Boost your learning speed using your brain's natural design

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Have you ever wondered why some information sticks in your mind while other details slip away like water through your fingers? I recently read a book by one of my favorite education authors that had some really useful insights about how our brain stores and processes information and there’s some good actionable ways to put this to use in our day to day lives.

Let’s get into it.

The Memory Bottleneck

Most of us try to cram as much information as possible into our brains, especially when we're learning something new. But I've discovered this approach is like trying to pour a gallon of water into a shot glass.

Our working memory - the mental space where we actively process new information - is surprisingly limited. While most of us can juggle around four or five new pieces of information at once, anything beyond that starts to overflow and get lost.

This explains why it’s so easy to forget so much after reading books or taking courses. If we just overwhelm the working memory, never giving the information a real chance to move into long-term storage it’s going to get lost quickly.

It's like having a very small inbox that keeps getting flooded with new messages before the important ones can be dealt with.

This limitation isn't a flaw - it's actually a feature of our brain's design. Instead of fighting against this natural bottleneck, we can work with it.

That’s just one of the handy ideas behind Learn Like A Pro by Barbara Oakley.

This Week’s Favorite

Your Brain's Filing System

What Learn Like A Pro suggests you do is to use a three-part system that works with our brain's natural learning process instead of against it.

The first piece involves breaking down complex information into simpler terms - think of it as pre-digesting the information before your brain needs to process it.

Here's what we can do: When we encounter new information, immediately try to explain it using the simplest possible words. Bonus points for writing this down.

For example, instead of memorizing technical terms, first understand the basic concept in everyday language. This gives our brain a stronger foundation to build upon.

The second part involves a specific note-taking method.

Draw a line down the middle of the page.

On the right side, write the key concepts.

On the left side, write your own interpretation in simple terms.

This dual-column approach helps to process information twice - once when first encountering it, and again when we reframe it in our own words.

The third piece is the Pomodoro style of learning.

Work in focused 25-30 minute blocks, followed by short breaks.

These breaks aren't just rest periods - they're actually when the brain does some of its most important work. During these pauses, the mind naturally processes and organizes the new information, clearing the way for more input.

Putting these ideas to use when learning a new subject, starting a new project, or anything else requiring lots of mental input can help you focus better, get better results, and while it might run counter to your sense of how you “should do things”, taking some breaks and taking the time to reframe concepts can pay off in a big way.

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Extra Extra

• The UNC Learning Center has put together an excellent guide on memory tricks that have been scientifically proven to improve performance. They offer additional techniques beyond what I've covered in this newsletter.

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P.S. Interested in the future and what’s coming in terms of nanotech, biotech, and AI in the next 5, 10, 20 years? I recently published my insights on The Singularity Is Nearer - watch it here.