which is of course a form of procrastination.

Small Chunks

Your actions must be undertaken in small chunks. In so many instances we fall into the procrastination trap because we become overwhelmed with the task at hand. The main reason for this feeling of “overwhelm” is because we feel incapable of managing the task in an effective manner that provides us with a sense of control and confidence in ourselves and our abilities. In order to overcome this, make sure that you break down the large goals, tasks, or actions into small manageable chunks that you can tackle one fragment at a time. Once you become more proficient, you will naturally be able to chunk your activities up, rather than down.

Passionate Disposition

Your actions must be colored with a passionate disposition. This means that you must find ways to become enthusiastic and excited about the task you are undertaking. This may require a little effort and creativity, however it will go a long way towards helping you to build up your reservoirs of long and lasting motivation.

Process Orientation

Your actions must be process oriented. On many occasions we focus so thoroughly and completely on the end goal or objective, that we neglect our daily tasks and responsibilities that will help us to eventually get there. This is another form of procrastination that will eat at us in unexpected ways. Having big and exciting goals is very important and goes a long way towards building up our motivational levels. However, some of us have a tendency to become a little too focused on the big picture, and we therefore neglect the small daily ritualistic tasks that will help us to attain this end objective. It is important that you do not lose yourself in your own mind, and that you focus yourself on the present moment and on the tasks at hand that will help you to obtain the larger goals and objectives you have laid out for yourself.

A Commitment to Enjoyment

This is all about having as much fun as possible. When you thoroughly enjoy the tasks you are working on, time flies by and you become incredibly productive and efficient in your actions. Therefore it is important to always take time to brainstorm ideas on how to make your journey towards your bigger goals and objectives as fun and enjoyable as possible.

Hardest Task First

Many times we procrastinate on difficult tasks, and just keep putting them off over and over again. When you get to the Action Stage, you must commit yourself towards tackling the hardest and most difficult tasks on your agenda first. By doing this, you will effectively free up your mind of the garbage that this task will throw your way if you leave it in the “stink”. A difficult or arduous task that we procrastinate on, weighs heavily on our thoughts and levels of energy. The longer you allow these tasks to dwell on your mind, the less productive you will become and the more likely you are to fall into the trap of procrastination – sabotaging other tasks in the process. The key is to clear the garbage as soon as possible before it stinks up your whole mind and infects every other task with its foul smell.

11 Minute Rule of Productivity

If all else fails, than apply the 11 minute rule of productivity. Many times we just can’t seem to find the motivation to simply begin a task or activity. This is probably in essence the most arduous and difficult step to take. However, once we begin, we soon find that we start to move into the flow of the activity; our thinking improves and our motivation levels soar. Given this, decide today that you will allow yourself 11 minute chunks of time to begin the activity you have been procrastinating on. Simply set the alarm clock for 11 minutes and absorb yourself within your task or activity fully and completely without distracting your mind with other matters for the full 11 minutes. When your alarm clock sounds, simply turn it off and walk away from the task. Take a short break of 11 minutes, and then return to the task for another 11 minute cycle, and so forth.

As you work your way through this process you may find that your motivation levels suddenly begin to soar, and this will entice you to stick with your task or activity for longer than the allocated 11 minutes. And this is of course fine. If you are motivated to stay with the task for longer than 11 minutes than by all means do so. Another interesting psychological event that occurs throughout this process, is that during the 11 minute break, your unconscious mind actually goes to work searching for solutions and answers to help you accomplish this task successfully. This is the main reason why your motivation levels will begin to soar to higher peaks each time you cycle through the 11 minute rule. Try it, and you may be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Motivational Maintenance Strategies

Our motivations are very fragile things, that can easily change with the tides and be taken away by the unpredictable winds that life blows in our direction. Given this, it is important to understand that unless we work on building and growing our skills as a self-motivator over the long-term, that we will simply struggle to stay within this resourceful and productive state when unexpected challenges and setbacks arise. Within this segment branch of the IQ Matrix we will briefly touch on some of the key strategies, tools, skills and characteristics that you must cultivate within yourself in order to keep you motivated when the chips are down.

Develop a Set of Simplified Life Skills

In order to keep your motivation levels high at all times, it helps to master a set of “Life Simplification” skills that will allow you to manage your daily tasks and actions more effectively. These skills will not only improve your efficiency, but will also help to remove boredom, overwhelm and low self-esteem. They will improve your focus, confidence and direction, while providing you with the tools and resources you need to effectively break through the persisting cycles of procrastination that can at times creep back into our lives.

Time Management

Will assist you to better manage the tasks and activities related to your goals and objectives. When you feel in control of your time, your motivation levels naturally soar and create the momentum you need to effectively deal with the challenges and obstacles that stand in your way. The skill of time management will also help you to counter the effects of stress, worry, anxiety, overwhelm and frustration – which all lead to different forms of procrastination. For a thorough analysis, read the Keys to Effective Time Management.

Organization & Systemization

These two skills are natural outcroppings of time management. They involve taking the time to organize, arrange, simplify, and systemize your tasks, activities, resources, tools and networks of support in such a way that will boost your motivation and productivity. When you design your work and study environment in such a way that will assist you to become more efficient and proficient in your daily actions, than you will naturally find that your confidence levels begin to grow, and this likewise leads to a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that brings forth higher levels of motivation. Given this, take some time today to learn a little more about methods and strategies you could use to organize and systematize your environment that will naturally enhance your levels of motivation. We will discuss the topic of organization and systemization in further detail in a future Mind Map. 

