School’s back in session! For some students, that means grabbing summer textbooks and notebooks with excitement and enthusiasm. For others, classes, new notebooks, unfamiliar teachers, and endless amounts of studying can be downright stressful.
I’ve talked to kids who sit down with a textbook for three or four hours only to look up at the clock and realize they can’t remember any of it. They didn’t eat lunch with their friends; they stayed home and studied instead.
But here’s the kicker: they aren’t lazy or dumb. Most of the time, they’re just studying incorrectly.
Studying harder won’t help if you’re not studying smart.
Luckily, learning how to understand and remember what you read is a learned skill. When I started reading about learning processes, study habits, and self improvement, things finally clicked. It wasn’t about reading more or spending every waking hour with my nose in a book. It was about reading smarter.
Once you learn how your brain works, reading feels less frustrating and a lot more rewarding.
You don’t have to have perfect memory to succeed in school.
If you’ve ever read an entire chapter just to forget what it was about five minutes later, you know the feeling.
Good news: you don’t need to have photographic memory to do well on tests and quizzes.
Making a few simple changes to your study habits can help you understand more, remember things longer, and feel confident when sitting down for your next exam.
Here are eight tips you can start using to read and understand without forgetting.
8 Tips on How to Read and Understand Without Forgetting
1. Read With a Purpose
Before you crack open that book, ask yourself why you’re reading it.
Do you need to study for a quiz? Learn a difficult concept? Finish an assignment? Want to learn something new?
Knowing exactly why you need to read will give your brain purpose and direction. Don’t just read words on a page. Hunt down the information you need.
Flip to your chapter before you start reading. Preview the headings, subheadings, diagrams, and summary. This will give you a clear idea of what you’ll learn before you learn it.
Reading with purpose keeps you from spacing out or reading the same paragraph five times.
Read also: 15 Books Every Woman Needs to Read in Her Lifetime
2. Stop Trying to Memorize Word for Word
Trying to remember every sentence on the page is frustrating and pointless.
Our brains aren’t designed to memorize books and large chunks of text.
Instead of getting bogged down in details, ask yourself why you’re reading something.
What is this chapter explaining? Why is it important? How can I apply this?
If you understand the who, what, where, when, and why, remembering smaller details will come naturally.
You could think of it like decorating a house. If you try to put up curtains and towels before you build your foundation, you’ll never finish decorating (or remembering what you read).
Read also: 6 Simple Steps to Teach Your Kids to Read This Back to School Season
3. Eliminate Distractions
Trying to study with the TV blasting and Facebook popping up notifications left and right is an easy way to distract yourself.
Our brains can only focus on one thing at a time. When there’s a buzzing phone next to you, your brain keeps track of that as well.
Studying doesn’t have to take all day. In fact, many students learn better when they study with focused attention and take breaks.
Find a quiet spot to read, put your phone on silent, close extra tabs on your browser, and let your family know you’re studying.
When you’re reading, read.
Don’t forget to take breaks! Give your brain some time to rest and process what you’ve learned. This helps you remember more in the long run.
Read also: 65 Motivational Back-to-School Quotes Every Student Needs to Read
4. Take Better Notes
Copying down word for word definitions from your textbook might feel productive, but it isn’t helping you learn.
Writing down notes in your own words is much more effective.
By forcing yourself to learn something as if you’re going to teach it to someone else, you form a stronger connection with the material.
Your brain has to process what you’re reading instead of just collecting information.
Don’t overthink your notes. Use headings, keywords, bullet points, or doodle out a diagram if it helps you understand better.
When you look back at your notes, they should make sense. You don’t have to write beautiful notes. You have to write notes that you’ll understand weeks later.
Try highlighting key points instead of entire pages. The more you highlight, the less your brain will pay attention to what you highlight.
5. Teach Someone (or Yourself) What You’ve Learned
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” — Albert Einstein
Want to know if you understand something? Teach it.
Grab a friend, family member, or pretend you’re explaining this concept to your niece or nephew.
Speaking out loud helps your brain organize your thoughts. If you find yourself pausing and stumbling over what you’ve learned, go back and review the material.
There’s no such thing as wasting time on a review if you don’t understand something.
This is one of the easiest ways to practice active learning.
6. Review What You Read
Stop reading something once and expecting your brain to memorize it forever.
It’s natural for your brain to forget information over time. Reviewing what you’ve learned can help build stronger memory.
Instead of cramming the night before a test, set aside ten to fifteen minutes to review your notes from the day before.
Reviewing your notes after one day, then again a few days later, and once more a week later helps your brain retain information much longer.
Regular review also allows you to catch things you may not have fully understood days or weeks ago.
7. Take Care of Your Brain
Your brain works best when your body is healthy.
You’ll have a harder time concentrating if you’re constantly tired, dehydrated, and hungry.
Get plenty of sleep each night. Your brain organizes and stores new information while you sleep, so skipping sleep to cram more studying into the night isn’t beneficial.
Drink plenty of water, eat nutritious foods, and take breaks to move around if you’re studying for long periods of time. Getting up to stretch or take a five minute walk can help clear your mind.
8. Practice Active Reading
Reading doesn’t have to be passive.
As you read, ask yourself questions about what you’re learning. Why is this important? How can I relate to this? Can you think of an example that happened to you or someone you know?
By asking yourself questions, you’re forcing your brain to participate in what you’re reading.
Pause after reading each section and try to summarize it without looking at your book.
If you understand the main idea, you’ve most likely grasped the chapter.
If you struggle to summarize what you just read, reread that section and try again.
The more you engage with your reading, the more you’ll remember after you finish. You’ll also start to practice active reading without even thinking about it!
Conclusion
Nobody likes reading without understanding. We all hate it when we study for hours only to forget what we read as soon as we walk into the classroom.
But building a better memory isn’t about having a genius brain. It’s about using the right learning techniques and study habits.
By using these eight tips, you’ll have the advantage every time you sit down to read.
Take what you learned here and start using one or two tips. After those become habits, add a couple more. Slow, consistent improvements lead to massive results.
Like learning itself, studying is a skill. The more you practice it, the better you’ll get.
Thank you for reading!
FAQ
Why can’t I remember what I just read?
Trying to memorize things word for word is difficult and unnecessary. Passive reading is another reason you forget what you’ve learned. Make sure you’re engaging with what you’re reading!
How can I understand what I’m reading?
Read with a purpose, ask yourself questions, summarize each section, and connect with what you’re learning.
Is it better to read for long periods of time or take study breaks?
Taking study breaks and reading with focused attention will help you remember more. Your brain can only focus on one thing at a time.
Does taking notes actually help me remember something?
Yes! Writing down notes in your own words forces your brain to process what you’re learning.
How often should I review?
Review what you read within 24 hours, then again a few days later, and once more the following week. This helps your brain retain information much longer.
Can sleep impact my memory?
Yes! While you sleep, your brain organizes new information it learned throughout the day.
How do I know if I understand something?
Teach it to someone else. If you can confidently explain a concept without looking at your notes, you’ve got this.
Save the pin for later
