Leverage learning – How to retain and use information wisely

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’ve been to school, you’ve learned to read, to write and some other helpful things along the way. For some of us this may have been a few years ago but I still vividly remember some details from those days. Every time I had to sit down to study for an exam, my mind would go somewhat blank and I would wonder what it actually means to study. What do I have to do? I had no method, no plan, no direction. I would like to change that today and explore some actual ways to retain information and implement the acquired knowledge in a meaningful way.

Advice overload and how to cut through the noise

In the world we live in today, we process more information in 24 hours than the most educated person did over a whole lifetime centuries ago, and this cognitive load continues to rise every year.

The average person today is exposed to approximately 74–100 gigabytes of information each day, equivalent to reading over 200,000 words or watching 16 movies. Most of this comes from our screens, smartphones, computers, TV, plus social media, news, and advertising, with media exposure occupying up to 11–12 hours of our day. It’s no surprise that over 35% of people report daily stress from information overload, with digital data contributing to anxiety, fidgetiness, and sleep problems. This is exactly why filtering the information is keys. Personally, I’ve chosen a ‘low news’ diet. I don’t need to stress about the whole worlds’ problems. The important matters will find me anyway.

We are in the lucky position that information is available to most of us with an internet connection and it’s mostly free. Sure, there are many courses and programmes all packaged up nicely but if you take a moment and do the research you can absolutely find what you need for free.

I think it’s interesting to note that paid/subscription courses have a 15–25% average completion rate. That is definitely not money well spent. Often marketers do a good job at creating a compelling offer, and I hate to say it but a lot of us may feel that throwing money at a situation is the ‘sacrifice’ required. Most of us are inclined to go for a quick fix and when a program promises results in a few days or weeks, we are happier to part with our money. We believe that spending is the hard part. I am most definitely speaking from experience; I know I’ve done it. And after the initial excitement subsides, the quick win course is left to ‘gather dust’.

I urge everyone to be very mindful of how you choose the information you consume. The person providing the material may not have your best interest at heart. They may be after fame and recognition, chasing clicks and likes. Often a great book is just as valuable as a fancy online course.

What self-worth has to do with learning

Speaking of unfinished business, or in this case courses, there is another interesting aspect that needs to be examined. It’s not necessarily just motivation or interest that dwindles when it comes to dropping out of courses, but a lack of vision and belief.

Whichever topic you may choose, I’m sure there is an expert available on the matter, who made their millions, and now ready to share the wisdom. The information provided can be legit and valuable but somehow the course still stalls. We have everything we could want, the key to success right in front of us, so what’s the hold up??

You are never going to finish the material and implement the knowledge if deep down you don’t feel worthy. You may agree with everything you learn but unless you truly believe that it can happen for you as well, you are not going to make any progress.

Backing out feels safe. What if I did finish the fantastic course, tried it all and failed? That idea is devastating for a lot of us. That implies having made the wrong choice and having invested money in the mistake as well?! That’s a slap not many of us are ready to take.

Beliefs can limit learning by creating psychological barriers that reduce motivation, effort, and openness to new experiences, leading to avoidance, disengagement, and lower overall achievement. Limiting beliefs like “I’m not good at math,” “I can’t learn languages,” or “I’ll never succeed”, can automatically cause you to put less effort into challenging tasks, resist trying new things, and ultimately achieve less than your actual potential.

When we were babies, we were so resilient and would never take ‘no’ for an answer. Learning to eat, or to walk wasn’t easy, yet we never gave up. I need you to reignite that same determination and effort when chasing your goals and learning something new. Regardless who may have been harsh or critical to you growing up, that undoubtedly eroded your confidence over time, it’s now up to you to take control of your life and regain that unshakable self-belief. You’ve done it before don’t forget!

Believing you are worthy of success, money, love, - whatever it might be you are pursuing - is the most important component. Why spend months or even years learning something if you are then too shy to speak up? Knowing without a shadow of a doubt that you are worthy and deserving of greatness is the number one step towards achieving anything significant. Working hard and self-worth go hand in hand. Believing in your abilities can be improved with effort and strategy, rather than seeing them as fixed traits, making you more likely to overcome setbacks and finish challenging tasks. Never limit yourself. You are the only one standing in the way of your success.

How to retain what really matters

Knowing how to learn, how to retain information requires understanding how your mind works. You may not have been taught this in school but luckily, it’s never too late to learn something great.

Allow me to break down my ‘LEARN IT’ framework that leverages the exact workings of the mind.

Let go of limiting beliefs. The first step in learning should never be opening a book or starting a course, but believing firmly in your own abilities and seeing the possibilities as a reality.

Emotions matter. They influence attention, motivation, and memory, helping the brain prioritize and retain important information. Positive emotions enhance focus and engagement, making learning more effective, while negative emotions hinder concentration and recall.