Cultivate Motivational Characteristics

It is important to cultivate the following 5 key characteristics into your psychology and daily actions if you seek to grow and expand your levels of motivation beyond their current levels.

Enthusiasm

It is very difficult to procrastinate when you are enthusiastic about the task or activity you are undertaking. Enthusiasm is naturally built upon the foundations presented within this post.

How can you instill a sense of enthusiasm into your activities?

Discipline

When you are disciplined and committed to the task at hand, you naturally create an aura of importance around this activity, which essentially leads to higher levels of motivation.

In what ways can you raise your levels of discipline and commitment? We discussed some strategies on how to go about doing this within the Human Needs section of this post.

Determination

Determination is the biological child of “enthusiasm” and “discipline”. When you are determined to complete a task no matter what obstacles or challenges stand in your way, than you naturally instill the emotion of motivation into your psyche. Your determination unleashes a “Never Give Up, Never Quit“attitude that creates unstoppable momentum and drive as you move forward towards the achievement of your goals and objectives. To instill determination into your daily actions, you must establish high importance goals that move you emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically. The more reasons you create in your mind for attaining these goals, the higher the level of determination you will cultivate within your psyche.

How many ways can you find to dramatically enhance your levels of determination?

Responsibility

When we take full responsibility for our daily life decisions and actions, we naturally instill a deep connection with the tasks we are working on. We no longer blame outside circumstances, people or events, and we no longer make excuses or feel sorry for ourselves. Instead, we bring forth a quiet controlled intentional focus and motivation, that naturally permeates all our tasks and activities with a sense of purpose and confidence that our outcomes rest completely and securely within our hands. Responsibility is the key, and it will set you free from the cycles of procrastination.

How will you begin today by taking responsibility for all your tasks and activities?

Optimism

Without optimism there can be no motivation. Have you heard of anyone being moved and motivated by their pessimistic words or perspectives? Optimism is the key to life long motivation that will help you to move mountains and part the oceans. It is an absolutely essential component that supports all other characteristics of motivation, and builds upon all the qualities, techniques and strategies discussed within this post. We will discuss the fundamentals of a positive mental attitude in a future Mind Map.

Reward Your Accomplishments

As previously discussed, rewards make up one of the essential components that go into creating unstoppable motivation. In order to encourage ongoing long-term motivation, you must take some time to put a rewards system into place, that will “gift” you with consistent little pleasures as you step closer towards the attainment of your goals and objectives. Work on presenting yourself with small and large rewards that will help you to maintain high levels of motivation for both short and long-term goals. We will discuss the Rewards Process in further detail another time.

Schedule Days Off

Finally, in order to keep you motivation levels at their peak, it is important to schedule regular days off throughout the month and year allowing you to separate yourself from your daily repetitive tasks and activities. These days can be used for periods of relaxation, for planning, goal setting or simply just for thinking and reflection. Their purpose is to keep your batteries charged and refreshed for the psychological challenges of procrastination that may squeeze their way back into your life when you least expect them.

Final Thoughts

Procrastination is very much like a “human bear trap” that unexpectedly subdues our actions and behaviors and prevents us from moving forward in productive ways. It is in other ways very much like an exotic drug that gently yet purposefully draws us into its web of temporary relief and pleasure – minimizing uncomfortable feelings and pushing us further down the rabbit hole. Yes, procrastination is indeed a very dangerous and alluring habit that shatters long-term dreams, hopes and ambitions – eating away at the heart of our passions one small chunk at a time. Yet, given all of this, procrastination is also an illusion of the mind, as it is “only how we make it out to be”, how we perceive ourselves, others and the events and circumstances pertaining to our lives. Breaking free of illusions requires both an awareness and understanding of its makeup. Having read this post, you now have both firmly entrenched within your mind. The one remaining element that is now missing is the act of implementing what you know and progressively positioning yourself away From Procrastination and into Instant Motivation.

Leo recently posted a great article about motivation on Zen Habits. It goes into detail breaking down strategies and techniques that we can utilize to motivate ourselves to achieve any goal or objective. The article is highly recommended as it expands on some of the concepts and ideas presented within this post.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have used any of these motivational strategies or would like to share a personal experience about how you overcame procrastination, than please feel free to comment below.

Spotlight on the MasterMind Matrix

The process of Procrastination & Motivation are important and indispensable components of the MasterMind Matrix.

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The MasterMind Matrix is a Psychological Chart of Personal Success and Achievement. It is used as an effective Self-Coaching tool that will help guide you through the personal obstacles, setbacks and limitations that may stand in your way as you progress towards the attainment of your goals and objectives in the field of academics, business, career, sports, or life in general.

Each IQ Matrix Mind Map that is available through this website represents a single cell fragment of the MasterMind Matrix. For more information and images, visit the MasterMind Matrix page.

