When I was in university, I struggled to memorise lists of theories for one particular exam. No matter how many times I read them, they wouldn’t stick.
One afternoon, out of frustration, I started sketching them – rough shapes, arrows, symbols.
That’s when everything clicked.
I started to understand. And I remembered it much better.
Years later, I came across a Time Magazine article referencing a study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.
The finding: if you want to remember something, draw it.
Drawing taps into our visual memory and creates a deeper cognitive connection.
It’s why doodles and diagrams helped us in school. And it’s a technique that can work just as well when preparing a talk.
Before your next presentation, try sketching your key points. You don’t need to be an artist.
See how it changes your recall.
It’s a small shift in preparation. But it could lead to a big shift in how well your message stays with both you and your audience.
Timeless Presenter, my new book on the principles of communication that never expire, will be released soon.
If you’d like to be notified when it’s out, you can join the early access list here.