After Each Study Session, Write a Three-Sentence Summary From Memory

Close the book. Close the laptop. Now write three sentences capturing what you just learned, purely from memory. This forces retrieval, which is the single most powerful act for strengthening memory. It's uncomfortable because you realize how little actually stuck — and that discomfort is the point.

If you can't produce three sentences, you didn't learn as much as you thought. The gap between what you consumed and what you retained is usually enormous, and most people never discover it because they never test themselves. Three sentences is a small investment that makes the difference between studying and actually learning.