Free Articles & Online Resources

Here are a number of highly recommended free articles and online resources that will further help expand your understanding about this topic:

• Beat Procrastination by Getting Rid of Your Have Tos @ Litemind
• 12 Tools to Recover from Procrastination and Get Things Done @ Practical Personal Development
• Get off Your Butt – 16 Ways to Get Motivated when You’re in a Slump @ Zen Habits
• 4 Reasons Why We Procrastinate @ Positivity Blog
• 25 Simple Ways to Motivate Yourself @ Positivity Blog
• 7 Ways to Wake Up Motivated @ I Need Motivation
• 6 Ways to Motivate Yourself at Work @ I Need Motivation
• 22 of the Best Motivational Videos Online Free @ Change Your Thoughts
• Another 22 of the Best Motivational Videos Online Free @ Change Your Thoughts
• 16 Powerful Tips to Overcome Laziness @ Life Optimizer
• 15 Proven Tactics to Fire Up Enthusiasm @ Life Optimizer
• 7 Can’t Miss Ways to Beat the Procrastination Habit @ Life Optimizer
• A Quick Way to Overcome Procrastination @ Ririan Project
• 20 Procrastination Hacks @ Scott H Young
• 4 Reasons Why We Procrastinate @ Slow Down Fast
• Motivational Tips to Hack Your Day @ Lifehack
• 8 Tips to Create a Day to Recharge Your Motivation @ Lifehack
• Motivate Yourself Without Hard Deadlines @ Pick the Brain
• 14 Ways to Procrastinate Productively @ Pick the Brain
• 3 Rules to Fight Procrastination @ Personal Development Blog
• How to Stop Procrastination and Get Things Done @ The Daily Mind
• How to Turn Any iPod into a Motivational Timer @ Persistence Unlimited
• The Procrastination Flowchart @ My Million Dollar Year
• 5 Scenarios Where Procrastination is a Must @ Lesson In Life
• 11 Practical Ways to Jump Out of a Lazy Rut @ Practical Personal Development
• How to Stay Motivated without Wax & Wane @ Pick the Brain
• 20 Strategies to Defeat the Urge to do Useless Tasks @ Zen Habits
• How to Get Moving & Stop Procrastinating @ Dumb Little Man
• Overcome Procrastination Using Self Talk @ WikiHow
• 11 Ways to Cure Someday Syndrome @ ZenHabits

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Introduction

In a previous post we discussed the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning. Although this was quite a comprehensive analysis of how one should approach learning, it however did leave out some important steps and fundamentals that are necessary in helping you Accelerate Your Learning Potential. As a result, I have prepared a post that breaks down some of those study principles in a little more detail and from a different perspective. Today we will be looking at how you can utilize Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Skills to further your learning in potentially surprising ways.

The Multi-Sensory Study Skills Mind Map will focus on identifying your 3 primary sensory methods of learning as well as looking at specific strategies and tactics that you can utilize immediately and incorporate into your Study Regime. Along the way we will also briefly touch upon how to utilize effective questioning methods in order to Accelerate Your Learning Potential to even deeper and more profound levels.

Some of the study tools and methods discussed within this post do crossover with the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning, however I will attempt to present them in a new light and from a slightly different angle and perspective. I am hopeful that by the end you will have a very thorough grasp and understanding of this material and you will be able to utilize it to dramatically improve your personal study habits and skills in surprising ways.

Learning through the Senses

Most of us go through our academic years without fully utilizing our potential as intelligent and creative human beings. We are all gifted with the ability to learn and absorb new pieces of information in so many surprising and profound ways. However, most of us never fully realize this, and therefore struggle with ineffective means and methods of learning that lead to strong feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. If you have ever struggled to find the creative spark that would propel you towards new learnings and understandings, than it could mean that your approach to learning has been somewhat ineffective, and has lead you down the path of frustration and procrastination. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix you will discover that the doors to learning are always wide open and accessible. There is a means and ways to learn any type of information or subject as long as you are aware – and utilize – effective multi-sensory learning strategies that will help you to Accelerate Your Learning Potential.

The Process of Remembering

How we choose to think at any given moment in time is as important as the learning strategies we choose to use. Learning studies have consistently shown us that when we approach learning from a creative perspective that involves more than one of our sensory organs, that we can profoundly enhance our retention and recall of information. In fact, did you know that on average you will only remember 20% of what you read, 30% of what you hear, 40% of what you see, 50% of what you say, and 60% of what you do. Of course this will somewhat vary from person-to-person depending on their sensory learning preferences, however as a general outline, it seems to be pretty accurate.

What these results are actually telling us, is that the more we involve ourselves interactively with the information we are learning, the greater amount of information we will retain and hold onto over an extended period of time. “Reading” is on the bottom of this list as it requires little involvement. However, “doing” is at the top of the list with 60% retention because it is a multi-sensory activity that utilizes many sensory cues in order to stimulate the brain in creative ways, thusly enhancing our retention and Accelerating Learning Potential.

If we were to incorporate all of these methods (reading, listening, seeing, saying and doing) into the learning process, than you may surprisingly find that your retention levels shoot into the stratosphere at 90%. And it all has to do with your approach to Multi-Sensory Learning.

Types of Learners

We have 5 physical senses and a mysterious 6th sense that can also be utilized for learning. However, more about this another time. Your sense of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste are critical when it comes to Accelerating Your Learning Potential. Each sensory cue within itself can dramatically enhance your learning experience, and provide you with extra support that will improve your memory and recall of information. Science has shown us time and again that we never actually forget anything that comes through our 5 sensory organs. These memories are intrinsically ingrained into our psyche at a deep unconscious level. In fact, this is why under hypnosis many people find that sensory memories lying dormant for decades suddenly come to the forefront as through they just occurred yesterday. These types of memories are usually very vivid because they are being experienced in multi-sensory ways. The person with the memory can see, hear, feel, taste and smell the experience from a wide variety of angles and perspectives. And within this lies the key to your success as a learner. For the purpose of this discussion, we will only briefly take a look at the 3 most utilized senses that will help to improve your study skills. You will naturally have a preference for one sensory learning method over the others. Identify which one it is and approach your learning by focusing on this sensory cue to begin with. Only once you have a good understanding and grasp of the topic area should you vary up your studies and begin focusing on alternate methods that incorporate the other 2 primary sensory organs. Here is a brief description of the 3 main sensory cues to get you started:

Visual Learners

These types of learners enjoy using their eyes to learn and remember pieces of information. They are very “visually” oriented individuals, thinking in pictures, colors, and shapes. They enjoy visualizing and utilizing their imaginations to think about and recall the information they are learning. Are you a visual learner?

