Want to Remember What You Read? Try These Tips

In One Ear, Out the Other: Have you ever read something, only to forget it seemingly right afterward? Research has found that not all of those go-to study tips and test-prep techniques, like rereading passages and highlighting key points, are all that effective for remembering what you read. Various reviews and studies have evaluated different strategies for improving reading retention: Here are some that have solid evidence backing them. 

How to Do It: Try retrieval practice: Read a short passage, close the book, and try to recall everything you’ve just read. You can also create an association between the material and a familiar book, film, or idea. Writing a short summary by hand after reading, as if you’re explaining it to a friend, can also help you remember details. And handwriting rather than typing forces the brain to slow down and think intentionally. Stick to everyday healthy habits, too: Staying up late to cram isn’t wise, as sleep is crucial for memory consolidation, while taking a walk or doing other light exercise before you learn also supports memory. 

The Benefits: Americans are reading far less for pleasure, while reading scores and comprehension have taken a hit. The better we remember what we’ve read, the more our knowledge base can grow and help us put what we learn to use.