When it comes to remembering and applying information, it’s less about how much goes in, and more about how much stays in.
Two Stages of Reading
Most people spend too much time in stage 1, and often neglect stage 2.
- Consumption (taking in information)
- Digestion (processing and retaining it)
The PACER Framework/Categorization
Match the information you read to its proper type and digestion technique.
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P — Procedural (The “How-to”): Information on executing tasks (e.g., coding, languages).
Digestion strategy: Practice and apply it in real life as early as possible.
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A — Analogous (The Connections): Information related to something you already know.
Digestion strategy: Critique the analogy by determining exactly how the two concepts are similar, how they differ, and where the comparison breaks down.
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C — Conceptual (The “What”): Facts, theories, and principles.
Digestion strategy: Map the information non-linearly (like a mind map) to mirror how an expert connects ideas together.
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E — Evidence (The Concrete Proof): Specific statistics, cases, or dates that support a concept.
Digestion strategy: Store the data immediately, then rehearse it later by utilizing it in explanations or practice essays.
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R — Reference (The Nitty-Gritty): Small details that don’t alter your conceptual understanding (e.g., constants, formulas).
Digestion strategy: Store it in a second brain or a flashcard app (like Anki) and rehearse via spaced repetition.
Tips
- Not all information is equal. Trying to remember everything you read should not be the goal in the first place. The goal is to memorize everything you need to remember.
- You cannot retain information just by reading faster or binge-watching tutorials. Over-consuming information without taking the time to digest it will lead to forgetting up to 90% of what was read. For every piece of information you consume, you must allocate time to process it.
- Rereading text over and over while you consume it ruins learning efficiency. Instead, categorize it dynamically and trust your targeted digestion processes to lock it into your long-term memory.