Auditory Learners

These types of learners enjoy using their ears to learn and remember pieces of information. They are very “listening” oriented individuals, thinking in sounds, music, and tones. They enjoy listening to audio recordings and utilizing their voice in order to think about and recall the information they are learning. Are you an auditory learner?

Physical / Kinesthetic Learners

These types of learners enjoy using their feelings to learn and remember pieces of information. They are very “physically” oriented individuals, thinking in shades of emotion and through physical movement and involvement. They enjoy contemplating and role playing aspects of the information they are learning. Are you a physical kinesthetic learner?

Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Tactics

Advanced Multi-Sensory learning is very much a creative journey where you naturally identify your strengths and weaknesses that will better assist you in selecting the learning methods and strategies that will best suit your personality and learning style. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix, we will delve into the intricate specifics and details of the Multi-Sensory Learning study process. The techniques and strategies presented here will provide you with a variety of approaches you can take when learning your study materials.

Keep in mind that every method will not be ideal to your learning strategy, however it is important to think flexibly and approach every subject and topic you are learning with an open frame of mind that tackles every piece of material in a new way – incorporating as many of your learning sensory organs as possible. Again, as mentioned within the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning, please Think Outside the Box as you are reading these strategies. Each of them are presented from my personal angle and perspective, and they can easily be adjusted and tweaked to suit your personal preferences and learning style. Imagination is the key, and a commitment to efficiency and effectiveness are what you need in order to move you forward towards Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Make Your Information Memorable

In order to get the most out of your multi-sensory study time, it is absolutely critical that you follow a few simple guidelines that will help you to expand your focus, awareness and memory of the information you are learning. Here is a brief overview of each of these guidelines as they pertain to the 3 primary sensory learning styles:

Visual Suggestions

When learning through a visual means and while incorporating visual learning strategies – discussed a little further within this post – it is important to ensure that your visual learning experience is bright, close, colorful and funny. As visual learners we naturally remember and recall information easily that is designed in a memorable and vividly imaginative format. As you are working through the visual learning strategies presented within this post, make sure that you incorporate brightness, closeness, color and humor into your study regime. This will not only improve each of the study strategies you have chosen to pursue, but will also dramatically enhance your memory and recall of information. As a final thought, while you are working through the visual study strategies, ask yourself the following questions:

How can I make this information brighter so that it stands out more readily in my mind?

How can I bring this information closer so that I am completely engrossed within its influence?

How can I add more color in ways that will further enhance my memory and recall?

How can I create and build humor into this information, thusly making it standout in my minds-eye?

Auditory Suggestions

When learning through an auditory means and while incorporating auditory learning strategies – discussed a little further within this post – it is important to ensure that your auditory learning experience is funny, loud, and unique. As auditory learners we naturally remember and recall information easily that comes across in a memorable and vividly unique way. As you are working through the auditory learning strategies presented within this post, make sure that you incorporate volume, uniqueness of sound, and humor into your study regime. This will not only improve each of the study strategies you have chosen to pursue, but will also dramatically enhance your memory and recall of information. As a final thought, while you are working through the auditory study strategies, ask yourself the following questions:

How can I add humorous sound effects, music and voices to the information that I am learning in order to remember it more readily?

In what creative way can I increase the tone and volume of this strategy in such a fashion that will enhance my memory and recall of this information?

How can I make the sound effects, music and voices unique in such a way that it automatically enhances my thinking and awareness?

Physical Suggestions

When learning through a physical means and while incorporating kinesthetic learning strategies – discussed a little further within this post – it is important to ensure that your physical learning experience has unique feelings associated with it, and is of a high emotional intensity. As physical / kinesthetic learners we naturally remember and recall information easily that comes across in a memorable and vividly unique way. As you are working through the physical learning strategies presented within this post, make sure that you get all your emotions involved within the process, and that you seek out unique and memorable feelings that will expand your thinking and awareness. This will not only improve each of the study strategies you have chosen to pursue, but will also dramatically enhance your memory and recall of information. As a final thought, while you are working through the physical study strategies, ask yourself the following questions:

How can I add a greater amount of emotional intensity into my study time?

How can I enhance the positive emotional tension of this learning strategy in such a way that will allow me to better remember the information I am studying?

What kind of unique experience and feeling can I draw from this strategy that will further enhance my memory and recall?

Physical Sensory Learning Strategies

The strategies presented here will help you to zero in on, and enhance your physical / kinesthetic learning ability. If this is your favored learning approach, than you should concentrate 70% of your study efforts utilizing the strategies presented here. The other 30% should be spent on incorporating some of the strategies contained within the other 2 sensory learning modes.

Walking for Improved Memory & Recall

As a physical learner, you naturally favor movement over sitting or standing while you are learning. In order to use this to your advantage you must effectively incorporate some form of movement throughout your study regime. Walking while you are reading your notes is a good place to start. This naturally helps you to zone out all outside distractions and focus in on the material you are studying. However, you must take care to make your movements steady, moderately paced and repetitive.

