Why a Little Struggle Helps You Learn Better

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

We like things that are easy. But when learning feels a little bit hard, that is often a very good sign. A small, useful struggle makes your memory stronger and your understanding deeper.

When you work to pull information from your mind, you build stronger mental paths—just like exercising a muscle makes it stronger.

Three Simple Habits for Effective Learning

There are three simple habits you can use every day to make learning more effective: spread your practice out, mix different topics, and test yourself from memory. These ideas are easy to use and work for almost any subject.

1. Spread Your Practice Out

Don't try to learn everything in one long session. Short study times, repeated over several days, are better.

For example, study for 20–30 minutes today, review the same material two days later, and check it again a week later. These breaks let your brain forget a little and then work to bring the information back.

That act of bringing it back is what makes the memory last.

2. Mix Different Topics

Instead of spending an hour on only one thing, switch between two or three things. For example, try a short reading, then a few practice problems, then a quick summary from memory.

Changing tasks forces your brain to think about when and how to use what you learned. It feels harder than doing one thing at a time, but it makes your knowledge more flexible and easier to use in new situations.

3. Test Yourself Often

Don't only read or highlight—try to recall without looking. Close the book and write what you remember, use flashcards, or explain the idea out loud.

Self-quizzing shows you what you really know and what you still need to work on. The more you practice bringing information out of your head, the easier it becomes to remember later.

These methods can feel uncomfortable at first. You may forget things between sessions or make mistakes when you try to recall. That is normal and useful. Mistakes help you find the gaps in your knowledge so you can fix them.

A Simple Plan You Can Try Right Now

1. Study for 25 minutes
2. Start with a 5-minute warm-up where you try to write or say what you remember
3. Spend 15 minutes learning new material and practicing it
4. Finish with a 5-minute quiz from memory
5. Repeat this kind of session two or three times that week, spacing the days apart
6. Mix different topics inside each session instead of focusing on only one thing

Embrace the Challenge

Learning that includes small, planned difficulties will feel harder in the moment but will help you much more in the long run.

Welcome the challenge, keep your sessions short and spaced, mix things up, and test yourself often. Over time you will find that what once felt difficult becomes natural and useful.

Start with just one of these techniques this week and notice how it improves your learning retention.