Making learning stick: what the research says about adult study habits

Adults often assume they learn more slowly than they did at school. The research tells a more encouraging story. Adults bring experience, context and purpose, all of which help memory, as long as the study methods are good. Three habits stand out.

Space your practice

Cramming feels productive, but most of what you learn the night before an exam is gone within a week. Spacing works better: study a topic, then return to it after a day, a week and a month. Each return forces your brain to rebuild the memory, and each rebuilding makes it stronger.

You do not need an elaborate system. Put a short review on your calendar for the end of each week and look back over the previous two weeks of notes. Ten minutes is enough.

Test yourself instead of rereading

Rereading notes creates a feeling of familiarity, which is easy to confuse with knowledge. Retrieval practice is more effective: close the book and try to write down what you remember, or explain the idea aloud as if to a colleague. The effort of recalling is what builds the memory.

Simple ways to do this:

• Write three questions at the end of each study session, and answer them at the start of the next
• Use flashcards for terms and formulas
• Explain a concept to a friend or family member without looking at your notes

If you cannot answer a question, that is useful information. You have found exactly where to spend your next session.

Learn through real projects

Adults learn best when the material connects to something they care about. If you are studying data analysis, use data from your own workplace. If you are learning to write more clearly, rewrite emails you actually have to send.

This works for two reasons. First, the work is meaningful, so you pay more attention. Second, applying an idea in a new setting forces you to understand it, rather than just recognise it.

Many of our programs end with a project drawn from the students' own jobs. Graduates often tell us that this was the part they remember most clearly, and the part they still use.

Look after the basics

Sleep matters more than almost any study technique. Memories are consolidated overnight, so trading sleep for study time is usually a poor bargain. The same goes for regular breaks. Short walks and a proper lunch will help your afternoon more than another hour at the desk.

Be patient with confusion

Feeling confused is a normal part of learning something new. It does not mean you are failing. Researchers sometimes call this a "desirable difficulty": material that takes effort to learn tends to be remembered longer than material that feels easy.

When you get stuck, try a different explanation, ask a classmate, or leave the problem overnight and return to it. Most students find that an idea that seemed impossible on Tuesday makes sense on Thursday.

Putting it into practice

Pick one habit to try this week. If you are studying for a program right now, try ending each session with three self-test questions. If you are thinking about starting, choose a topic you already care about and look for a way to apply it at work.

Small, steady changes in how you study will do more for your memory than extra hours.