For example, you will learn very effectively while lightly walking, however your learning curve will drop dramatically the moment you begin to increase your pace. You must find a comfort zone, where your breath is comfortable and is perfectly aligned to the rhythm of your body and the movements you are making. If you are reading aloud, make sure that this is also done within a rhythmic pattern that is consistent with your movements. Our bodies are naturally drawn to rhythm on a subconscious level. This is why it is paramount that you create a comfortable walking / moving rhythm for an extended period of time while you are studying. Over time, this movement will naturally become anchored to your psyche in such a way that it will automatically trigger your body and mind to enter a deep and profound learning state that will allow you to learn and recall information in rapid succession.

Other movements that may also be helpful include spinning slowly on a chair, rocking back and forth on your seat, or gently jumping up and down on a trampoline. In the end it doesn’t matter what method you use, as long as it is consistent, rhythmic and naturally moves you into a deeply profound learning state.

Be Dramatic in Your Approach

As a physical learner, you will learn far more rapidly if you approach your studies in a dramatic humorous fashion. You should essentially see yourself as a slapstick comedian piecing the information you are learning in a memorable and unique way that will naturally stimulate your mind and enhance your learning ability. Use dramatic bodily actions to act out the information you are studying, utilize props and other tools to further enhance the realism of your dramatic performances, and also consider recruiting a partner who can support you within these roles. Your imagination is your only limitation, and your acting skills are absolutely irrelevant when it comes to winning your first Academy Award

Role Play the Topic Under Study

Role playing what you are studying in ways that focuses you on teaching, debating or discussing the topic with others is an ideal way to learn. As a physical learner you become very emotionally involved in the everyday actions you take and decisions you make. As such, it is of primary importance that you incorporate these same feelings and emotions into your study regime. Getting into a heated emotional discussion with someone about the topic you are studying, will help enhance and expand important concepts within your mind.

Teaching another person about the topic you are studying will assist you in gaining new insights and understandings from a perspective you may have never considered before. In this situation you will be forced to physically explain concepts and ideas in such a way that will help a novice fully grasp the topic under question. And finally, debating your topic with someone will present you with emotional as well as logical challenges that may stimulate new avenues of thinking in unexpected directions. No matter which of these methods you choose, it is important that you incorporate a little bit of drama, and completely lose yourself within the experience that you have created.

Utilize a Study Partner

All the above physical learner study skills can be enhanced and improved upon by hiring the “services” of a Study Partner who is able to bring out raw emotional feelings and experiences from within your heart. Simply hire them to help you lose yourself completely within the topic that you are studying, and their time will pay dividends with your academic success.

Auditory Sensory Learning Strategies

The strategies presented here will help you to zero in on, and enhance your auditory learning ability. If this is your favored learning approach, than you should concentrate 70% of your study efforts utilizing the strategies presented here. The other 30% should be spent on incorporating some of the strategies contained within the other 2 sensory learning modes.

The Musical Method for Perfect Recall

As an auditory learner, your primary form of learning comes through your ears. We discussed a little earlier on how important rhythm is for effective and ongoing learning. If you are able to find a rhythm and stick to it for an extended period of time, you will enter what is known as your Learning ZONE where every piece of information you take into your mind is meticulously cataloged for quick and easy recall when you need it most. Learning becomes effortless and easy within this ZONE, however in order to get into this Zone you must first find your rhythm. Because you are an auditory learner, the best sense of rhythm is found within music. The right type of music with the ideal pitch, tone, volume and beat, will automatically trigger this deep and profound state of learning.

Now, in order to determine this ideal piece of music, you must pay attention to the everyday sounds that help you to ZONE OUT of reality and into a state of being that transcends the physical world. If you a true auditory learner, than you probably know what I mean. Once you have found this piece of music or rhythm, than it is your duty – from that moment on – to utilize it as a background study tool throughout the process of learning.

As a final thought, whatever piece of information you choose to learn, must be processed and communicated within this specific rhythm. This means that if you are reading something aloud, that you must find ways to articulate yourself within the rhythm of the music you have chosen for your studies. Music without any words is probably the best alternative. Or a repetitive song in another language may also do the trick here. The key is to lose yourself within the rhythm and beat of the melody.

In the future, as you continue to progress with this method, you will find that every time you hear this song or melody it will naturally and instantly trigger you into a deep learning state – just like infants who are entranced by the sound of their mother’s heart. Rhythm is the key.

Speak UP & Remember

As an auditory learner, you remember and recall information best when it is spoken rather than just read or visualized. As such, you must always incorporate your voice into your learning regime. This could simply mean reading your notes aloud, paraphrasing what you have learned into a microphone, or simply talking to yourself about the subject material you are studying. As you talk to yourself, actually stimulate a conversation between your Curious Mind and Logical Genius Mind – who knows all the answers. Your Curious Mind will be asking all the most insightful and thought provoking questions – about the material you are studying – aloud for all to hear.

Once the questions have been posed, your “Sage Like” Logical Genius Mind will do its very best to answer these questions in the most logical and intellectually analytical manner. However, your Curious Mind is always very curious indeed, and so the questions never letup and the conversation just keeps moving deeper and deeper into the topic under question. It’s somewhat like Bart Simpson sitting in the back seat of his family car, continuously asking Homer Simpson “Are we there yet… Are we there yet?” Now, even though Homer lost his patience after only a few questions, your Logical Genius Mind must always be within it’s ZONE, thinking of as many creative and thought provoking answers that will hopefully one day, quieten your Curious Mind’s unending curiosity Have fun with this, and you will gain a plethora of new insights and understandings that you may not have expected.