Active learning. Exercise helps retain information by boosting brain function through increased blood flow, oxygen, and growth factors that enhance memory formation and neural connections. Moderate aerobic exercise before learning improves attention and the ability to encode and recall information, while also improving mood and reducing stress, which supports better cognitive performance overall.

Recharge! Breaks are important because they help prevent mental fatigue, allowing the brain to process and organize information more effectively. Sleep is crucial for memory consolidation, as the brain enhances and stabilizes newly learned material during sleep stages, making it easier to recall.

Note it down. Taking notes when learning is helpful because it promotes active engagement with the material, improving comprehension and memory retention. It helps to organize information clearly, reinforces understanding through summarizing, and creates a valuable resource for review later.

Implement! Putting into practice new information is crucial because it transforms passive learning into active application, reinforcing understanding and deepening retention. It helps identify gaps, strengthens neural connections through practice, and makes knowledge more durable and transferable to real-world situations.

Teach someone else. This forces the teacher to actively retrieve and organize knowledge, which again deepens understanding and strengthens memory retention. After all, they say you don’t truly understand something unless you can clearly explain it to someone else.

The best teacher you will ever have

Information is everywhere, arguably there may be even too much of it and AI has now taken the guesswork out of most things. Technology has advanced significantly in the past few years but hopefully, it will not be able to replace true human creativity and passion. Another thing technology can’t do is go out into the real world and implement the ideas and knowledge.

You can read countless books, complete hundreds of courses but it all won’t matter much if you don’t take action. Even theoretical physicists run test and get their hands dirty in the lab.

The world around us is constantly evolving, changing and that’s exactly why we need to put what we learn to the test. See failure as a stepping stone rather than some obstacle. It helps you learn valuable lessons, adapt, and persist; it lays the essential foundation for lasting, meaningful success.

It’s very important to note that those who embrace and learn from failure outperform people who fear it or attribute success solely to fixed traits like intelligence. Overcoming failure also causes success to feel more meaningful and valuable. Having things not work out keeps the ego in check, encourages humility, and increases empathy for others on similar paths, which is all very important.

So, what if you do fail? Your friends and family might comment, laugh even?

Absolutely anyone who is successful and in some position of power will know that failure is an essential part of the journey to the top. Do not ever take criticism from someone you wouldn’t want to trade places with. If your second cousin twice removed who has been unemployed for 7 years is laughing at you for trying, don’t worry about it too much. Chances are you don’t really envy his life on the couch anyway.

Experiencing failure develops resilience, helping you bounce back from adversity and persist in the face of challenges. It helps cultivate a growth mindset, where mistakes are viewed as opportunities to learn rather than reasons to give up.

‘Failure’ can sound quite harsh, and it implies pain even suffering sometimes, but let’s not forget that life was never meant to be just sunshine and butterflies. The sooner you can let go of the idea that your journey is supposed to be smooth sailing and comfortable, the quicker you can bounce back and actually succeed. Everyone has failed at some point at something, don’t ever forget that!

Use it wisely

With a lot of people trying to get clicks or fame, you do need to ensure your information is accurate and what the exact source of it is, especially in the age of AI. You also need to verify the credibility of the information before applying it, to avoid mistakes based on outdated or incorrect knowledge. Use multiple reputable sources to triangulate facts and viewpoints for a well-rounded perspective.

Much like with learning, when it comes to putting new knowledge into practice, the first rule still applies. You have to believe in yourself and overcome any perceived limitations you may have.

The mindset traits that most predict long-term success are a growth mindset and conscientiousness. A growth mindset involves believing that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence, which encourages embracing challenges, learning from failures, and continuously improving. Conscientiousness refers to being disciplined, organized, reliable, and persistent, helping you set clear goals, manage time effectively, and maintain consistent effort toward long-term objectives. Together, these traits create a foundation for resilience, adaptability, and sustained motivation, enabling you to overcome obstacles and achieve meaningful success over time. Success requires you to do ‘the reps’ daily and to firmly hold on to the vision you have created.

You also need to have a clear plan of what you want to achieve and make notes of actual changes that you want to implement. A clear vision is great but it won’t work without actionable steps.

One of the most important elements of reaching goals, improving your situation, all comes down to keeping your word to yourself. When you consistently do as you say, even when no one is watching, it massively increases your self-esteem and it sends a message to your subconscious, that you are worthy of greatness. If you need to choose between watching the next episode of your favourite TV show or doing the work you planned, always go with the option that will make you feel prouder.

Lastly, always stay curious and open to ongoing learning to incorporate updates, corrections, or advancements in the subject matter. The more you learn, the more you realise how little you know ;)