The science of timely reminder
and you chance to win a boardgame by filling in our 5-min evaluation form
How many digits of the π (Pi) value could you remember?
Most people remember 3.14. Some say 3.1416.
Right now I could immediately recite 3.1415926, so 8 digits for me. And that’s because I was (am) a massive nerd and made myself remembered this in high school when I was in a quiz team that competed in the annual quiz championship in Hong Kong.
So how many digits could our memory hold when a person applies rigorous structure, consistent practice, and constructive feedback for decades?
Have a guess.
Now have an even higher guess.
I bet you are still way off!
A Japanese man Akira Haraguchi recited 100,000 digits of the π value in 2006! It took him 16 hours and 30 mins to say it out, with 100 percent accuracy.
Then on Pi Day 2015, Akira recited 111,701 digits!
On the other hand, a recent study tells us that an average adult forgets 3-4 things per day that they are intending to do. The number of things you forget increases further if you have to remember more things, and also the period between storing and retrieving the information is longer.
I am sure I am not the only one that consistently forgets something from the supermarket trip! That’s partly because the list is usually quite long.
(Alright this is a safe space, so yes I forgot item[s] when the list has only 3 things on it)
In the new year, Game & Learn will write more about games that are great for our memory. Right now, we just want to post a simple and effective way to help you do what you are intending to do.
Set a timely reminder!
“Timely” is a keyword here! If we set a reminder for some time in the distant future, the effect is far far FAR less than a timely reminder that sets off immediately before what you want to do.
So don’t set a reminder for going to the gym in 6 hours, but set it for when you need to get ready just in time for that spin class. Don’t just flag an email you want to reply to, but set a reminder for a suitable time that you could actually be able to immediately act on replying.
And this newsletter is our timely reminder for you! We know that many of you would have intended to fill in our evaluation form for your chance to win a free game, who wouldn’t? But Christmas is a busy time: family, boxing day sales, naps after all the food… we get it!
With the form closing in 1 day (midnight 30/12/2022), please spend 5 mins right now to give us some feedback.
If right this moment is not a good time, you know how to set better reminders now! Please put it in your phone, sometime before midnight 30/12, when you have 5 mins to spare.
With the new year coming soon, we hope this behavioral trick will help you (and your loved ones) to achieve your new year resolutions a little bit easier.
We look forward to reading all your feedback. They will improve our work, and honestly knowing Game & Learn is adding value to your life IS the only reason we keep this passion project going. 😊
Here is the link again.
Happy New Year’s Eve Eve Eve! Until next time, game more, and learn more!
Hi new readers!
If this is the first time you read our newsletter Game & Learn, welcome! This is a passion project where we recommend great games and create resources for you to teach your children and students essential life skills.
The newsletter does not generate any profit. We spend hours and hours writing each piece, hoping it will add some value to your life. Here is a list of the two series we have completed so far. We are on break until late January 2023, and we look forward to sharing more great games with you! Please make sure you subscribe to us for free; and if you share our work with your network, it would mean a lot to us. 😊
The Teamwork Series:
The Mind - An excellent, silent teamwork game
Regicide - Play anywhere with just a pack of cards!
Unlock! - An escape room in a box!
Forbidden Island - Can your team survive the sinking island?
The Communication Series:
Five Rounds - Zac calls it the greatest party game of all time
Bhonanza - You never had so much fun trading beans
Decrypto - Let’s crack some codes together
The Champion of the Wild - Where a sloth could beat a lion
Hero Quest - Epic adventure, best with your evil wizard voice