Digital Recordings for the Digital Mind

Since you are already expressing your thoughts aloud, it just naturally makes sense to digitally capture your voice and listen to it at a later time. As an auditory learner you will find great benefit listening to your own voice. It’s very much like your subconscious mind talking back to you and helping you to understand the subject your are studying in great depth and detail. However, don’t just record your voice, actually go about the process in a creative manner. For instance, record your voice over the rhythmic music that you identified above.

Another example is to record your voice in a way that will lull you into a deep meditative resting trance. This is best achieved when you utilize a background beat and a low tone and pitch. Slowing down the pace of your recording slightly, may also help integrate the information you are trying to learn at a deeper and more profound level. The key here again is to be creative and to thoroughly know and understand your rhythm and natural habitual tendencies of learning.

Also bear in mind that you could use different types of recordings that you listen to throughout your day while on the bus, in the car, riding a bike, taking a shower, or just as you nod off to sleep. The different recordings you create should effectively mimic the rhythm and energy levels that you will naturally be feeling throughout that specific part of your day, while you are listening to the recording. Initially this might seem like a lot of work, however, once you have established how you will be going about things, it will naturally all fall into place. Again use your imagination, and have fun with this process.

Karaoke Your Way to Accelerated Learning

This is all about creating rhymes and jingles to a melody and beat that is familiar and pleasant to your ears. Actually go out and purchase your favorite songs in their Karaoke versions. Prepare your most important notes in advance (these are the notes that are critical to your understanding of the subject materials) and have them ready to read in front of you as you begin playing the Karaoke music. As the music progresses, make adjustments and align your notes in such a way that will naturally blend in with the rhythm, verses, chorus and beat of the karaoke song you have chosen. Yes, I actually mean taking your study notes and inserting them into the chorus, verses and bridge components of the karaoke melody.

Once you have finished, simply take your study notes and stand in front of a mirror and perform your song and dance with the new lyrics that you have just created. Go ahead, have some fun… don’t be bashful, there’s probably no one watching This could well be one of the most effective and powerful auditory learning methods for Accelerating Your Learning Potential. It works extremely effectively because yet again you are bringing the notes you are studying into a familiar rhythm that is naturally appreciated and deeply ingrained within your psyche. Later, when it comes to writing up your examinations, see if you can stop yourself from singing your way to the top of your class

Visual Sensory Learning Strategies

The strategies presented here will help you to zero in on, and enhance your visual learning ability. If this is your favored learning approach, than you should concentrate 70% of your study efforts utilizing the strategies presented here. The other 30% should be spent on incorporating some of the strategies contained within the other 2 sensory learning modes.

“Post IT” for Improved Memory & Recall

As a visual learner, you look for every visual cue you can find in order to help you remember key pieces of information. A great method to do this throughout the day is to utilize “Post IT” notes. Purchase a variety of colored markers and write out key important notes (with associating and visually stimulating pictures) that will standout in your mind. Once they have been created, simply stick them up everywhere!

Stick them up next to your computer, on the refrigerator, kitchen table, bathroom mirror, next to your bed, around your shower, in your car, and anywhere else that you can think of that will keep important visual cues at the forefront of your mind at all times. This is a very simple strategy, however, for key important pieces of information it could well be one of the most effective techniques you use to Accelerate Your Learning Potential.

Visualize Yourself Utilizing Information

The imagination of a visual learner is one of their greatest assets when it comes to learning. Your imagination holds the key to unbelievable insights, understandings and reflections that could very well make a significant difference to your outcomes. Simply spend time each and every day physically visualizing in pictures the topic you have been studying. There is a means and way to turn every topic into a profound visual experience in your mind’s-eye, you must however be open to the possibilities and utilize your creativity effectively to bring these images to life. While visualizing these scenarios in your mind, make sure that they are big, funny, colorful and bright in ways that will assist you with better memory recall. Finally, adding dramatic and memorable movement to your visualizations will further enhance the learning process.

Please remember, not to allow your imagination to limit the possibilities here. Boring and dull images in your mind will simply not be remembered as clearly as exciting, fun and colorful images will. Think about how you can perform this visualization in a creative and effective manner that will leave a lasting impression on your mind. Maybe you could turn everything into your favorite cartoon or movie? Or you could use famous actors and characters to perform in your visual experience. You could even have animals and trees acting out all the parts of this visual journey through the topic you are studying. Or simply put yourself into a fantasy world where anything goes. They key again is to make it memorable, entertaining and fun.

Create Mental Storyboards

This is closely tied into the process of visualization, however it involves creating mental storyboards within your mind as you progress through the learning process. Think of a mental storyboard as very much like something that writers create for a movie or television series before it is filmed. For them the process involves drawing how they imagine each scene of a movie unfolding in a comic book type of format. This works quite effectively as it puts the bigger picture into perspective and also opens up new insights and understandings about how the story should unfold. For the purpose of Accelerating Your Learning, mental storyboards will assist you in creating an ongoing “picture” story within your mind about the information you are studying in such a way that will help you to better understand the topic you are studying.

