How to Remember What You Read in a Day

Note important lines or passages using highlighting, underlining, and/or sticky notes. Reading is an interactive process, so it is appropriate and even effective to write in your book. Don't highlight and underline everything, only the most important parts of the book. Looking for important ideas will keep you focused.

Take notes. Write down quotes that are especially meaningful, or take notes on the most important ideas in the book so you can reference them later, especially if you are reading for a class or professional obligation. Write down the page numbers of important ideas so you can easily refer to highlighted passages later.

Skim first if the book is full of dense information and you only need to access the most important ideas. Skimming will give you a sense of what you want to focus on. You can then go back and read the parts that will provide you with the information you need.

Read for short amounts of time and take breaks. Losing focus happens when you begin to get tired. Even a short break to get up and stretch or drink a glass of water will help you regain your focus. You actually will be able to read and comprehend more if you allow yourself periods of rest.

Read in a quiet, distraction-free place. You cannot focus if the television is on, if you have loud music playing or if people are socializing around you. Reading will take less time if you find a comfortable, quiet place in which to focus.

After each section or chapter, take a moment to summarize and reflect on what you have read. You may do this in your head, or it might be more effective for you to write down notes, read your notes out loud, or tell someone else. Repeating the information will help to store it in your long-term memory, so you can pick up where you left off the next day.