How I Learn And Remember Things Easily – The Effort Rule

We come across a lot of information every day – our study materials, the books we read, the audio clips we listen to, and the videos we watch, among many others. However, we often find that we forget a significant part of this information. How do we manage information such that we remember it better? The solution lies with something called the effort rule.

According to this rule, the more effort we put into recording a piece of information, the better the chances of retaining it. A study conducted at Princeton University in 2014 demonstrated this through a series of experiments. Students of a particular class were split up into two groups. The first group was made to take down notes in the old school method, using pen and paper. The second group was permitted to use laptops, tablets, etc. to take notes according to their convenience. Two observations were made by the researchers. The first one was that the second group took down more notes. The second observation surprised everyone- the first group, who had lesser notes when compared to the second group, performed twice as well in all the tests, even surprise tests. 

The result is not as surprising as it seems if one takes into account the effort the first group put into taking down each piece of information. This proves that it is not the amount of information we expose ourselves to, but how much effort we put into it that matters.

If practiced, the effort rule can transform the way we manage large chunks of information. It can help us study and prepare for examinations more effectively. One technique is to always carry a pocket-size notebook, and make the effort to note down information we want to remember, as and when we come across it. Another interesting technique is to organize information in the form of graphics or mind maps. By the time we are done making these, the idea will be vividly imprinted in our minds. Going through these from time to time will cement it further. Though this seems to be new, it is something most of us have done as children. Recall the charts and models you made in school. Don’t you remember them more clearly than the volumes of information you throw at yourself every day? 

Another technique is to discuss the information we want to remember with our friends. It is even more effective if we can teach it to someone. These activities not only make us put in more effort unconsciously but also make learning a very interesting process. 

The effort rule is not exclusive to studies. It works with all kinds of information. Take the case of self-improvement books and videos. We may be going through a lot of these every day, but how much of it do we remember and practice in our lives? Instead of just watching, reading, or listening to something, if we make a habit of noting down things we wish to remember, that small amount of effort can radically alter our lives. For example, imagine that you are reading a book or listening to an audio version, and find something that resonates with you. If you pause to take out your pocket notebook and make a mini-note, there are better chances of remembering that particular idea. 

It is not the number of hours we spend, but the quality of it that matters. Hard work does not mean working until one is drained of energy. It involves directing the right amount of effort to do the right thing and the effort rule is all about this.

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