Simply begin by reading a paragraph, page or a topic one section at a time. At the end of this section, close your eyes for a moment and create a snapshot picture of the topic that is vivid and memorable. Make this picture bright, colorful and all encompassing. Focus on the image for a few moments, and then store it away in your mind. To assist your memory further with this process, simply jot down a rough sketch of the mental picture on a piece of paper and bookmark your text or notes with it. The next time you move through your notes you will come across this picture and it will bring back a flood of memories about the page or topic under question. Again, it is very important to use a “free-flexing” imagination that will allow you to think creatively about the topic you are studying.

Create Intertwining Flow Charts & Mind Maps

As a visual learner you very much enjoy thinking in interconnecting systems and processes. You naturally enjoy seeing associations and connections between different objects, which helps you to better understand the material you are studying. Utilize Flow Charts and Mind Maps in order to connect different aspects of a topic together in creative ways that make sense in your mind.

When I read a topic and try and create a Mind Map from this information, I don’t usually follow the topic structure presented within the text. Instead, I create my own connections bringing together seemingly unrelated pieces of information into a cohesive format that makes sense to me. As a result I wouldn’t suggest that you stick to the structure of the topics or subject you are studying. Create your own headings, sub-headings, major and minor points, interconnecting them together in ways that will enhance your understanding about this topic.

Create Flashy Pocket Cards

Similar to Post IT notes, it is handy to utilize Pocket Cards as reminder tools that will help you to keep the most important points at the forefront of your mind at all times. This is especially important as you are walking around and about. Whenever you get a moment of time to spare, you can always refer to them, and therefore keep your mind and attention on the pieces of information that are most important to you. Read more about this process in the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning.

Create Diagrams & Pictures of the Material

If you are artistically inclined, than this may very well be the most effective study strategy that will help you to Accelerate Your Learning Potential. Simply take out your colored pencils, crayons, pens, highlighters and makers, and draw quick sketches of the material you are learning. You are effectively creating a physical storyboard of each topic, and not just a mental storyboard (as was discussed within the mental storyboard section). Again, be creative with your approach and utilize themes, characters, cartoon heroes, or simple stick figures. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as it sticks and ingrains itself into your psyche.

Finally, In order to further expand your understanding and awareness about the material you are studying, it may be helpful to recreate the diagrams, pictures, cartoons and graphs presented within the book in your own unique way.

Read like a Child in a Playful & Creative Way

Finally, visual learners will find it helpful to interact with their reading material in a childlike manner. Do you remember the days when you were young and you drew pretty pictures, shapes, and lines on your bedroom wall? Well, this is somewhat the same method you should be using to help you learn new pieces of information. The next time you sit down to read a book, create a process and method of remembering that you will utilize from that moment on. Simply develop a process and system for your scribbles, underlines, highlights, colors, symbols, arrows and line linkages.

Everything must have a consistent reason and purpose for being that defines the way you learn and study. Initially it might take a little time to develop the process that you will use, as you must decide how and under what specific conditions you will utilize each of these written methods. However as you gain experience it will become one of your primary tools that will help to Accelerate Your Learning Potential.

Logical Study Suggestions

Here are some additional Study Tools and strategies that were left out of the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning.

Learn in Logical Steps

This is pretty much the way that most of us are taught to learn, and it is in fact a very effective means of learning new pieces of information that you may not be too familiar with. Essentially we must all begin the learning process by taking simple and proactive logical steps through the topic we are studying.

Learn out of Sequence

Once you become more or less familiar with a subject, you will be ready to begin learning out of sequence. Learning out of sequence is incredibly important when it comes to your examinations. During examinations you will find that you are being confronted with the same topics in a strange ordered sequence that just doesn’t make sense. If you do not adapt quickly to this “Right Hook” than you will suffer the consequences and go down for the count. Instead, prepare yourself for the unexpected by learning the material you are studying out of its regular sequence and order. This can be achieved by reading the material back-to-front, by dipping in and out of chapters, and by simply reordering your notes in such a way that creates momentary confusion.

The important point here is that you must not allow your brain to become comfortable with a standard pattern of learning the information you are studying. Instead stimulate and challenge your brain in unexpected ways by studying out of sequence. It will most sincerely thank you when the time comes to do your examinations. In many ways, it is much like an athlete training for a competition. They won’t only train one way, but rather will put their body through a variety of workouts to ensure that they are ready for anything that comes their way when the day of the competition or event is upon them. As a final thought, you may choose to separate your notes onto individual Flash Cards that can be shuffled before beginning the learning process.

Focus on Small Chunks of Information

It is easy to become overwhelmed very quickly with topics that are at first difficult to grasp or understand. In such cases think about your topic as a large chunk of information. This large chunk is made up of smaller chunks, and those smaller chunks are composed of even smaller chunks and so forth. Take time to break your topic down to the smallest possible chunks you can manage. Once this has been successfully achieved, simply isolate each chunk into Easy, Intermediate, and Difficult to remember categories.

Begin by first tackling the chunks that are within your EASY category. Take them apart and piece them back together utilizing any of the sensory study skills you have been introduced to within this post. Once completed, do the same for the Intermediate chunks. And finally, tackle the Difficult chunks in the same fashion as well. You may very well find that by having tackled each of the prior chunks successfully that you will now have enough knowledge, understanding and experience to also tackle the Difficult chunks with relative ease. Learning is a process, however it must be a process that you control, and not have IT control you.

