Before Studying, Write Down What You Already Know

Before you open a textbook or start a course, take two or three minutes to jot down everything you already know about the topic. It doesn't have to be organized or complete. This simple act activates your existing mental framework and creates hooks for new information to attach to, rather than floating in isolation.

Without this step, your brain treats new material as entirely foreign, making it harder to integrate. Prior knowledge is the scaffolding that gives new facts a place to live. Even if what you write feels basic or incomplete, you've already primed your mind to learn more efficiently.