Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there.
You sign up for a course, binge-watch the videos in one sitting, take furious notes, maybe even feel like a genius for a day… and then, a week later, it’s all gone. Just poof. You vaguely remember something about what you learned, it’s like your brain has hit refresh and wiped the slate clean.
This isn’t your fault—it’s just how memory works. Unless we remind our brain that something is worth holding onto, it’ll toss it aside to make room for the next thing.
That’s where spaced repetition comes in. And no, it’s not some complicated, techy system. It’s one of the most effective (and underused) ways to actually retain what you learn without burning out.
What is Spaced Repetition?
Imagine trying to memorize someone’s name. If you hear it once and never again, you’ll probably forget it. But if you hear it today, again tomorrow, again next week, and then a month later—suddenly it’s locked in.
That’s spaced repetition in action.
It’s a study technique where you review information at increasing intervals, just before you’re about to forget it. Each time you revisit the topic, your brain says, “Oh yeah, this again? Must be important,” and strengthens the memory. That way, you remember more and waste way less time relearning things over and over.
The best part is you don’t need to be a productivity guru or use a fancy app. You can start right now:
- Learn a new concept today – maybe from your current Verticul course.
- Review it tomorrow – just a quick skim or quiz.
- Look at it again in 3 days, then 7, then 14, and so on.
- Each time, try to recall it from memory—not just reread. That’s the magic.
Your brain is like that one friend who forgets your birthday unless you keep reminding them. Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus called this the Forgetting Curve—basically, we forget stuff fast if we don’t review it.
Spaced repetition isn’t about grinding harder—it’s about learning smarter. Instead of wasting hours rewatching videos or rereading notes, give your brain the space to breathe… and remember.
If you’re serious about learning and want your knowledge to stick, give spaced repetition a shot. Your future self (and your memory) will thank you.
Bonus tip: You can use spaced repetition for anything — tech terms, formulas, language learning, even remembering people’s names.