We live in the age of information overload.
You can learn anything: coding, design, marketing, cooking, investing, languages—you name it. The resources are endless.
But here’s the problem…
Most people confuse consuming information with actually learning.
You watch a tutorial, read an article, bookmark a course... and a week later? You remember almost nothing.
Sound familiar?
I’ve been there. I used to collect knowledge like trading cards—impressive collection, zero practical use.
Then I discovered something that changed everything:
Learning isn’t about how much you consume. It’s about how you process what you consume.
Here’s the exact system I use to learn anything 10x faster—and actually retain it.
I - Stop highlighting. Start testing.
Here’s an uncomfortable truth: highlighting feels productive, but it’s one of the least effective learning methods.
Your brain tricks you. You read something, highlight it, and think “Got it!” But recognition isn’t the same as recall.
The real learning happens when you force your brain to retrieve information, not when you passively mark it.
What to do instead:
After reading a chapter or watching a lesson, close it.
Write down everything you remember (without looking).
Check what you missed and focus on those gaps.
This is called active recall, and research shows it’s 2-3x more effective than passive review.
“The more you test yourself, the more you learn.” — Cognitive psychology principle
II - Use the Feynman Technique
Richard Feynman was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist known for making complex ideas simple.
His learning method was brilliant in its simplicity.
Here’s how it works:
Pick a concept you want to learn.
Explain it in simple terms as if teaching a 12-year-old.
Identify the gaps where you struggle to explain clearly.
Go back and fill those gaps until your explanation is crystal clear.
The act of teaching forces you to truly understand something, not just memorize it.
I use this constantly. When I learn something new, I explain it out loud (yes, I look crazy talking to myself). If I stumble, I know exactly what I don’t understand yet.
III - Learn in sprints, not marathons
Binge-learning doesn’t work.
You know the drill: you’re excited about a new skill, so you dive in for 6 hours straight. You feel accomplished... until you realize three days later that you’ve retained maybe 10% of it.
Your brain wasn’t built for information dumping.
The science says: spaced repetition beats cramming every single time.
Here’s what works:
Study for 25-50 minutes, then take a real break.
Review the material after 1 day, then 3 days, then a week.
Short, consistent sessions crush long, sporadic ones.
Think of it like watering a plant. You can’t dump a gallon of water once a month and expect it to thrive. Small, regular doses win.
IV - Apply it immediately (the 24-hour rule)
Here’s my golden rule: If you don’t use it within 24 hours, you’ll forget it.
Knowledge that sits unused evaporates. But knowledge that gets applied? That sticks.
Examples:
Learning a new coding concept? Write a mini-project using it today.
Read about a negotiation tactic? Use it in your next conversation.
Discovered a productivity hack? Implement it tomorrow morning.
The gap between learning and doing should be as short as possible.
“Knowledge is not power. Applied knowledge is power.”
V - Teach what you learn
This builds on the Feynman Technique but takes it further.
When you commit to teaching something, your brain shifts into a higher gear. You start noticing details you’d otherwise miss. You organize information more clearly. You understand it deeper.
You don’t need a classroom or a blog. Just share what you learn:
Explain it to a friend over coffee.
Write a quick social media post about it.
Record a voice note summarizing the key points.
Teaching transforms you from a passive consumer into an active processor.
VI - Focus on one thing at a time
This is where most people sabotage themselves.
They try to learn Spanish and web development and graphic design and investing—all at once.
Guess what happens? They make zero real progress in any of them.
Your brain needs focus to build expertise. Switching between multiple learning goals fragments your attention and dilutes your progress.
Pick one skill. Go deep. Get good enough to use it. Then move to the next.
You’ll learn 10x faster by going narrow and deep than by going wide and shallow.
VII - Embrace confusion (it means you’re learning)
We’ve been conditioned to avoid confusion. It feels uncomfortable, so we bail and look for something easier.
But here’s the truth:
Confusion is a signal that your brain is working hard to form new connections.
If everything feels easy, you’re probably not learning—you’re just reviewing what you already know.
The sweet spot is that edge of discomfort where things are challenging but not impossible. That’s where growth happens.
Next time you feel confused, don’t panic. Lean into it. That discomfort is your brain rewiring itself.
Fast learning isn’t about hacks or shortcuts. It’s about working with your brain instead of against it.
Your brain wants to:
Test itself (active recall)
Teach others (Feynman Technique)
Space out learning (not cram)
Apply knowledge immediately (24-hour rule)
Focus deeply (one thing at a time)
Embrace challenge (confusion = growth)
Give your brain what it wants, and you’ll be shocked at how quickly you can master new skills.
The world rewards people who learn fast and adapt faster.
So stop collecting information. Start processing it.
Your future expert-level self is waiting.
See you next week!
-Jett
What’s your take on today’s topic? Do you agree, disagree, or is there something I missed?
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us mate :)
I love this. Self-control goes along way. 👊