How to retain what you learn
The retention framework I use involves five steps:
• Inspired Consumption
• Unstructured Note-Taking
• Consolidation
• Analogize
• Idea Exercise
The structure is sequential, but its practice is often dynamic & iterative.
Let's walk through each of the steps...
Step 1: Inspired Consumption
Retention starts with consumption.
If it’s forced, it’s forgotten. If it’s inspired, it’s (more likely) retained.
Inspired consumption is when you feel genuinely pulled to consume—when you enjoy the consumption process.
Step 2: Unstructured Note-Taking
Begin with basic, unstructured notes.
Take note of:
• Foundational ideas
• Novel insights
• Things that made you go “hmmm” or “wow!”
• Connections you identified to other topics
I use Notion for this, but choose whatever works for you.
Step 3: Consolidation
Zoom out and review your unstructured notes.
What are the most interesting, novel insights or ideas? What are the most confusing?
If unstructured note-taking created a bunch of dots, consolidation is where you start connecting them.
Step 4: Analogize
Analogizing is the most effective—and least well-known—retention tool.
This is where you take your newly-learned information and place it within your existing maps.
You make clear comparisons and connections between newly-learned and existing information.
Step 5: Idea Exercise
Think of the new idea as a muscle—if left alone, it will atrophy. You have to exercise it!
A few ideas:
• Bring it up in conversations
• Talk about it with a friend
• Try to teach it to someone
The retention framework I use involves five steps:
• Inspired Consumption
• Unstructured Note-Taking
• Consolidation
• Analogize
• Idea Exercise
The structure is sequential, but its practice is often dynamic & iterative.
Let's walk through each of the steps...
Step 1: Inspired Consumption
Retention starts with consumption.
If it’s forced, it’s forgotten. If it’s inspired, it’s (more likely) retained.
Inspired consumption is when you feel genuinely pulled to consume—when you enjoy the consumption process.
Step 2: Unstructured Note-Taking
Begin with basic, unstructured notes.
Take note of:
• Foundational ideas
• Novel insights
• Things that made you go “hmmm” or “wow!”
• Connections you identified to other topics
I use Notion for this, but choose whatever works for you.
Step 3: Consolidation
Zoom out and review your unstructured notes.
What are the most interesting, novel insights or ideas? What are the most confusing?
If unstructured note-taking created a bunch of dots, consolidation is where you start connecting them.
Step 4: Analogize
Analogizing is the most effective—and least well-known—retention tool.
This is where you take your newly-learned information and place it within your existing maps.
You make clear comparisons and connections between newly-learned and existing information.
Step 5: Idea Exercise
Think of the new idea as a muscle—if left alone, it will atrophy. You have to exercise it!
A few ideas:
• Bring it up in conversations
• Talk about it with a friend
• Try to teach it to someone