While reading is a great way to keep the mind active and learn new information, remembering what you read and being able to recall it in detail can often be a struggle. There have been countless times where someone has asked me about a book I have read in the past, and I was only able to remember a couple of the major points. With the internet and TV, it’s no wonder we have such a tough time retaining what we’ve read months ago as our brains are constantly being flooded with new information. There is hope, however, as there are tips and tricks we can use to better remember what we’ve read; the best reading retention techniques are: eliminating distractions, listening to instrumentals, annotating key points, summarizing what you’ve read, and allotting specific times for reading.
Getting Rid of Distractions
The biggest issue we face while reading and focusing on one task is removing external interruptions. In our hyper-connected world, screens are always by our sides, and phones are the number one culprit. They are almost never out of reach and while they are useful for many things, helping concentration isn’t one of them. Every few minutes, our phones ding with a new notification that instantly draws our attention towards it. This is especially troublesome when immersed in reading as it removes you from your flow state, and studies have shown when we are distracted from a task, it can take up to 45 minutes to be fully concentrated on it again. The first retention technique is to silence or turn off notifications on your phone while reading. Without the near constant distraction that phones provide, you will find yourself better engaged with what you are reading.
Listen to Focusing Music
Music is a great way to improve focus for numerous activities, but this isn’t always the case with reading. When listening to music with words, you are subconsciously distracted as your brain will naturally tune in to listen to what is being said. However, if you listen to instrumental music instead, you can be better engrossed in your book and still have something to listen to. Many people are unfamiliar with instrumentals and aren’t sure what to listen to, but the best part is, they are easy to find. If you search online, you can find the instrumental versions to countless songs which can give you something familiar to listen to without the distracting words.
Annotate the Interesting Sections
I’m sure most of you are having flashbacks to high school when your English teacher forced you to annotate and write notes for a book you didn’t care about, but annotating will greatly help you remember what you have read. Especially with nonfiction, noting and underling passages or major points you find interesting is helpful in committing them to memory. The best part about annotating is you can do it however you like; I’ve found it most helpful to dog ear the most important pages and circle the paragraphs I found most insightful. If you’re someone who shares books with others, annotating is a great way to see what you and others liked most about a book and makes book trading much more interactive.
Summarize the Main Points
A huge issue with books, particularly nonfiction, is they are dense with useful information and it becomes quite easy to forget these key insights as you read further into the book. A great way to help reduce this is to write 3–4 bullet points about each chapter after you finish it. Doing this will make revisiting past chapters a breeze, and when done you can compile to all of the bullet points into a Google Doc or Microsoft Word Document for easy access.
Having Set Times for Reading
Consistent reading is quite difficult, and just saying, “I’ll read when I have time,” isn’t an effective solution as we can always find excuses not to read. Even more troublesome is when we do have time and can’t seem to get into a flow state or focus on what we’re reading. The best way to eliminate this is to have dedicated times during the day for just reading. Whether it’s a half hour in the morning or an hour before bed, setting your schedule like this will help you be much more motivated about reading, and make it easier for your mind to enter a focused state. I have started reading fiction books an hour before bed every night and it has worked wonders for both my sleep and reading effectiveness. I’ve noticed my body naturally getting more relaxed during this time and I am better involved with the book I am reading.
Adopting these techniques will significantly increase your recollection with material you’ve read. Start small and be consistent with your practice, and gradually build from there. In no time you’ll be able to remember passages and points you read months ago!
