How to Learn More When You Read with One Amazing Skill

Do you ever find yourself reading something, only to completely forget it later? It may have less to do with your self-diagnosed early onset dementia, and more to do with your mindset while you’re reading.

Read With the Intent to Teach

I’ve just started reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and so far, I have to say that it’s amazing. Dr. Stephen Covey closes the first section of his book with a piece of advice. He says that “one way to accelerate the rate of learning…is to learn with the intent to teach others what you learn.”

Take a second to let that sink in for a minute. If you were reading this with the intent of later sharing it with someone else, your brain would automatically begin to respond differently. You wouldn’t just be skimming it or letting the information wash over your vacant mind. You would be searching for the basic premise, the main points, and the overall message. You would begin creating your own “lesson outline” based on the information you have read. As if completely on its own, your brain would begin to do all of these things, and before you know it will be an engage, active reader.

The Challenge

The next time you read something non-fiction, read it with the intent of teaching someone else about it. You’ll find that you learn more, and that it sticks with you for longer. I did that with this very post, and I can say that I appreciate this principle a lot more now. 🙂

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