How to Learn Effectively Without Getting Overwhelmed Build real understanding before you try to memorize a thing

Learning something new—whether it's a topic in school, a concept at university, or a skill for your future career—can often feel overwhelming. While many students focus on memorization, this approach alone rarely leads to deep understanding or long-term retention. In this article, we’ll explore a structured and research-backed method to help students not just learn, but truly grasp and retain new material.

We’ll focus on two essential phases of learning:

• Phase 1: Understanding 
• Phase 2: Retention (Remembering)
  
   

And we’ll also cover one major misconception that holds students back—and what to do instead.

Why Memorization Fails (And What to Do Instead)

A common trap learners fall into—especially when they discover tools like flashcards—is to rely entirely on memorization. They attend a class or read a textbook and immediately convert every detail into flashcards or digital quiz prompts.

While this might seem efficient at first, it leads to information overload and superficial recall. What’s missing here? Comprehension. Without it, you're simply storing disconnected facts rather than building a functional knowledge system.

Before you attempt to memorize anything, you must first understand it (1) .

Phase 1: Building Understanding

So, what does it actually mean to understand something?

True understanding means you can explain the concept clearly and confidently—not just repeat a definition, but break it down in your own words, provide context, and answer related questions.

One of the most effective ways to test your comprehension is to try teaching the concept to someone else. This is inspired by the Feynman Technique, which challenges you to explain complex ideas as if you were speaking to a young child or someone with no background knowledge in the subject. If you can do that, you’ve internalized the idea.

Ask yourself:

• Can I summarize this topic in plain language?
• Could I teach this to a classmate or younger sibling?
• If someone asked why or how, could I answer without reading notes?
  
   

If the answer is no, revisit the topic and look for gaps in your understanding. Engage with diagrams, analogies, or real-life examples to reinforce your mental model.

Phase 2: Strengthening Memory with Retrieval and Repetition

Once understanding is in place, the next challenge is retaining the knowledge. This is where two evidence-backed methods come in:

1. Active Recall – Retrieval Practice

Instead of re-reading your notes over and over (a passive technique), active recall forces your brain to retrieve information from memory. This strengthens the neural connections responsible for long-term storage (2) .

How to use it:

• Close your book and summarize what you just read aloud or in writing.
• Ask yourself: What were the main points? Why do they matter?
• Turn headings into questions and answer them without looking.
• Use self-created flashcards or a question bank to test yourself regularly.
   

2. Spaced Repetition – Timing Your Reviews

Spaced repetition is about reviewing material at increasing intervals, just before you're likely to forget it. This method prevents the natural decline in memory known as the forgetting curve.

How to apply it:

• Review content after one day, then three days, then a week, then two weeks.
• Use apps like Anki or Quizlet that schedule flashcard reviews based on your recall history.
• Combine with active recall for best results—don't just reread, retest.
   

Active Recall Is Not Just for Revision—It’s a Learning Tool

A powerful insight that often goes unnoticed is this: Active recall is not just for revision—it’s one of the best ways to learn something for the first time.

When reading new material, don’t wait until later to quiz yourself. Pause every few paragraphs and ask:

• What have I just learned?
• How can I explain it in my own words?
• What is the bigger picture?
  
   

By integrating this habit from the beginning, you accelerate understanding and create durable memory pathways.

Real-world example:
In the book Make It Stick, a struggling medical student described how shifting from passive reading to active questioning transformed his academic performance. By repeatedly testing himself—even when it was uncomfortable—he rose from the bottom of his class to the top 10%. This transformation didn’t come from working harder, but from learning smarter.

How to Avoid Overwhelming Yourself

Some learners get excited about flashcards and end up making hundreds after every lecture. The problem? This leads to burnout and shallow learning.

Instead, apply this test before creating a flashcard:

• Do I already understand this?
• Is this something I can’t remember without repetition?
  
   

Only turn facts that are hard to understand or easily forgotten into flashcards. For everything else, focus on deepening your comprehension.

Creating a Mental Model

When you deeply understand a subject, you begin to form a mental framework—a connected network of ideas that help you place new knowledge in context.

Instead of seeing isolated facts, you begin to see relationships, cause-effect chains, and organizing principles. This shift allows you to learn faster and make better decisions in exams and real-world scenarios (3) .

Summary: The Learning Formula

Here’s a simple formula for effective learning:

Understanding + Remembering = Long-Term Mastery

And here’s how to implement it:

1. Start by understanding. Teach the material, simplify it, explain it.
2. Use active recall from the start—don’t wait until exam season.
3. Apply spaced repetition to reinforce memory over time.
4. Avoid blind memorization; prioritize comprehension.
    

Wrapping Up

Effective learning isn’t about working the longest—it’s about working the smartest. By shifting your focus from note-taking and rereading to explaining and recalling, you unlock your brain’s full potential.

If you're interested in diving deeper, we recommend the book Make It Stick, which unpacks the research behind these strategies in an accessible and inspiring way. And if you haven’t already, explore our previous blog posts on active recall and spaced repetition for more step-by-step advice.