Summarize What Know About Topic

This is a very simple and a very much overlooked learning strategy. After learning a topic segment, simply take some time to either summarize your topic on paper, role play it, or record it. Identifying what you NOW know about the topic, will dramatically enhance your long-term memory and recall of the information under study. Please do not neglect this process as it is of primary importance if you seek to Accelerate Your Learning Potential.

Learning through Effective Questioning

Knowing how to ask effective, solution focused and stimulating questions will propel your knowledge and understanding about any subject into the stratosphere. Effective questioning strategies are important in order to enhance and advance any aspect of your life. And when it comes to learning; this also could not be further from the truth. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix you will discover how simple and carefully thought through questions can literally open the doors to new learnings, profound understandings, insights and experiences that can dramatically Accelerate Your Learning Potential, knowledge about a subject, and ability. The questions you utilize are a natural compliment to your multi-sensory learning strategies as they provide you with solution focused methods that will open your understanding and help you further expand your thinking and awareness about the information you are studying.

The Purpose of Effective Questioning

Asking effective questions focused on solutions and understandings naturally helps to stimulate confidence, improves thinking ability, creates curiosity and interest, and overall helps to enhance the learning process in unimaginable ways. In fact, the bottom line is that without questions, you have absolutely no hope of becoming an effective learner. Questions are in essence the keys that will open doors of knowledge and understanding that would normally be hidden from your view. Take them seriously, ask them religiously, and you will soar the heights of academic greatness.

Questions Separate the Genius from the Masses

Yes, this indeed is true. In fact it could be the most important key fundamental ability that separates a highly intelligent person or student from the rest. Through the process of asking the right kinds of questions, you will naturally stimulate the brain to think in unique and creative ways that will expand the possibilities and go beyond fixed beliefs that riddle the mind and limit its potential. Many beliefs that we hold within our minds are simply there because we fail to pose the questions that will break us free of their stranglehold over us. The same applies to learning.

If ever you are stuck and unable to break through an obstacle along your path towards successfully learning a subject or topic, than simply take timeout, separate yourself from your study environment and on a piece of paper jot down as many insightful and thought provoking questions you can think of that will expand your thinking and awareness about the topic you are studying. These questions must be stated positively and focused on “solution thinking” that will help you to find answers to the learning roadblocks that you are currently facing. If while undertaking this exercise, you find that you become stuck on a specific question, than simply take out another piece of paper and begin asking questions about “that question” to further stimulate your creativity and thinking ability.

Over time, as you become more proficient, you may miraculously find that your intelligence has suddenly skyrocketed as you seem to be coming up with answers, insights and new ideas without having to breakaway from your studies in order to write out these questions. Try this strategy, and you may be pleasantly surprised how effective it can be in Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Key Questions that will Get you Started

In essence, you should create a list of questions and keep them beside you at all times throughout the study process. This list of questions must be very generic in nature, and should focus on areas that will expand your thinking ability about the topic and subject you are studying. Ideally you should have a list of problem solving questions, creative thinking questions, and critically insightful questions that you can refer to at a moments notice to help you breakout of the learning slumps that affect even the most hardy of learners. To get you started here are a few questions that will stimulate your thinking and motivation:

How can I apply this information?

In what specific way can this information be best applied into my life?

How best can I put this information into my own words?

How must I think about this material in a creative and solution focused manner?

How can I best utilize this information within the moment?

How do all these pieces fit together when looking at the bigger picture?

Pose Thought Provoking Questions

In respect to what was discussed above, I hope that you are getting a good insight and understanding about the questioning process and how it can assist you to Accelerate Your Learning Potential. To put closure on this topic for the moment, consider asking questions that naturally focus you in on key and important points of the information you are studying. Ask questions that help you to validate the material under question. Ask questions that assist you in thinking outside the box by looking at possible assumptions and insights that may not have been originally evident. And finally, ask questions that help move and motivate you to learn at deeper and more profound levels.

Utilize Curiosity Throughout Your Studies

Finally, I just want to point out how important it is that you utilize these questioning strategies throughout your study regime. This actually means asking specific generic and topic related questions before you begin studying, during your studies and even after you have completed your studies. The questions that follow your studies are expansive learning questions that will help you to gain new insights and understanding into the personal learning process. You can utilize the answers you obtain from these questions to further Accelerate and Improve your study methods and skills in the future.

Final Thoughts

Our sensory experiences are magnificent things that we must cultivate and utilize to further our academic success at school, in business and throughout life. They are in essence tools we have been gifted with that naturally connect to our thinking brain in psychological ways that help to expand our thinking and awareness about the world and the information we are studying. In many ways, our sensory organs provide us with deep and profound insights into the intricate working of our inner minds, while assisting us with clues that will lead to further learnings and development of an accelerated nature.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have any further learning strategies and tactics that have worked for you, than please feel free to jot your thoughts down within the comments section below.

Spotlight on the MasterMind Matrix

The process of Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Skills is an important and indispensable component of the MasterMind Matrix.

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The MasterMind Matrix is a Psychological Chart of Personal Success and Achievement. It is used as an effective Self-Coaching tool that will help guide you through the personal obstacles, setbacks and limitations that may stand in your way as you progress towards the attainment of your goals and objectives in the field of academics, business, career, sports, or life in general.

Each IQ Matrix Mind Map that is available through this website represents a single cell fragment of the MasterMind Matrix. For more information and images, visit the MasterMind Matrix page.

Free Articles & Online Resources

Here are a number of highly recommended free articles and online resources that will further help expand your understanding about this topic:

• How to Setup a Killer Pre-Exam Warm-Up Ritual @ Scott H Young

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