How to remember what we learnt

constantly reading and grasping new information everyday, are we really reading and learning from what we read? Let’s find out in this article the ways we can remember what we read and learnt.

Reading, while a hobby and an important source of information to many, has not only become a necessity these days, but also an element for our progress. But constant information feeding takes us to a place where it becomes increasingly difficult to learn what we read. And even when we have read and thought about those things, we tend to forget it. But, how do we know and how do we overcome the situation and learn what we read? Let’s find out now.

Step 1. Identifying the root cause

Though, it’s easily identifiable and even annoying to not remember what we read, but we really need to know the root cause of what and why exactly we can’t learn when we are reading. Now go back to when you were reading. Take a quiz and answer these questions.

1. Were you thinking something else while reading? If yes, what were you thinking?
2. While reading were you doodling on your book or doing something else while reading?
3. Did you revise well after grapsing the concept?
4. Note down what you can recall of the concept now.
Now that you have analysed your reading method, think carefully, on the answers. If your focus while reading wasn’t on the topic, it might be an issue and a cause to not remembering and learning what you read.

step 2: tackle the issue with effective solutions

Now that you know the question of what caused you to not remember things, let’s discuss about a common issue here, that is lack of focus. While Focusing, there can be major hindrances. So now that you have identified what barred you while focusing, you may tacle the issue with some effective solutions and avoid doing it the next time you study. If focus wasn’t your issue, and yet you can’t recall what you read. Then chances are you didn’t understand the concept properly or you might have understood it, and you forgot the concept with time.

Solutions to both of them lie in simple tricks while reading.

1. Note what you read down.

2. Self-testing could be an effective method as well

3.Talk and teach your friends or even record yourself while teaching and analyse if you could explain the concept.

4. Revise at intervals and keep reading the concept after some time.

5. Use Mnemonics, relate with real time and make effective notes.

Are you really reading or just piling the information up?

To ensure you’re truly learning from a book and not just passively accumulating information, focus on active engagement. After each chapter or significant section, try summarizing the core ideas in your own words, without immediately referring back to the text. Ask yourself how the information connects to your existing knowledge or personal experiences. If the book sparks questions, write them down and seek answers. Pay attention to your emotional responses; genuine engagement often involves an emotional connection to the characters or themes. If you find yourself merely skimming or struggling to recall key details, slow down, reread, and actively interact with the material through highlighting, note-taking, or journaling. Consider discussing the book with others to gain different perspectives and solidify your understanding. Ultimately, learning occurs when you can apply the book’s insights to your own life or when it prompts a shift in your perspective, demonstrating that the information has moved beyond mere accumulation to genuine comprehension.

with all these steps, you can not only memotize concepts but think creatively. To tackle the problem in a 2 way, would increase your interest in the subject and subsequently you can understand and tell and even make concepts! Happy reading!