Studying is a skill… and you can train it
The goal isn’t more hours. It’s better methods: active recall, spaced repetition, deep understanding, and consistent practice. This guide gives you a simple plan you can apply to any subject.
The “study stack” (use this order)
- Understand (Feynman-style explanation)
- Recall (test yourself)
- Repeat (spaced repetition)
- Refine (review mistakes)
Start here: understand it deeply
If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it yet.
Read next: How to Learn Faster: The Feynman Technique
Then: active recall
Stop re-reading and start testing. Your brain remembers what it’s forced to retrieve.
Read next: How to Study for Exams: Evidence-Based Tips
Make it last: spaced repetition
Create a review schedule that revisits material over increasing intervals.
Read next: 5 Advanced Tips to Study Effectively
Motivation: study when you don’t feel like it
Use micro-goals, start rituals, and discipline over mood.
Read next: How to Make Yourself Study When You Don’t Have Any Motivation
A 7-day study reset
- Day 1: choose one subject + create a simple syllabus list
- Day 2: Feynman notes (explain simply)
- Day 3: first recall session (questions only)
- Day 4: spacing schedule + flashcards
- Day 5: practice test + error log
- Day 6: review errors + tighten notes
- Day 7: plan next week