How to Remember Everything You Read

As a student, you spend a lot of time reading. And I bet you are wondering how you remember everything you read. Especially if you are learning multiple subjects, it can be overwhelming when you know you have to memorize it all. So, how do you remember everything you read? Read on to find out some tips and tricks to help you to make the most of your education journey.

Why you’re not remembering what you read

Your brain has limits to its capacity to absorb and remember information. First of all, let’s think of the science behind it. Your brain uses three different types of memory, short-term memory, working memory, and long-term memory. When you read something for the first time, you are using your working memory and the aim, with repetition, is to store the information in your long-term memory, so you can recall the information when you are being tested on your knowledge.

So, why do things just slip your mind, even when you have just been reading about them? Well, firstly, you need to give your neural pathways time to process the information and store it correctly. Think of your brain as an organized closet space, everything needs to be in the right place, so you know where to find it. This is why it’s important to start with the way you study, to make sure that you are taking adequate breaks, using the correct reading techniques, and using repetition effectively to ensure that you are doing everything you can to remember everything you read.

Get the most out of your reading

To make the most out of your reading, think about the following three factors: impression, association, and repetition. The first thing you need to do is to choose the right books, ones that are going to be beneficial to you and your learning. There’s no point wasting time with books that are not going to aid your studies in the best way.

The second thing you need to do is connect with the book, you need to know ‘your why.’ Having a clear purpose for why you are learning something will increase your chances of remembering it. Are you learning something to be tested on it? Are you learning something that is going to be highly beneficial for your future career, the why is an important factor in getting the most out of your reading.

The final thing you need to do is repetition, this is the basis of remembering what you have learned. But another part of this repetition is to skim-read, to begin with, yes, you heard me right. Doing a high-level skim-read of a book before you read it more intensely has been proven to solidify information in your memory. Skim the book and focus on titles, quotes, and citations or indexes. Give yourself an idea of the book before you dive into it.

Being a better reader

When you are reading for pleasure, the only focus you need to have is reading. But if you are reading to learn, there are a few other things you need to do to remember what you have read. You need to do something called ‘active reading.’ It’s the process of reading with the purpose of understanding and evaluating the words you have read. Reading for pleasure is called passive reading because you are reading to engage, whereas active reading is reading to engage, learn, and process.

Remember everything you read

Here are some ways you can be a better reader and remember everything you read:

• Commit to regular reading sessions
• Remove all distractions when reading including electronic devices
• Skim-read before you begin reading to get a sense of the text
• Take notes as you read and make sure they are clear and concise
• Build mental connections while you read and link back to the information you read previously to test your knowledge
• When reading, use the self-referencing memory technique by blending what you are reading with your thoughts on it
• After you’ve finished reading, apply what you’ve read by telling yourself or someone else about it by teaching them (the Feynman technique)
• Revisit and organize your notes, so you can go back over something you don’t quite remember
• Try different reading strategies and see what works for you. Do you prefer reading out loud? Are you someone that enjoys reading and then quizzing yourself?  Are you more of a syntopical reader that reads similar content from multiple sources to gain a larger picture?
• Use this strategy to achieve deeper reading: focus, read, pause, ask questions, highlight, take notes, paraphrase

Work smarter, not harder

The more you read, the more you remember. But make sure you are working smarter and not harder. The trick to remembering everything you read is to read deeply, reflect and apply it. Your memory will get stronger, the more you actively read and the more notes you take. You’ve got this! Now crack open that textbook and get to work!