Have you ever spent hours reading a book or watching a video, only to realize later that you barely remember any of it?
It’s a frustrating feeling, but there’s a simple solution: the effort rule.
In this blog post, we’ll explain what the effort rule is and how you can use it to learn and remember things more easily.
The Princeton Study
In 2014, researchers at Princeton University conducted a study to determine the best way to take notes during a class.
They divided a class into two groups: one group took notes by hand using pen and paper, while the other group typed their notes on a laptop or other device.
After each class, the group that typed their notes ended up with twice the amount of notes as the group that wrote their notes by hand.
At the end of the semester, the researchers looked at the test scores for all of the students in the class.
To their surprise, the students who took notes by hand scored twice as well as the students who used their laptops.
The researchers conducted the study two more times, with similar results.
They discovered what is now known as the effort principle: the more effort you put into recording a piece of information, the better you will retain it.
The Value of the Effort Principle
The effort principle has important implications for self-improvement.
With so much information available today in the form of books, videos, and podcasts, it’s easy to consume a lot of information without really internalizing any of it.
But if you put more effort into recording the information, you will remember it better and be able to apply it to your life.
The Note-Taking Mini Habit
So, how can you put the effort principle into practice?
The key is to develop a note-taking habit that requires you to put in more effort than simply listening or watching.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Get a small, waterproof notebook that you can carry with you wherever you go.
- Whenever you’re listening to a book, podcast, or video and you come across a moment that really resonates with you, take the time to write it down in your notebook.
- Write a short summary of the key lesson or idea and rewind the audio so you can listen to it again.
- If you really want to remember the lesson, bring it up in a conversation with a friend or family member. Talking about what you’ve learned will help you internalize it even more.
By taking the time to write down key ideas and lessons, you’re putting in more effort than simply listening or watching.
And by talking about what you’ve learned with others, you’re reinforcing the information and making it even more memorable.
Conclusion
The effort principle is a simple but powerful concept that can help you learn and remember things more easily.
By putting more effort into recording and internalizing information, you’ll be able to retain it better and apply it to your life.
Developing a note-taking habit is a great way to put the effort principle into practice, and by using a small, waterproof notebook, you can do it wherever you go.
FAQs
What is the effort principle?
The effort principle is the idea that the more effort you put into recording a piece of information, the better you will retain it.
How can I use the effort principle to learn and remember things more easily?
Developing a note-taking habit is a great way to put the effort principle into practice.
Use a small, waterproof notebook to write down key ideas and lessons, and talk about what you’ve learned with others to reinforce the information.
